Movenote: A New Tool that has Spread Like Wildfire @ COE!

Recently, several Chandler Oaks teachers have learned about a new tool to use with their students called Movenote.  Movenote lets students combine photos or documents with video so they can talk about their work. This is an awesome tool to use to encourage reflection, fluency, presenting and sharing!  But it's not really about the tool, it's about all the great learning that is taking place when students use it! Check out these examples to see COES students hard at work sharing their learning!

Ms. Estrada's 1st grade class: What traditions do you celebrate in your family?
Ms. Ortega's 1st Grade Class: Procedural Video- How To Make A Snowman
Ms Imperial with 2nd Grade: Poems about Pets in Spanish
Ms. Morehead's Kindergarten Class: Read Aloud of Published Writing Sample 1  Sample 2  Sample 3

I think you'll agree that our students have found a lot of great uses to communicate what they know and have accomplished!

3rd Grade Creates Cartoons- en Español!

Third grade students have been putting their language skills to use! They are writing comic strips in class using Kidspiration software to show their use of new vocabulary words.  It's pretty amazing that only after two years of Spanish, our students are writing stories in a second language!  We are lucky to have Senora Imperial- our Teacher of the Year- helping us learn both the language and the culture!

Students Take Their Spanish Skills Up a Notch!

4th and 5th grade students are applying their knowledge of Spanish vocabulary by writing some amazing stories.  See if you can figure out what they wrote. 

Here is some vocabulary to help you out:
otra vez=again
oveja=sheep
pastor= shepherd
corre= he/she runs
cuida= he/she cares for
grita= he/she yells

Music + Spanish= Fantastico!

Kindergarten, first and second grades have learned a great song! It is about what is in the classroom. They learned sign language for the objects listed in the classroom. They also learned a very important word that is used in Spanish, which is “hay” (pronounced like eye). It means “there is” or “there are.” In this song they are answering the question “¿Qué hay en la clase?” which means “What is there in the classroom?”  The verses respond with – There is a table(mesa) , there is a teacher (maestra), there is a pencil (lapiz) and there is a clock (reloj). See if you can figure out the sign language that goes with those items while you watch Mrs. McCant’s class sing this song entitled “La clase.”

Stories in Spanish- Written by COE Students!

Third, fourth and fifth grade students have been writing their first mini-stories in Spanish using the TPRS method. TPRS stands for Total Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling. Students learn the vocabulary and are exposed to different sentence structures.  Using the framework in a sample mini-story, they worked collaboratively to create their own stories.  Our students are risk-takers in their learning- venturing out and trying new things!  
Check out a couple of samples from Mrs. Moyer's and Ms. Susong's classes!

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Why do We Learn Spanish?

At COE, have lots of curious kids who ask great questions.  Our Wonder Box gives students a place to ask all those burning questions!  We are really lucky to have an awesome crew of 5th grade students who work on our daily broadcast. The KCOE News Special Reporters take on the task of researching and reporting on as many of those questions as they can.  Recently, they answered the question, "Why do we learn Spanish?"  Our reporters scheduled an interview with our Spanish teacher, Mrs. Imperial, to learn the answer.  Check out their video report*- not only will you learn all the reasons why we learn Spanish, but I think you'll agree that we have some great student news reporters and producers! 

*On the video, we report that we are an IB school. Chandler Oaks is a candidate school for the Primary Years Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Chandler Oaks Elementary believes is important for our students.

1st and 2nd Grade Students Study Dia de los Muertos

Senora Imperial has been busy!  Students in first and second grade are studying the Mexican culture as they learn new Spanish words. One celebration they learned about was Dia de los Muertos, the day of the dead. Students learned about how this celebration honors the dead and is not meant to be a scary time, but a time of remembrance of those who passed away before us. Students created a skull art piece in remembrance of someone they knew or just for fun.  This was an especially timely lesson for first grade as they just began their Who We Are unit. They are exploring the central idea "Families recognize personal and cultural events."  The study of different kinds of families, different kinds of traditions, and the different ways people celebrate fit right in with this lesson!