trevordayschool

Trevor students are introduced to Spanish beginning in Nursery. Lower School Spanish teachers, señora Rovelo and señora Muñoz, are passionate about the benefits of early learning of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. By beginning to learn Spanish in early childhood, students improve their cognitive skills and academic performance beyond learning another language. Señora Rovelo shares, "Many studies show that students who learn a second language at an early age also gain a strong understanding of their native language as they learn the grammar and vocabulary of the target language." It encourages students to be flexible and creative, and to appreciate other cultures and languages. Señoras Rovelo and Muñoz share valuable insights about the program and the impact that learning Spanish—or any second language—has on student development. e Foreign Language in Elementary School (FLES) program and the Natural Approach to Language Acquisition method are the teaching techniques used in Trevor classrooms. Rather than focus on grammar, these two techniques emphasize the meaning and purpose of communication. FLES and the Natural Approach first promote understanding and then focus on production in the target language. is means that students learn Spanish through cultural and interactive games, storytelling, and songs. Singing, dancing, and activities that promote movement stimulate learning with excitement. Songs are especially useful because they are repetitive, and students learn vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Classrooms use real-life scenarios, and the T R E V O R T R A N S L AT E S : lower school spanish by Sandra Rovelo and Pepa Muñoz Tarazona, Lower School Spanish Teachers as told to Katie Lindberg, Marketing & Communications Manager 2 2 T R E V O R D AY S C H O O L n SUMMER 2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 2 curriculum incorporates auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles. Señoras Rovelo and Muñoz create their own curricula that they adapt to each grade level and base on students' needs. e Spanish curriculum focuses on children's essential topics regardless of their cultural background. en, the teacher finds a common interest and adds to the unit a Latin American or Spanish cultural piece for students to learn. For example, one of the units taught in the 1st-grade curriculum teaches students how to talk about a favorite topic—their birthday! To make the birthday unit meaningful, students learn about the history of the piñata, the piñata-maker profession, how they are made, and why piñatas are an essential element in a birthday party in many Spanish-speaking countries. Señoras Rovelo and Muñoz often collaborate with the homeroom teachers, sharing

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