Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Welcome to the HOLA AMIGOS Spanish Interactive Web page for Parents and Students!

A few years ago, DWES received a grant to implement a Foreign Language Program for the non-immersion students. Program coordinator Cristina Marchica-Ladas and Spanish teachers María and Marilu spent two years developing curriculum, gathering materials, learning how to teach through technology and rolling the program up 2 grade levels per year.

The HOLA AMIGOS program is taught exclusively in Spanish and uses an interactive approach combining music, movement, technology and critical thinking!
As of Fall 2009, DWES added the final 4th & 5th grades for full K-5 program implementation. Watch the video clip for a peek into the classroom. Then scroll down to find our successful program model and highlights from classes. We are preparing students for the world!

The FLAP Grant will end May 2010 and Tax Credit monies will be used to fund HOLA AMIGOS from here on out.


The HOLA AMIGOS Spanish classes are performing on Tuesday May 11, 2010!

K-1 performs at 9:25

Grades 2-5 performs at 10:00


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Click HERE to download a pdf version of the program model chart.

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HOLA AMIGOS STAFF

Maestra Marilu (left) will be teaching kinder, first grade non-immersion students as well as the P.A.L.S class.

Cristina Marchica-Ladas (center) cordinates the foreign language programs at Desert Willow as well as the continuation at Desert Arroyo Middle School.

Maestra Maria (right) teachers all non-immersion second through fifth grade classes.

Say " HOLA " if you see us or our friends, "Pablo", "Paco" and "Miguel" around campus!

 

Scroll down to see our program delivery model.


Hola Amigos Class February 2010 Highlights! 

Click HERE for the latest skit performed by Mrs. Hatcher's 3rd grade class while learning with Maestra María. They started taking Spanish classes with Maestra María in first grade. 2 1/2 years later, these amazing niños are using their new language in a meaningful, conversational manner as described in the National Foreign Language Standards . They deserve a round of applause for their hard work! Muy bien!

 

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In HOLA AMIGOS classes, we sing, sing sing!

Have you heard your HOLA AMIGOS student humming our theme song? It's called "Hola Amigos" and we start every year with that to greet each other. Download the power point so that you can learn it too. Ask you child to show you the movements.

Singing helps children hear the sounds of a new language while anchoring the information in long-term memory banks. Want to test our theory? Try saying the alphabet without "singing it."