World Languages

Spanish Language and Culture (Mr. Fontalvo, Ms. Gonzalez)

Last week, students practiced conjugating regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs in the present tense. They also completed a formative writing assessment to demonstrate their understanding and language growth.

To continue practicing at home, students can review the material using the Blooket activity linked below:
https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=69fc804f7259acb9606fb5cf

Next week, students will learn how to conjugate the verb ir (to go) and explore vocabulary related to places in the city. Through interactive activities, students will continue developing their writing and listening skills in Spanish. They will also complete their second formative writing assessment.

Thank you for your continued support at home!

Spanish I (Mr. Donaldson, Ms. Cuffee)

The assignment turn-in deadline for the first half of Term 4 is Wednesday, May 13.

Students will begin the week with speaking formative assessments on food and health vocabulary. Then they will dive into giving commands, focusing on both affirmative and negative tú commands as well as formal usted/ustedes commands. Through interactive activities, they will practice giving commands related to food and health, especially focusing on healthy eating habits. The practice activities this week will involve both writing and speaking practice focused on giving commands for healthy eating habits and maintaining health.

The final SpanishDict.com homework assignments (Assigned May 11, Due May 15): 4HW7 - Affirmative Tú Commands (Grammar), 4HW8 - Negative Tú Commands (Grammar), 4HW9 - Usted and Ustedes Commands (Grammar).

The following graded speaking assessments this week include 4FormC1.ED - En el desayuno Speaking Formative and 4FormC2.LR - La receta Speaking Formative.

Spanish II (Ms. Wooten, Ms. Henderson, Mr. Almanza)

Hola estudiantes y familias,

Next week, May 11-15, your 8th grade student will take the Standard-Based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) exam in Spanish class. This standardized test is a DCPS requirement for all 8th graders taking a world language class. Students will test during their normally scheduled class time and aim to complete one section a day, though they will have additional time if needed to complete the test (it is untimed and is adaptive, so will be longer for some students depending on how well they do).

What is STAMP?
STAMP is an untimed, adaptive, computer-based test which measures your student’s proficiency in the four fluencies of a language: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Your student will receive 4 scores on the ACTFL proficiency scale, one for each fluency of the language. To learn more about the test, you can read over the STAMP 4S Parent Guide.

Why do we use STAMP?
STAMP results will be used to inform program design and to help your student continue language study at advanced levels by identifying areas of strength and growth. For eighth grade students, STAMP results may be used to place students in appropriate World Language courses in high school.

How can I prepare?
You can help your student learn more about STAMP by taking a practice test and reading over this Powerup Guide to learn more about how they can increase their language proficiency. The test could include any vocabulary, but you may brush up your Spanish 1 level vocabulary using these 3 study sets: study set 1, study set 2, study set 3. You can also review that vocab in a gimkit game here!

Is this graded?
Students will receive 2 summative grades, one for Reading/ writing and one for listening/ speaking. The scores will primarily be based on whether the student met DCPS’s proficiency targets for the level of this class. The proficiency target for Spanish 2 is novice high (a 3) to intermediate-low (a 4) on the ACTFL proficiency scale. The grade will also take into consideration completion, effort, and academic integrity, that the student made no attempts to use google translate or other resources during the test.

Please encourage your student to do their best and to complete the test in its entirety. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

And after STAMP?
After STAMP, we will pick back up on the mystery book we are reading- focusing on the reader's theatre format to allow all students a chance to read and act in their groups. Students will analyze murals from Pilsen Chicago, think about expressing identity through art.

Spanish Humanities, grade 6 (Ms. Balestra)

Last week students focused on the grammatical structures of the preterit and imperfect verb tenses. Students took a formative on Friday to show their mastery of verb formation in those tenses. I look forward to seeing their narrative writing next week!

Spanish Humanities, grade 7 (Ms. Henderson)

This past week we finished Chapter 2 and students have been assigned Chapter 3 along with comprehension questions for homework. If your student doesn't yet have a copy of the book, a PDF of the chapter has been posted on Canvas, but please do try to get a physical copy, as we will be using it quite a bit in class.

Next week we will be reading Chapters 4–6. We are moving at a fairly quick pace in order to finish by the end of the year, but I think we are absolutely up to the challenge! Have a lovely weekend and don't forget to check Aspen, as the first grades of the fourth term have been posted.

Esta semana terminamos el Capítulo 2 y los estudiantes tienen asignado el Capítulo 3 con preguntas de comprensión para la tarea. Si su estudiante todavía no tiene el libro, hay un PDF del capítulo en Canvas pero, por favor intenten conseguir una copia física, ya que la usaremos bastante en clase.

La próxima semana leeremos los Capítulos 4–6. Vamos a un ritmo bastante rápido para terminar el libro antes de fin de año, ¡pero creo que estamos a la altura del reto! Que tengan un fin de semana muy agradable y no olviden revisar Aspen, donde ya están publicadas las primeras notas del cuarto trimestre.

Spanish Humanities, grade 8 (Ms. Wooten)

Hola estudiantes y familias,

La semana que viene (el 11 a 15 de mayo) su estudiante de octavo grado tomará el examen STAMP (Standard-based Measurement of Proficiency) en la clase de español. Este examen es un requisito para cada estudiante de octavo grado en DCPS. Tomarán el examen adentro de nuestro periodo de español (no afecta el horario de clases del día). La meta es terminar una sección del examen cada día, pero tendrán más tiempo si sea necesario.

¿Qué es el examen?

STAMP es un examen adaptivo, sin límite de tiempo y basado en computadora. Mide la competencia del estudiante en los cuatro modos del idioma: comprensión de lectura, comprensión auditiva, expresión escrita y expresión oral (o sea, LEER/ ESCUCHAR/ ESCRIBIR/ HABLAR). Su estudiante recibirá cuatro notas en la escala de competencia ACTFL, una por cada modo del idioma. Para aprender más, puede consultar la guía para padres. Los estudiantes de humanidades realizarán la versión monolingüe del examen (es decir, todo el examen- tanto las preguntas como las respuestas- será en español).

¿Para qué lo usamos?

Los resultados ayudan al distrito a diseñar el currículo y el programa de idiomas. Para el estudiante, el examen identificará sus fortalezas y áreas de crecimiento. También, los resultados de STAMP pueden ayudar a los consejeros de su escuela secundaria a seleccionar la clase apropiada para el noveno grado.

¿Cómo puedo prepararme?

Se puede aprender más sobre STAMP por hacer un examen de práctica y leer esta guía. Los estudiantes de Humanidades ya deben saber el vocabulario de nivel principiante e intermedio del examen, pero si lo necesitas, puedes repasar tu vocabulario de español 1 con estas 3 listas de vocab: lista 1, lista 2 y lista 3. ¡También puedes repasar el vocabulario en un juego de Gimkit aquí! Más importante para estudiantes de humanidades- deben practicar hablando por unos 3 minutos (sin escribir nada) en respuesta a cualquier pregunta (por ejemplo: “Un nuevo estudiante viene a Deal. Cuéntale sobre un día normal en la escuela y una describe un evento interesante o algo divertido que sucedió la semana pasada”).

¿Es una nota?

Los estudiantes recibirán dos notas sumativas en ASPEN: una para lectura/escritura y otra para comprensión auditiva/expresión oral. Estas notas estarán basadas principalmente en si el estudiante logra las metas de competencia de DCPS para el nivel de esta clase. La meta de competencia para Humanidades 2 es un nivel intermedio-medio (un 5) en la escala de competencia de ACTFL. También voy a considerar su esfuerzo e integridad académica y si logró terminar todo el examen.

Ya hemos discutido el examen en clase, pero lo agradecería si puede animar a su estudiante a esforzarse al máximo y completar el examen en su totalidad. No dude en contactarme si tiene alguna pregunta.

French Language & Culture (Ms. Bullock, Mr. Almanza)

This week we will be continuing unit 4: Mes activités. This week students will be learning how to conjugate regular -er verbs in French! (That set them up to be able to conjugate 90% of verbs in the French language!) Check in with your student and see if they can explain how to conjugate a verb to YOU! :)

Madame Bullock's class: The allergies have ravaged our tissue supply! If you're willing and able to help our class with a box of tissues, our running noses would appreciate it! :)

What can we do at home?

Vocabulary is KEY to language learning. Students should be reviewing their vocabulary for at least 5 minutes every night. They are welcome to use this newly updated resource to support their learning.

French I (Ms. Balestra, Mr. Osei)

last week we continued working with demonstrative and interrogative adjectives and our clothing vocabulary. Students took a formative on Friday to show that they were not forgetting their new vocabulary words!

Next week we will revisit the passe compose. Since all classes will be meeting on all days, we will also focus more on listening comprehension.

French II (Dr. Mbayu & Mr. Osei)

Students continue practicing futur simple with regular and common irregular verbs. Reading and writing activities focus on traveling and vacation plans.

✅ Student Goal: I can write sentences about future travel plans.

Chinese (Ms. Liang)

G6

Last week, students learned key vocabulary to describe not only facial features but also arms, legs, and what accessories they wear, such as glasses, sunglasses. In class, students practiced their speaking skills by introducing a friend in Chinese using descriptive language.

Next week, we will continue exploring this unit and focus on developing our written Chinese skills through structured practice and in-class activities. We will have a formative next week on Friday.

G7

Last week, we wrapped up our speaking summative assessment and kicked off a brand-new unit on weather. Students learned common weather vocabulary and practiced new sentence patterns through engaging speaking and listening activities in class.

Next week Friday, we will continue building on this foundation and have an in-class formative assessment to check for understanding. Keep reviewing your notes and practicing at home to prepare!

G8

Last week, our Grade 8 students focused on strengthening their speaking, and listening skills in preparation for the upcoming STAMP test. In class, we watched the official STAMP introductory video and reviewed testing tips to help students feel confident and ready. We also shared some recent changes of the test.

Next week, we will conduct our STAMP test in class.

📌 Reminder: Please encourage students to study and review their notebooks at home to reinforce key vocabulary and grammar structures. Complete the writing practice on canvas.

We’re proud of their progress and excited to see their growth on the STAMP assessment!