World Languages

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

Last week, students learned vocabulary related to pets as well as adjectives to describe and compare them. They practiced using this vocabulary to talk about different animals and their characteristics.

Next week, students will complete both the Reading Summative and the Speaking Summative. To prepare, students should review the family and pets vocabulary we have been studying in class.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check Aspen regularly to see if students have any grades below 69 or any missing assignments. If so, students should complete the work as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support in helping students stay on track with their learning.

Spanish I (Mr. Donaldson, Ms. Cuffee)

Building on prior work with the preterite tense, students will explore more irregular forms. They will receive three new SpanishDict.com homework assignments targeting preterite comprehension (3HW19.PrCo), irregular preterite verbs (3HW20.IrrP), and stem-changing preterite verbs (3HW21.StPr). The class will review these irregular preterite forms in notes, practice sessions, and interactive games and activities. Later in the week, students will complete an in-depth practice assignment (3PA5.VI) to apply these irregular verbs in context. The students will also work on writing practice and interactive opportunities to refine their grammar and verb usage skills.

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

This week in Spanish 2 we are building our vocabulary while learning about the famous Nasca Lines in Peru. Students explored four popular theories about the purpose of the lines and shared their own opinions about what they believe the lines might mean.

Next week, we will continue following the Baker family, the protagonists in our class novel, as they return to Lima and try a variety of authentic Peruvian dishes. Students will learn about these foods and discuss which ones they would most like to try.

As we are now at the midpoint of the advisory, please be sure to check Aspen and contact me if you have any questions about your student’s progress.

Spanish Humanities, grade 6 (Ms. Balestra)

Last week students continued thinking about monsters and heroes and how they are portrayed in literature. We also discussed perspective and how a story can change based on the perspective of a certain character. Students rewrote the story of Little Red Riding Hood from the perspective of the wolf. Students showed their understanding of characteristics and themes on the Friday Formative.

Next week students will read "El Laberinto del Minotauro." We will also begin writing our own myth, giving an explanation for a natural phenomenon. The Friday Formative will focus on monsters and heroes in "El Laberinto del Minotauro."

Spanish Humanities, grade 7 (Ms. Henderson)

This week in 7th Grade Spanish Humanities we continued our unit on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Students have been practicing the habit of sustained reading in Spanish by reading independently for twenty minutes at a time and reflecting on their reading in their reading logs. This practice helps them build stamina as readers, strengthen comprehension, and think more deeply about what they read.

We also explored the idea that developing and maintaining our relationships is just as important as personal growth. Students learned about the Relational Bank Account, which represents the trust we build with others through our everyday actions.

Next week we will accelerate our pace slightly in order to finish the unit by the end of the advisory. We will be learning about Habit 4: Think Win-Win, which focuses on finding solutions where everyone benefits rather than approaching situations as win-or-lose conflicts. This habit is essential for building strong relationships and resolving disagreements respectfully. Students will also continue writing reflections in their weekly journals.

As always, please check Aspen for grades and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Esta semana en Español Humanidades de 7º grado continuamos nuestra unidad sobre Los siete hábitos de los adolescentes altamente efectivos. Los estudiantes han estado practicando el hábito de leer en español durante veinte minutos seguidos y reflexionando sobre su lectura en sus registros de lectura. Este ejercicio les ayuda a desarrollar resistencia como lectores, mejorar su comprensión y pensar más profundamente sobre lo que leen.

También hemos explorado la idea de que cuidar y fortalecer nuestras relaciones es tan importante como el crecimiento personal. Los estudiantes aprendieron sobre la Cuenta Bancaria Relacional, que representa la confianza que construimos con otras personas a través de nuestras acciones diarias.

La próxima semana aceleraremos un poco el ritmo para terminar la unidad antes del final del advisory. Aprenderemos sobre el Hábito 4: Pensar ganar-ganar, que nos enseña a buscar soluciones donde todos puedan beneficiarse en lugar de pensar en términos de ganar o perder. Este hábito es fundamental para construir relaciones saludables y resolver conflictos de manera respetuosa. Los estudiantes también continuarán escribiendo reflexiones en sus diarios semanales.

Como siempre, por favor revisen Aspen para ver las calificaciones y no duden en comunicarse conmigo si tienen alguna pregunta.

Spanish Humanities, grade 8 (Ms. Wooten)

This week students analyzed the song "Latinoamérica" by Calle 13, first practicing listening comprehension to identify lyrics, and then diving deeper to understand the historical and cultural references of the song. Ask your student what message the song is communicating and who is the intended audience? Next week, on Monday, we will respond to Ms. Wooten's comments on our Casa en Mango essays, make final edits, and go over MLA formatting expectations before handing in the FINAL FINAL draft for a summative grade. Then we will lauch into an exploration of biodiversity in Latin America - what it means, the importance of biodiversity- and small group research into biodiversity in specific zones of Latin America. Next Friday, some of us will be out for 6 days - traveling to Costa Rica. Students who remain at Deal will have (FUN) work to do while we are out, and will be able to share their learning when we return.

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

Last week, students learned not only to describe people's personalities, but also their appearance. They practiced with a variety of guess who activities.

This week students will be showing off all that they have learned on their reading and speaking summatives. Both of these assessments focus on family vocab as well as describing.

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 resource to support their learning. It is updated every time we learn something new! Students have been commenting about how much they've learned so far. It's great to see their confidence grow.

French I (Ms. Balestra, Mr. Osei)

This past week students continued to expand their vocabulary around the theme of sports and leisure activities. Students also worked with the past tense (le passe compose). Students took a Reading Comprehension Summative to show their mastery of new vocabulary.

Next week students will be working with reflexive verbs. Friday's Formative will be a Speaking Formative focusing on daily self-care activities.

A reminder that students in Mme Balestra's classes can find slide decks, homework assignments, vocabulary, and practice activities on our Home page of Canvas.

French II (Dr. Mbayu & Mr. Osei)

Students receive feedback and revise their work to improve accuracy and clarity.
🎯 Focus: growth mindset and reflection.
💡 Ask at home: What feedback helped you improve?

Chinese (Ms. Liang)

G6

Last week, students successfully completed their summative assessment, demonstrating their learning and growth. We also kicked off an exciting new unit on sports, where students began exploring vocabulary and expressions related to different physical activities.

Next week, students will work on textbook assignments (Lessons 7.1 – 7.8), focusing on:
Sports preferences – learning how to express which sports they like or dislike.
Explaining why – using key sentence structures to articulate their reasons for enjoying a particular sport.

Through engaging classroom discussions, written exercises, and interactive activities, students will practice expressing opinions and preferences in Chinese.

G7

Last week, students successfully completed formatives and summative tests, demonstrating their progress and understanding of the material covered in our previous unit. I am proud of their hard work and dedication!

Next week, we will begin an exciting new unit on Chinese food. Students will:
🍜 Learn essential vocabulary for common dishes, ingredients, and dining experiences.
🥢 Practice ordering food and expressing preferences in Chinese.
📝 Explore Chinese cuisine and cultural traditions.

This unit will provide a fun and meaningful way for students to expand their language skills while deepening their cultural understanding.

G8 - International Trip to Taiwan