Notre Dame Elementary students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade participate in Spanish class. Classes begins with prayers, greetings, the weather, all while being spoken in Spanish!

Warm up activities include a review of the alphabet, body parts, numbers, weather and much more! Studying a foreign language completes and improves a student's education while providing the foundation for further personal enrichment, scholastic achievement, and economic opportunities. The need for California's students to learn and understand a foreign language is more evident today than in the past.

Lower School K-5

Kindergarten - 4th grade Initial Exposure to Spanish

In kindergarten through fourth grades, the curriculum's main focus is vocabulary. Student's learn vocabulary words for common place items, normal greetings, and ways to describe the weather. This initial exposure to Spanish ensures that students are ready to move on to the next level of Spanish language mastery: writing and conversational skills!

5th grade - Confidence

In fifth grade students begin studying grammar and begin to read and comprehend in Spanish all while continuing to improve conversation skills. Using visual/written responses activities,  students demonstrate skills and understanding of the language.

Upper School 6-8

6th - (Realidades A) In the 6th Grade, students focus on:

• Using short sentences, learning words and phrases, and simple questions and commands when speaking or writing.
• Understanding some ideas and familiar details presented in clear, uncomplicated speech when listening.
• Understanding short texts enhanced by visual clues when reading.
• Communicating effectively with some hesitation and errors, which do not hinder comprehension.
• Understanding different types of cultures.

7th - (Realidades A) In the 7th Grade, students focus on:

• Using and understanding learned expressions, sentences, questions, and polite commands when speaking and writing.
• Creating simple paragraphs when writing.
• Understanding important ideas when reading an authentic text.
• Demonstrating fluency and control of vocabulary.
• Using and understanding expressions indicating emotion.
• Understanding oral and written discourse.
• Demonstrating culturally appropriate behavior functions.

8th - (Realidades B) In the 8th grade, students focus on:

• Using strings or related sentences when speaking.
• Understanding most spoken language.
• Creating simple paragraphs when writing.
• Acquiring knowledge and new knowledge from comprehensive authentic texts when reading.
• Choosing appropriate vocabulary for familiar topics.
• Learning all Spanish Speaking countries and their culture behind each country.

 
Advance Spanish is offered for Quarter 2 (Mandatory Placement Test).

Spanish Club is offered after school and focuses on Spanish Culture.