Middle School Spanish - March 2026 

¡Hola Familias!

We are wrapping up March, so it is the perfect time to share all the "Marzo" magic from our classroom. It was so nice to visit with you at conferences! This month was all about the arrival of spring, celebrating diverse cultures, and mastering new ways to communicate. 

Tips for home practice for all grade levels: 

March is a great time to refresh language habits, so to keep the momentum going, over the weekend, try these "low-pressure" immersion ideas: 

• Switch the menu settings on a favorite video game or streaming service to Spanish.
• Listen to a podcast in Spanish. 
• Label the house, use sticky notes to label common items using your Spanish vocabulary. 

I'm incredibly proud of the progress our students are making as we head into the final stretch of the school year. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. ¡Gracias por todo!

"Dios es lindo, Y lindo es mi Dios" 

 Mrs. Claassen - Middle School Spanish 

Middle School Spanish - January 2026

¡Hola Familias!

Happy New Year! As we begin the month of January, I would like to share what students will be learning in Spanish class. 

This month, students will be learning about the history of the Three Kings ( Los Tres Reyes Magos) and the celebration surrounding El Dia de los Reyes through stories, discussions, vocabulary activities, and cultural lessons. 

Students will also learn about: 

• The religious significance of the Three Kings.
• How El Dia de los Reyes is celebrated in different cultures.
• Traditions such as gift-giving and the Rosca de Reyes.
• Related Spanish vocabulary and cultural customs.

Important dates:

1/6 - Classes resume

1/7 - Jeans Day, PTO Meeting

1/19 - No school

1/28 - Mustang Matters

Middle School Spanish - December 2025

¡Hola Familias! 

I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving break! I am writing to inform you about the current study in our Middle School Spanish class. In recognition of the upcoming Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, students are engaging in lessons that explore the cultural, historical, and  religious significance of this important celebration within the Hispanic community. 

Throughout this unit, students will examine:

• The story and symbolism of Our Lady of Guadalupe 
• Her role in the Mexican heritage and Catholic tradition
• Key Spanish vocabulary associated with the feast day
• Customs and practices observed during this celebration

In addition, we would like to share that the Matachines dancers will be performing on Friday, December 12th, following the 8:00 AM mass. This event offers students a meaningful opportunity to witness a traditional expression of faith and culture connected to our studies.

"Dios es lindo, Y lindo es mi Dios"

Mrs. Claassen - Middle School Spanish 

Middle School Spanish - November 2025

¡Hola Familias! 

We've had a wonderful fall so far in Spanish class! October ended with a meaningful celebration of El día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Students learned about this beautiful tradition. We created an altar (ofrenda), and reflected on how different cultures honor and remember loved ones. This activity provided a valuable opportunity for cultural reflection and artistic expression. 

In November, students will continue expanding their Spanish vocabulary through two thematic units: 

• Thanksgiving Vocabulary: Students will focus on words and expression related to family, gratitude, and food. Students will engage in speaking and writing activities that connect language learning with the values of thankfulness and community. 

• Preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: As we look ahead to December, students will begin learning about the story, traditions, and cultural importance of La Virgen de Guadalupe, an essential celebration in the Spanish-speaking world. 

I encourage families to support their students by asking them to share new Spanish words and phrases at home. Simple practice helps reinforce classroom learning and builds confidence in language use. 

"Dios es lindo, Y lindo es mi Dios" 

Middle School Spanish - October 2025 

¡Hola familias! 

October is an exciting month in our Spanish classroom! We're diving into new vocabulary, exploring cultural traditions, and continuing to build our language skills in fun and interactive ways. Here is a peek at what we've been working on and what's coming up! 

6th Grade 

Students are learning all about seasons, reviewing the months, and numbers. Students will be introduced to the history and celebrations behind  Dia de los Muertos celebrated on November 1-2. 

7th Grade

Students are learning how to understand and use common classroom phrases and class commands. We're practicing these commands through games, role plays, and fun listening activities to build both comprehension and confidence. 

8th Grade 

Students are refining their communication skills with a focus on greetings, using formal and informal language, and starting their journey into regular - ER verbs. 

Culture Note - All classes will be introduced to the traditions and celebrations behind Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated on November 1-2. 

Hola Familias! Middle School Spanish - September 2025

We've had a wonderful start to the school year in Spanish class. Here's a peek at what each grade has been working on this month: 

6th Grade

The 6th graders are beginning the year by learning new prayers in Spanish. This helps them grow in practicing pronunciation and memorization. 

7th Grade

The 7th graders are diving into the history of the Spanish language and culture. They are discovering how the Spanish language developed and spread around the world, making connections to the people and places where it is spoken today. 

8th Grade

The 8th graders are practicing their writing skills by creating paragraphs in Spanish. They are writing about their families, hobbies, where they from, and a favorite summer memory. This helps them express themselves more fully in Spanish while preparing for more advanced writing. 

IMPORTANT DATES

• 9/1 No School Labor Day
• 9/2 Staff training - No School 
• 9/3 Jeans Day 
• 9/4,9/5 Grandparents Day 
• 9/24 Mustang Matters 

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to Middle School Spanish - August 2025

Welcome back! I am so happy to teach you this year! 

What We'll Explore

Our curriculum is designed to introduce students to the Spanish language and the rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Throughout the course, students will learn to:

• Introduce themselves and others: Master basic greetings, farewells, and conversational phrases.

• Share personal information: Talk about their name, age, and where they are from.

• Discuss daily life: Learn vocabulary for school, family, hobbies, and food.

• Talk about numbers, dates, and time: Learn to tell time and count in Spanish.

• Understand basic grammar: Grasp key concepts like gender and number of nouns, and simple verb conjugations.

• Discover diverse cultures: Explore traditions, holidays, and geography of Spanish-speaking countries through music, art, and stories.

Important dates:

• 8/15 - No school
• 8/18 - Fall CSAL Practice Begins
• 8/26 - Picture Day

OCTOBER 2024

Welcome to October! The first month of school has flown by, and I'm so proud of how well the students have settled into our daily Middle School schedule and routines. October is shaping up to be an exciting month filled with learning, exploration and lots of culture notes. This month, all classes will focus on  The Day of the Dead history, traditions and celebrations of this important day. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

10/1O  No school- Parent Teacher conferences

10/11- No school 

10/14- No school

10/16- QT and free dress day

10/17- Great Pumpkin guesses begin

10/23- Mustangs Matter

10/31- Great Pumpkin Assembly at 1:30

SEPTEMBER 2024

Welcome back to another wonderful year in Spanish class! I'm excited to continue this language-learning journey with your child. Learning a new language is not just about words - it's about exploring new cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking. 

All classes will be focusing on the history of Mexico's Independence Day and how it's celebrated. We will make this an enriching and successful lesson, and will learn different facts about this country. 

IMPORTANT MCS DATES:

• September 4th - Jeans Day 
• September 5th - Grandparents Day
• September 6th - Grandparents Day 
• September 13th - No School 
• September 20th - No School 
• September 25th - Mustang Matters

Classroom Goals

My name is Nancy Claassen. I’ve been teaching children from preschool age to 8th grade for five years now. I will be teaching the standards set forth by the Wichita Diocese. Throughout the next year, students will be expected to be able to perform various tasks pertaining to the Spanish language. Our curriculum will follow the “Auténtico”, “Español Santillana” and “En Vivo” textbooks series as well as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines.

Para tener éxito…  (In order to succeed…)

• Arrive on time
• Be prepared
• Participate
• Respect others
• Have an open mind to learn Spanish!

Classroom Supplies

Textbook (8th grade), Spiral Notebook, Whiteboard, Pencil, and headphones.

Grades

Unit Test         Participation

Quizzes           Homework

Homework

Homework will be a combination of written work and tasks in our curriculum book. All assignments will be due the following class unless stated otherwise.

Behavioral Management

Demerit Cards should ALWAYS be kept in the front of the agenda.

Reminder System: When a student is not making good choices, they will receive a reminder and put their demerit card on their desk as a reminder. If they need to be re-direct again, a demerit will be given. There are some things that will result in an automatic demerit and the list is on the back of the demerit card. Five demerits will result in a detention which will be served on Wednesday morning in the office.

Absences

If a student is absent, he/she is responsible for obtaining the work, completing it, and returning it to the teacher.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I am looking forward to an exciting and great year
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