Songschool Spanish

Description

Parents often worry about having to teach a language they don't speak. Never fear Songschool Spanish is here! Classical Academic Press continues its tradition of providing quality, audio-based foreign language instruction with this Spanish offering.

The core of this program lies in the Book and CD Set. The audio CD contains 44 tracks set to music (you'll recognize some familiar children's tunes, such as "Where is Thumbkin?" and "If You're Happy and You Know It"). Spanish and English vocabulary are intermingled in the songs, resulting not in an "immersion", but a "weave". Most tunes are simple rhythms which repeat the vocabulary in the lessons. There's a lot of repetition because it helps the words stick in the child's head (so tolerate it with a smile, parents!) The Student Book follows the vocabulary on the CD. It's black and white with many varied activities and illustrations. The pages have a balanced mix of text, student writing space, and images. 173 pgs, pb.

The same Audio CD found in the Student Book is now available separately. This is perfect for those of you who don't have time to add a formal curriculum to your schedule, but do have time to listen to the lively songs. Words to the songs are found in the student and teacher books, but the CDs are easily understood, and your children will learn Spanish words as they listen!

There are 31 chapters with the suggested pacing of one chapter/lesson per week. Vocabulary covered includes: greetings, friends, family, house, manners, animals, colors, numbers, body, food, and weather. There is a support website for playing vocabulary games in Spanish and another site for parents to get guidance for the program. The Teacher Edition includes all answers to the exercises in the student book, plus parental tips. 147 pgs, pb.

Like the other Song School programs, this one wouldn't be complete without a game! Spanish Amigo Match is a flashcard set that contains all vocabulary from the Song School Spanish lessons (except for review lessons). The deck contains over 210 cards, each labeled (and color-coded) with the corresponding chapter number from the Student Book. Use the cards to play games (i.e. "Memory", "Go Fish", or "Carrot Top") or as flashcards.

Learn your lesson phrases from listening to la maestro (the teacher) on DVD! Use this as initial instruction or as a follow up. Your student can listen to a native Spanish speaker which is wonderful for their pronunciation, a lovely lady who is smiley and encouraging. She speaks clearly and slowly with pauses for your child to repeat the words. There is a video for each of the 24 lessons; navigating the DVD is a cinch. Each lesson is concluded by a "little moments" segment where you see/hear the vocabulary one more time. There is a lot of English used in the videos, which make them very parent friendly. Each lesson lasts around 5 minutes.

For convenience and economy, two packages are available. The basic package (SGSCSP) includes the student book w/CD, teacher edition, and Spanish Amigo Match. The Deluxe Package (SGSSDP) includes the student book w/CD, teacher edition, Spanish Amigo Match, and DVD. ~ Sara

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Religious Content
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.