Spanish: From Toddler to 8th Grade

Spanish-language education is integrated into Many Rivers Montessori’s program in different ways, depending on each age group’s developmental needs. For our youngest Toddler learners, the focus is on exposure. Upon graduation from the MRM Middle School, students will have covered material equivalent to the first year of high school Spanish.

Toddler Community (16 months through 3 years old)

The opportunity to participate in Spanish is offered to the toddlers two to four mornings each week. During this time, the Spanish teacher comes into the room to sing songs, name objects, and speaks exclusively in Spanish to the toddlers. The toddlers are curious about Spanish board books, and they enjoy using maracas and other simple instruments during the music time.

Children’s House (3 years old – Kindergarten year)

Spanish instruction for Children's House is offered once a week in the classroom, focusing on basic vocabulary, such as greetings, colors, shapes, and numbers. Children listen to Spanish stories, sing and dance to songs, and play games. Spanish is also integrated into the lunch period four times each week, focusing on food vocabulary. Through informal, authentic interactions between the teacher and children, holiday celebrations and cultural topics are also addressed. 

Elementary (1st through 6th Grade)

The emphasis on the Elementary I (1st through 3rd) level is on developing listening, pronunciation and early reading and writing skills.  By Elementary II (4th through 6th), the students are exploring grammatical concepts and reading and writing longer pieces.  Use of songs, poems and the geography and history of Spanish-speaking Latin and South America are part of each week’s work in Spanish.

  • Pronunciation and listening skills

  • Basic vocabulary

  • Simple verbs and beginning conjugations

  • Parts of speech

  • Poem and fable recitation

  • Construct and read simple sentences and stories

  • Geography of Spanish –speaking countries

  • Holidays and other celebrations

  • Noun-adjective agreement

  • Idioms

  • Ties with American history

  • Short articles from Spanish texts

Middle School (7th and 8th Grade)

At the Middle School level, students work on formal Spanish grammar, covering in two years the equivalent of a first-year high-school curriculum. Using the technique of comprehensible input in context, students are exposed to real-life language, learning to “fill in the gaps” when new words and structures that they may not immediately understand are presented in new contexts. The content of every lesson is later reinforced through spelling activities, grammar exercises, and bigger projects, such as essay writing on Spanish-speaking films, oral presentations of Hispanic culture and traditions, and role play. The program for the 2022-2023 year also includes  a four-day immersive experience at Concordia Language Villages, in Bemidji, MN.