Language Acquisition / Adquisición de un Idioma

Whether you're in my Spanish or English as a Second Language class you are experiencing the challenges of learning a new language, or improving a language, as in the case of the native speakers or those who excelled in Spanish I. I have added new websites, and you can receive credit toward the homework portion of your grade if you hand in an explanation of what site or sites you visited and what you learned or practiced while visiting your site.

Look what we made!

The second grade students in my Spanish as a foreign language group made these beautiful masks with papier mache horns. The masks are worn at Carnival which coincides with Mardi Gras and combines Caribbean and African cultures. Vejigantes, the Spanish name for the masks, date back hundreds of years. Our designs were inspired from those made famous in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Too bad we couldn't make a field trip out of it!

*Read more about Carnival traditions and mask making in the links I have added to the list on the right hand side of this page.

Goodbye New York, Hello Hartford!

Although I no longer teach in New York, I am happy to be able to continue with my web page and hope my students former and current will continue to take advantage of the links for learning and fun. Como siempre voy a tener información en español especialmente como ahora estoy enseñandolo. Although the New York links are not visible, feel free to ask and I will email you the links for the NYC school year calendar, NY State math test prep, or anything else you might need to know!

ELA and beyond

The ELA is fast approaching! There are new links so that you can practice and become more comfortable with the test. Remember the test does not define you! Your success is measured by what you determine it to be. Hard work is the key to whatever your dreams may be.

Almost Thanksgiving?

Hard to believe that we are smack in the middle of November. It's time to check in, with yourselves, be honest about your effort, and remember that's it's you, most of all, whom you need to impress! One of my favorite quotes is about just this: To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
-William Shakespeare

The most popular link on this site is the map game, here is a copy of the United States (and territories) to help. Enjoy the game, and take it a step further, try to learn all the capitals. Then don't forget to challenge yourself with funbrain and the grammar sites. Hay un nuevo para los que sienten más comodo en español.