ACTFL Standards
How Risas y Sonrisas Provides an ACTFL Aligned Spanish Curriculum
Are you searching for an engaging, ACTFL aligned Spanish curriculum that truly captivates students? Risas y Sonrisas more than fulfills the requirements set in the "Standards for Learning Spanish" published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
As an elementary Spanish program aligned with ACTFL standards, our curriculum creates a positive, fun experience that prepares students to understand and actively participate in a multilingual world. Whether you are an independent educator or seeking a comprehensive Spanish curriculum for school districts, our standards-based Spanish program covers the five core goals of national foreign language teaching standards: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.
Read on to discover how Risas y Sonrisas meets ACTFL guidelines across each of these critical areas.
The 5 Cs of Language Learning in Action
Communication
Standard 1.1: Engaging in Conversations & Expressing Feelings
Conversation is a cornerstone of the Risas y Sonrisas program, which is why every lesson meets Standard 1.1. Students are provided with daily opportunities to converse with teachers and peers using 92 practical, frequently used Questions and Answers (Q&As). For example, students learn to ask and answer questions like ¿Qué fecha es hoy? (What is the date today?) through interactive ball-tossing games and engaging songs about the days and seasons.
Standard 1.2: Understanding Spoken and Written Spanish
Our curriculum ensures students understand Spanish across a variety of topics. Using a multi-sensory approach with visual aids, games, and music, we help students interpret spoken and written Spanish naturally. Collaborative activities like the "Word Chain" game and introductory Q&As (e.g., ¿Cómo te llamas?) build listening comprehension and reading skills simultaneously.
Standard 1.3: Presenting Information and Ideas
To build fluency and confidence, students don't just consume language; they produce it. Beginning in Lesson 7, students use Writing Journals to craft complete sentences based on chapter Q&As and cognates. Additionally, each chapter concludes with a Reader’s Theater skit (like La Entrevista). These skits integrate vocabulary into practical conversations, allowing students to confidently present ideas to an audience of their peers.
Communities
Standard 2.1: Using Spanish Within and Beyond the School Setting
Our program empowers students to use their knowledge of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture outside the classroom. Through our Online Interactive Program, textbooks, and songs, students are encouraged to teach their family and friends what they have learned, sharing their progress at the end of each session.
Standard 2.2: Becoming Life-Long Learners
We inspire students to use Spanish for personal enjoyment and enrichment. While field trips to local Hispanic communities are excellent, our curriculum also utilizes the internet to connect students with global communities, making life-long learning and cultural discovery easier than ever!
Comparisons
Standard 3.1: Understanding the Nature of Language
Students discover that Spanish and English share thousands of common Latin roots (cognates). By comparing languages, students realize how much Spanish they already know, making language acquisition less intimidating! They also learn key grammatical differences, such as the placement of adjectives after nouns in Spanish (e.g., cabeza grande).
Standard 3.2: Understanding the Concept of Culture
Through poems, games, songs, and our "Did you know..." cultural facts, students make direct comparisons between Hispanic cultures and their own. Whether they are learning the sounds farm animals make in Spanish or discovering historical facts about the Mayan ruins of Chichen-Itza, students gain a deep appreciation for cultural nuances.
Connections
Standard 4.1: Connecting with Other Disciplines
Risas y Sonrisas reinforces knowledge of other school subjects through Spanish. Students practice math facts, tell time, learn about the weather, and explore animal habitats. For instance, students might solve addition and subtraction problems on whiteboards, providing their answers entirely in Spanish.
Standard 4.2: Recognizing Distinctive Viewpoints
Students acquire information and perspectives uniquely available through the Spanish language. This includes understanding grammar concepts specific to the language, such as the use of masculine and feminine nouns (el, la, los, las), which are introduced intuitively using visual aids and color-coded text.
Cultures
Standard 5.1: Practices and Perspectives of Hispanic Cultures
Students observe and discuss cultural patterns in topics like greetings, school, family, and common classroom interactions. Through media, pictures, and events like our end-of-chapter Fiestas, students actively participate in age-appropriate cultural activities, gaining a clear understanding of Hispanic practices.
Standard 5.2: Products and Perspectives of Hispanic Cultures
Throughout the curriculum, our cultural segments highlight traditions, toys, clothing, foods, and arts. For example, students learn the history and traditional songs associated with the piñata, and educators are provided with fun ideas to organize online explorations or a real-life piñata activity for the last day of class.
ACTFL Standards
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