Sonrisas Newsletter

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FAQ

 

Are the story books included in the curriculum?

No, but they have been chosen based on their quality, relevance and availability. The best ways to get the story books are: 1) Order the storybook sets here. 2) Purchase the books individually in the Sonrisas Bookstore. 3) Get them from your local library. If your library does not have them, they can usually be ordered through the interlibrary loan system.

What is your return policy?

We will refund curriculum products. In order to be refunded, all returned items must be received in a sellable condition. This means that there are no tears, bends, or marks in the books and that the CDs are unopened. All Storybook Sets are non-refundable.

What type of schedule do the lessons follow?

Because of the flexible nature of the Sonrisas lessons, they can be used in any type of schedule. The lessons can be adapted for teaching twice-a-week, once-a-week, everyday, etc. The lessons can be 20 minutes long, 45 minutes, one hour long, etc. We have seen success with the lessons in many different types of schedules.

What student materials are included in the curriculum?

In every Sonrisas lesson the students do an art project wherein they engage with the vocabulary and concepts for the lesson. The Sonrisas Spanish School Curriculum does not include any student workbooks or student worksheets. Most of the art projects incorporate reading and writing. For extended learning and enrichment, students can take their art projects home and get their parents involved by sharing what they learned with them.

How many years does the Sonrisas Spanish School Curriculum cover?

Sonrisas Level I and Level II are each meant to be taught for two years—giving you enough lessons for up to four years. Each level has enough lessons for one year, and we strongly recommend that you repeat each level. We are firm believers in the effectiveness of repetition in language learning. Because each lesson in the Sonrisas Spanish School Curriculum has several different choices for the story books and the art projects, you can repeat the theme of a lesson while varying the content. Your students will enjoy having prior knowledge of the material as they repeat the lessons and will take their learning to a higher level at the same time.

Is the Sonrisas Spanish School Curriculum standards-based?

Yes. Level I, Level II, and the cultural curriculum all contain standards correlation in the lesson procedure pages.

Can I use the Sonrisas Spanish School Curriculum for the older grades?

Yes. The Sonrisas Spanish School Curriculum was designed primarily for the younger grades (pre-K through 3rd), but it can be used with the older grades as well depending on how much Spanish the older students have already learned. If they have had little or no experience with the Spanish language, then the Sonrisas Curriculum is very effective. The curriculum is designed so that you can incorporate more independent reading and writing with the art projects for older students. The Cultural Curriculum can be used with all of the grades.

I am starting a Spanish class—What do I need to buy?

To get started, you at least need to buy Sonrisas Level I. This is the beginner level. Sonrisas Level II is for intermediate elementary Spanish students. Both levels can be used for a public school class, a private school class, a preschool class, or an extracurricular class. If you want both levels of the curriculum and the cultural curriculum lessons too, the Sonrisas Curriculum Package is available which includes Level I, Level II, the cultural curriculum, and both CD's, at a discounted price. You will also want to purchase the corresponding storybook set with whatever level you buy. You may also wish to purchase the CD's separately. We recommend that your students have a CD for at-home enrichment. CD orders of 10 or more receive a 10% discount.

I already have a Spanish class—How can Sonrisas help me?

The Sonrisas curricula are excellent supplements to any existing Spanish language program already in place. Both levels contain many fun activities and projects that you can use to supplement your existing program, and the cultural curriculum can help you fulfill the cultural component of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning.