Plan de estudios/Curriculum

Este año usamos el plan de estudios creado por el instituto de español para enseñar español a los estudiantes de segundo a quinto grado. Las clases van a estar enseñados por maestras de Whittier, Terri, Tamar, & Caitlin. Durante el año vamos a usar este blog para proveer actividades y enlaces para recursos audio que corresponden con las lecciones que enseñamos.

30 minutos cada semana es solamente una introdución a aprender un idioma. Si quiere buscar otras oportunidades para que su hijo/a practique español, refiera a la página de Recursos Adicionales. También esperamos ofrecer clases de español después de la escuela como parte del programa de FRS.

This year we will be using the curriculum created by the Spanish Institute to teach Spanish to students in second through fifth grades. Clases will be taught by Whittier teachers, Terri, Tamar, & Caitlin. Throughout the year we will use this blog to provide activities and links to audio resources that correspond with the lessons we're teaching.

30 minutes a week is just an introduction to language learning! If you are interested in seeking out other opportunities for your child to practice their Spanish, please check out our Additional Resources page. We also hope to offer after school Spanish classes through FRS.

Las maestras/The Teachers

Este año las clases de español van a estar enseñados por tres maestras de la escuela Whittier. Las tres tenemos maestrías en educación bilingüe, hablamos español con fluidez, y enseñamos en escuelas bilingües antes de venir a Whittier. Estamos emocionadas para compartir nuestro amor por el aprendizaje de idiomas con los estudiantes de Whittier.

This year Spanish classes will be taught by three Whittier teachers. All three of us have master's degrees in bilingual education, speak fluent Spanish, and taught in bilingual schools before coming to Whittier. We are excited to share our love of language learning with the Whittier students.


Caitlin Kline


Terri Lerose


Tamar Van Vliet

Whittier International's Language Policy

Whittier International’s Language Philosophy 

Language is a creative, interactive system we use to express ourselves, construct meaning and access information. Through language and communication with others, we develop our identities.  Because language is essential to learning, it is central to all of our instruction.  Consequently, all of our students are language learners and all of our teachers are language instructors.  Since language is a part of personal and cultural identity, we encourage and celebrate students’ home languages.  Learning multiple languages is important because it promotes an international perspective, abstract thinking, cross-cultural communication and the IB attribute of open-mindedness.

World Language Instruction:

English is Whittier’s language of instruction, and Spanish is our World Language.  2nd through 5th graders receive a weekly 30 minute language lesson in Spanish, co-taught by their classroom teacher and a certified Spanish teacher.  

Whittier International Language Goals

Student Goal
Students will gain greater understanding of language as an on-going learning process.  As part of a global community, they will develop positive attitudes towards language learning, as well as a sense of inclusion and empathy.

Teacher Goal
At Whittier, all teachers are language teachers.  In addition to the agreements in our Literacy Essential Agreements, classroom teachers will incorporate Spanish into their schedules an additional 15 minutes a week, to support the primary weekly lesson. Classroom Spanish activities include: integrated vocabulary, simple phrases, and commands with units of inquiry, calendar, games, songs, directions, greetings, and labeled text in the room.