"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." Victor Hugo When music and movement are a natural joyous part of childhood, children benefit greatly in many areas of life. Language development, self expression, memory skills, concentration, social interaction, fine motor skills, listening, problem solving, teamwork, goal setting, and coordination are all impacted by early music and movement education.  Here at Abintra our music guide Kari Buishas joyously inspires our younger students. Two days a week Kari works with small groups of Early Childhood students, instructing the use of the Montessori Bells and teaching Musikgarten. The Montessori Bells are a beautiful set of perfectly tuned bells in the Major scale, designed to provide a sensorial means for children to increase the acuity of their auditory perceptions.  Students start by understanding high and low sounds and then begin different matching games. There are nine sequ...

Lower Elementary Lower Elementary students are learning how to describe the five main classes of vertebrates, starting with insects, or insectos . We are learning the names of insects in Spanish, as well as facts about them including habitat, color, and size. Each student made a mask of their favorite insect.     Students match the insect’s English name to its Spanish name. They write the names of the insects in the singular and plural forms. They use infinitive verbs (volar – to fly; saltar – to jump; etc.) to describe each insect.  The students write sentences in Spanish to describe their favorite insects. We wrote a story about an ant and a butterfly and took turns reading it.     Upper Elementary Upper Elementary students continue to work with singular and plural nouns, and practice by writing sentences and stories. Students work together to help each other master the lesson. Stude...

Lower Elementary Students are spelling out words in Spanish, translating the words using English or pictures, and then using those words to make new sentences in Spanish. We write stories together and students personalize them. Students are practicing compound words, "palabras compuestas." As an extension of botany lessons in the classroom, students are learning the Spanish names for the parts of the leaves. Lower Elementary students enjoy playing games and practicing dances from Hispanic countries. This is a great way to learn the language and culture. Upper Elementary We take many of our lessons outside if the weather permits. Dancing, games, we do it all!   One group of students is working on a play that focuses on the verbs baila, corre, salta, lanza, Éste/a, a es, se llama, and tiene; the nouns perro, gato, chico, chica; and the adjectives guapo/feo, gordo/flaco, inteligente/ estupido, rapido/lento. Old...