Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Exciting Online Spanish Curriculum


I have been using Escuelaenlinea.net (also known as escuelaenlinea.net) with my two sons for over a year now as a supplement to our studies in Spanish.  I started both kids in Preescolar 1.  My youngest son is now in Preescolar 2 and my oldest recently completed Preescolar 3.  The next step after Preescolar 3 is Primer Grado (1st Grade).  I have been very pleased with the content of the program, but I was considering looking for other options for Spanish Grammar for my oldest.  Based on the content of the preschool classes, I was doubtful that the 1st Grade classes would provide the level of instruction that I wanted for my son.  I thought it might be time to look into Rod and Staff Spanish and/or Hagamos Caminos.  I decided to go ahead and enroll him, though.  If I wasn't satisfied, then we would pursue other avenues.  Yesterday I paid the 500 peso registration fee to move up a grade level, which ended up being $42 US.  Tonight I logged in to see how it was set up and was very pleasantly surprised!

From the initial 30 minutes I spent exploring, I am very impressed.  The course consists of 36 weeks of lessons in Science, Math, and Spanish Grammar.  There is a course workbook for each subject, which requires printing.  You have the option of printing the book for the entire year or a week at a time.  In addition to the course workbook, there are online activities and weekly online evaluations.

The Science curriculum seemed to be a broad introduction into scientific themes such as: the human body, plants, the five senses, etc.  The lessons appeared to be very appropriate for the 1st Grade level.  This is the only 1st Grade Spanish homeschool science curriculum I have ever come across!

The Math seemed pretty basic.  The first lesson reviewed numbers 1 thru 10.  I jumped ahead to the final lesson which included telling time, number bonds, and skip counting 2s and 3s.  The math will be easy for my son, but I'm okay with that, because understanding all the new vocabulary will be challenge enough.

The Spanish Grammar/Reading is rooted in Bible passages, so if you're looking for secular Spanish instruction, this is not the program for you.  The reading lessons work on comprehension and fluency, assuming that the student has already mastered reading at a basic level.  The writing exercises begin immediately in cursive, so this could also be a deterrent to some.  

I couldn't be more excited about this 1st Grade curriculum!  It has all the characteristics I have been looking for in an immersion homeschool curriculum.
  • Inexpensive
  • Created in Spanish for Spanish-speakers
  • Christian-based
  • Contains, Spanish, Math, and Science

And well, it's the only option I've come across after hours upon hours of searching.  I mentioned Rod and Staff and Hagamos Caminos earlier.  They both seem like fantastic programs, and I wish I had the time/money to do all of them!  However, Hagamos Caminos is only a reading instruction program, and Rod and Staff only covers Math and Spanish, no Science.  Oh, and what about History?  Well, Escuelaenlinea.net begins offering History in 3rd Grade.

I will write more about Esceulaenlinea as I we delve into the curriculum!  Feel free to contact me with any questions!


6 comments:

  1. Thanks for your review of this curriculum. I'm hoping to start homeschooling my twin 5-year-olds in Kindergarten next fall and was wondering whether to use Educazion.net preescolar or primer grado. Your reviews make me excited to see that it can serve as a complement to what I already hope to do. I just discovered your blog and share a lot in common (non-native speaker, teacher), so I look forward to hearing more from you in the future. Did you use any other formal homeschooling curriculum in Kindergarten?

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  2. Cindy,

    Thanks so much for your comment! It is so nice to hear from other non-native speakers! I plan to post more about Educazion's 1st grade as we get into it. I am also going to try Rod and Staff and Hagamos Caminos, so look for information/reviews of those programs in the future, as well.

    For Kindergarten this year we used the following "formal" curriculum:

    Writing: Handwriting Without Tears in Spanish
    Math: Singapore Math (English) and MEP (Spanish).
    History/Geography/Science: Classical Conversations (I started out translating the memory work into Spanish, but that quickly went by the wayside. I hope to be able to work on the Science and Geography in Spanish this next year.)

    Good luck and keep in touch!

    Heather

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  3. Hi Heather,
    I'm also a non-native teaching my son Spanish, and homeschooling. (He's four so we're just doing preschool now.)I used to teach high school Spanish. I'm excited to have found your blog. Thanks for reviewing these resources; it's very helpful!
    Take care,
    Melissa

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  4. So great to hear from you, Melissa! Thanks for your comment.

    Heather

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  5. Heather, would you be able to give a brief idea of what is covered in Preescolar 2 and 3? I'm trying to decide which would be the best level for my son. Thanks!
    Melissa

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  6. Hi Melissa,

    I just wrote a new post comparing Preescolar 1 thru Primer Grado. I hope you find it helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.

    Heather

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