Introduction
At Sarah’s Spanish School, we know that implementing a Spanish program in elementary and middle schools can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve made it our mission to offer a foreign language solution that is easy to implement, aligns with your schedule, and follows the most up-to-date language proficiency and curriculum standards.
Our fully asynchronous, proficiency-based model is designed not only to help students learn Spanish but to love it, while achieving real results backed by research.
For school leaders seeking to strengthen language education and equip students with 21st-century language skills, our program is built with your academic goals in mind.
Through engaging, research-aligned Spanish lessons, we ensure that students don’t just memorize vocabulary, but that they build the skills they need to communicate confidently in their second language!
Understanding Language Learning Standards
Whether you’re a school principal, curriculum coordinator, or classroom teacher, aligning your language programs with state
and national standards is essential. These standards are designed to ensure a consistent, research-based approach to language development that supports student development across all content areas.
Sarah’s Spanish School adheres to these guiding frameworks while making the learning process engaging, immersive, and achievable for every learner.
Our asynchronous Spanish class structure gives schools the flexibility to fit online Spanish lessons into any daily schedule, whether that means morning enrichment blocks, afternoon specials, or flexible remote learning.
This adaptable delivery method allows students to meet standards at their own pace without placing additional burdens on existing staff.
ACTFL Standards and Proficiency Guidelines
We are proud to base our curriculum on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, which define what learners can do with the language across interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes.
Our curriculum allows students to demonstrate growth through “can-do” statements that are present within each lesson at every grade level.
Common Core State Standards for World Languages
Common Core strongly supports the development of language proficiency.
Our curriculum additionally builds cross-disciplinary connections by incorporating storytelling, science, art, music, and geography into Spanish class to support the holistic learning process. They also build literacy, problem-solving, and cultural understanding skills in Spanish class, which are emphasized throughout the Common Core and deeply connected to cognitive development in early education and middle school years.
How Our Curriculum Maps to National Benchmarks
Our curriculum aligns closely with the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages, the national benchmarks developed in collaboration with ACTFL. These standards focus on five key areas: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Every Spanish lesson at Sarah’s Spanish School is designed to meet one or more of these pillars.
We teach students how to express themselves, interpret authentic content, engage with the Spanish-speaking world in ways that are developmentally appropriate and rooted in best practices, and more! Our blend of immersive lessons combined with storytelling, music, games, and craft-based activities makes learning Spanish both fun and functional!
Age-Appropriate Learning Objectives
We use can-do statements to set clear, age-appropriate learning objectives that help track growth in language proficiency over time.
By focusing on what students can do, rather than just what they know, we promote long-term language development and communicative competence.
Assessment Methods and Progress Tracking
Our program includes embedded language testing and assessments that track students’ communicative proficiency while being age-appropriate.
At Sarah’s Spanish School, we incorporate digital assessments to evaluate students’ Spanish language proficiency in each class.
This ensures that their learning remains aligned with proficiency goals, and it allows teachers and school leaders to make data-informed decisions about curriculum adjustments and additional support.
Communicative Competence Focus
At the heart of our Spanish program is the belief that students should be able to use the language in real-life contexts. Our curriculum is built around developing communicative competence, meaning students don’t just study Spanish; they use it to connect, share, understand others, and communicate using the target language!
This approach is grounded in the most current language education research, showing that the earlier students are exposed to a foreign language, the stronger their cognitive development and academic success become.
By prioritizing communication, we prepare students not only to succeed in Spanish class but to become global citizens ready for the future!
FAQ:
Q: What does ACTFL stand for?
A: ACTFL stands for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. It is a national organization that supports language educators and develops guidelines, standards, and resources for teaching and assessing world languages.
Q: What states teach Common Core?
A: The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been adopted in 41 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools. However, several states have made revisions or rebranded the standards under different names while maintaining much of the original Common Core content.
Take the Next Step:
Ready to take the next step?
For School Administrators: Ready to bring a world-class language program to your students? Request more information or book a discovery call with us today.
For Parents and Families: Eager to give your child the gift of bilingualism? Sign up for our 30-day free trial and start your family’s Spanish adventure now. Join us, and let’s make learning Spanish an unforgettable experience for your young learners!
Conclusion
If you’re a school leader seeking a flexible, high-quality, research-based way to bring Spanish lessons to your students, Sarah’s Spanish School is your partner in success.
Our program is built to align with state and national standards, maximize student engagement, and make teaching Spanish easy and effective for schools of any size.
Let us help your students learn Spanish, build lifelong language skills, and fall in love with the learning process—all while aligning with the standards and goals that matter most to your school.
