Curriculum
ChiCeLaCu’s curriculum begins at the preschool level and continues through the elementary school years. Our teaching philosophy is grounded in the understanding that learning languages is a process of many consecutive years of language exposure, and the younger a child starts, the better. Our students learn to speak, read, and write Spanish through music, dance, theater, games, art, and traditional classroom instruction. To monitor and showcase students’ progress, ChiCeLaCu assigns homework, conducts quarterly evaluations, schedules parent-teacher conferences, and holds student presentations.
ChiCeLaCu! implements two separate, sequential, and equally effective curricula through its various programs, and placement recommendations are based upon the student’s Spanish background. Specifically, the Spanish for Heritage and Highly Proficient Speakers curriculum is implemented at the preschool level (both locations) and in the Saturday School at ChiCeLaCu Fairfax. The Language Learners curriculum is implemented in the At Your School Programs and in the Saturday Program at ChiCeLaCu Tysons. All children, regardless of language background, are welcome in the preschool programs; however, elementary school-age children follow the track best suited to their needs based on language exposure. Children graduating from the preschool program are invited to participate in ChiCeLaCu’s Saturday School at Fairfax.
Spanish for Heritage/Highly Proficient Speakers
Our Spanish for Heritage/Highly Proficient Speakers curriculum came to fruition after a long review process of existing educational models from Latin America and UNESCO-funded educational initiatives implemented in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. ChiCeLaCu offers a complete, sequential curriculum from Pre-K to 6th grade. ChiCeLaCu’s comprehensive preschool curriculum effectively addresses cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. It focuses on building strong reading, writing, and math foundations through structured and age-appropriate activities involving arts and crafts, play, music, dance, one-on-one instruction, and much more. The elementary Spanish curriculum focuses on speaking, reading, writing, spelling, and grammar. Students use age- and level-appropriate textbooks and materials from Latin America, thus allowing for the seamless integration of cultural elements during each lesson.
Spanish for Language Learners
Classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level students focus on developing Spanish conversational and writing proficiency. Grammar lessons are integrated into individual, group, and class activities that reflect real-life situations and allow students to express themselves in correct conversational Spanish. Students use age- and level-appropriate textbooks and materials and are exposed, through various classroom activities, to different Latin American cultures.
