Spanish

CURRICULUM

Lower School (Kindergarten - 4th grade): Spanish classes focus on vocabulary development and language structures. We use Voces to direct instruction. Each rotation has a vocabulary theme and story associated with the unit of study. Students learn language through story, contextualized vocabulary, and classroom activities.

Middle school: Our sequence of Spanish classes are scaffolded to accommodate the growth and needs of students. At this level, we also use Voces and select teaching resources to reinforce learning goals. 

The Middle School sequence is as follows: 

  • Spanish A

  • Spanish B

  • A la Carte electives 

    • Hispanic Countries

    • Writing your story

    • La comida

    • 8th grade Spanish Bootcamp

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Aspen Academy student writes learnings about capibara in lesson. 

Karen Leyva

Spanish Instructor, and Student Leadership & Entrepreneurship Coach

As for her language acquisition journey, Karen began learning Spanish in high school. She knows what it’s like to learn a second language in a classroom- with a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and vulnerability. After graduating college, she moved to Venezuela for two years where she taught English to Spanish-speakers, mentored Venezuelan college students, developed Spanish language skills and relished in Venezuelan culture. Upon returning stateside, she has taught Spanish and other content areas in Illinois and Colorado. When Karen met her husband, Leo, she was delighted to be welcomed into his Mexican family- full of culture, traditions, and a whole new Mexican-specific vocabulary list of words and expressions to learn. Karen is a big proponent of the growth mindset as to how it relates to language acquisition. There is always more to learn in the practice of learning a language.

Karen Leyva (maiden name Skadow) has been at Aspen Academy since 2015. She loves the school’s energetic and welcoming community among students, families, and staff. In her words one of the best things about being an essentials teacher here is watching kids grow year after year- in knowledge, yes, yet even more impactful is seeing kids grow into their own personalities, learning styles, and leadership skills.

Karen lives in Southwest Denver with her husband and daughter. Together they love to hike, travel, and explore Denver area parks and museums. Karen also always appreciates recommendations for ethnic restaurants in the Denver metro area, but be forewarned, she’s a tough critic when it comes to Mexican cuisine. No one cooks Mexican food better than her suegra (mother-in-law).


Fabiola Lopez

Spanish Instructor, Student Leadership & Entrepreneurship Coach

Ms. Lopez has a passion for teaching and numbers, not only is Fabiola a Spanish teacher, but also an accountant. She has been working with Kindergarten-6th grade students for 10+ years and teaching K-8 Spanish for 5+ years. Accepting this job at Aspen was exciting since Ms. Lopez noticed there are lots of new ways she can expand her teaching. In her free time she enjoys reading, walking her dog, baking, and spending quality time with family and friends.