Maestra Viquez's Biography

Rebeca Viquez was born and raised in Mexico City. She proudly embraces her vibrant culture and enjoys sharing it with her students. She is a dedicated educator with a passion for Spanish language and multicultural learning. She graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in K-12 Spanish and holds a bilingual endorsement. With 15 years of experience at Stone Academy Scholastic School as a Special Education Classroom Assistant (SECA), Rebeca has demonstrated a commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments. Beyond her professional endeavors, Rebeca cherishes spending time traveling with her family, which allows her to further expand her cultural knowledge and experiences. She enjoys exploring different cultures and recently ventured to Cartagena, Colombia, to immerse herself in their music, food, and history. When she is not traveling, she appreciates taking courses at home, such as a recent class on Puerto Rican literature. Rebeca’s goal is to offer rich cultural perspectives in her classroom.

Maestra Viquez with an Alebrije: Alebrijes are colorful Mexican folk art sculptures of imaginary creatures, often resembling dragons, lizards, or other magical beings.

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This week, our students worked on a special project: their own árbol familiar (family tree). 🌳 They used Spanish vocabulary to identify and describe their family members, learning words like abuelitos, mamá, papá, hermano, hermana, tía, tío, and primos.

In addition to building their family trees, students practiced introducing their family members using phrases such as:

Ella es mi mamá. (She is my mom.)
Él es mi papá. (He is my dad.)
Ellos son mis abuelitos. (They are my grandparents.)

It was wonderful to see them gain confidence while talking about their families in Spanish! This project not only helped them expand their vocabulary and grammar skills but also encouraged a deeper sense of identity and connection to their roots.

At-home connection: Ask your child about their árbol familiar and invite them to introduce your family in Spanish. You’ll be amazed by how much they’ve learned!

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning journey.

Dear Parents,

I wanted to share some of the wonderful activities we’ve been engaged in during our Spanish class as we explore the theme of families.

We are currently reading the book Un Puñado de Botones by Carmen Parets Luque. This delightful story helps students learn about the various members that make up a family, highlighting the diversity and uniqueness of each family structure. Through the book, the children are discovering that every family is special in its own way, fostering an appreciation for different backgrounds and experiences.

To bring this theme to life, students had the opportunity to represent their own families using buttons. This creative activity allowed them to express their personal stories and share what makes their families unique. They also presented their families in Spanish, using phrases like "Mi familia," "mamá," "papá," "hermano," "hermana," and even mentioning their pets! It was heartwarming to see their enthusiasm and pride in showcasing their family members.

Thank you for your continued support at home as we celebrate the importance of family together.

Dear Parents,

This month, our students had the wonderful opportunity to learn about the vibrant tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This important Mexican holiday celebrates and honors loved ones who have passed away, blending remembrance with joy and colorful festivities.

As part of our activities, each child had the chance to decorate their own calaveritas de azúcar (sugar skulls). This hands-on project allowed them to explore the rich cultural significance behind the holiday while expressing their creativity. The bright colors and intricate designs symbolize the joy of life and the sweetness of memories.

¡Hola, familias!

We are excited to share what we’ve been learning in Spanish class! This week, our focus has been on “la familia.” The students have been exploring family vocabulary, including words like abuelita, hermano, hermana, tío, tía, papá, and mamá.

We also discussed who our family members are and how diverse our family structures can be. The picture above shows our students writing the word abuelita and other family member names in different languages they speak at home, including Tagalog, Hindi, Spanish, Italian, Korean, and more!

We believe that celebrating our diverse backgrounds enriches our learning experience. Thank you for your support as we continue to explore and appreciate our families together!

Dear Parents,

We are excited to share the joy and excitement that took place in our classroom during our recent game of Mata Mosca! The students had an incredible time using fly swatters to identify and hit the images on the board as the teacher called out words. This engaging activity not only encouraged teamwork but also enhanced their vocabulary and listening skills.

It was delightful to see our students eagerly calling out words for their peers and striving to be the first to hit the correct image. Their enthusiasm and competitive spirit truly brought the lesson to life!

Attached there is an image capturing the fun moments from our Mata Mosca game, showcasing the wonderful engagement and camaraderie among the students.

Thank you for your continued support in making our learning environment enjoyable and effective!

This week, we began our celebration of el otoño by practicing our colors in Spanish! The students enjoyed coloring their Otoño Books, which allowed them to express their creativity while reinforcing their language skills.

This Week in Second Grade: Comic Strip Fun!

This week, the second graders in Room 104 had a blast creating their own comic strips! They incorporated key Spanish phrases such as:

¿Cómo te llamas? (What 's your name?)
Yo me llamo… (My name is…)
¿Cómo te sientes? (How do you feel?)
Yo me siento… (I feel…)
¡Maravilloso! (Wonderful!)
¡Cansado! (Tired!)
¿Te gusta la pirámide? (Do you like the pyramid?)

Through this project, students practiced their Spanish while expressing themselves creatively. The images above showcase some of the fantastic comic strips created by our talented second graders!

Los estudiantes de 3° a 5° están listos para conocer el bello Perú.

The flags 🇵🇪 you see in the image were made by the 3rd graders from Room 106 and the 4th graders from Room 105!

🌟 Exciting News! Our K-2 Adventurers Are Heading to Honduras! 🇭🇳✨

Dear Parents,

Get ready for an adventure! This week, our K-2 students are exploring the vibrant country of Honduras right from their classrooms. They’ll discover the flag’s bold blue stripes and starry white center, dive into colorful traditions, and have tons of fun with exciting activities!

The flags you see in the image are from classrooms 103 and 104. Stay tuned for more updates on their adventure!

Spanish Language Baseline Assessment

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you that students in grades K-8 will be participating in a Spanish language assessment over the course of this week and next week.

This assessment, assigned by Maestra Viquez, is designed to help us gain a better understanding of each student's current Spanish proficiency. The information gathered will allow us to tailor activities that align with their skill levels and to identify the most effective next steps for their continued growth in the language.

Please note the following important details:

No Impact on Grades: This assessment will not count towards your child’s grade and will not negatively impact their academic record.
Understanding the Assessment: It is perfectly fine if students do not understand every question on the test. The key is to try their best.

Thank you for your support in this important process. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

I am thrilled to share a delightful experience from our Kindergarten Spanish class with Maestra Viquez! This week, our students had a fantastic time exploring the vibrant world of the bilingual book "Paletero Man." This charming story, available in both Spanish and English, allowed our young learners to enjoy the narrative in both languages, immersing themselves in the colorful illustrations and sweet treats featured in the book.

Inspired by the story, each student participated in a fun and engaging activity where they designed their own unique paletas, the delicious frozen pops highlighted in the book. From fruity flavors to creamy delights, their creations are as imaginative as they are beautiful!

Please take a moment to enjoy the pictures above, showcasing the amazing paleta designs made by our talented students. Each one reflects their individual tastes and artistic flair, bringing the story to life in their own special way.

Moments like these make learning an exciting adventure for our students, and I am delighted to share their wonderful work with you!

Name: Rebeca Viquez
Position: Spanish Teacher
Email: raviquez@cps.edu