TOS Review - Spanish For You - Fiestas

Ok folks, this may be an absolute first for my daughter. Grace loves Spanish For You. To back track a bit, Grace rarely enjoys anything educational, but just now I asked her if she had anything to add for my review and she said, "I love Spanish For You." Specifically we were asked to review and use, the Fiestas themed unit. 

First I would like to introduce you to the author of Spanish For You, Debbie Annett. Debbie has "mucho" experience with teaching children Spanish. She even spent time studying in Seville, Spain. Debbie saw a need for an economical, effective, and easy program to teach Spanish to elementary and middle school students. She even has used this very product in a cooperative for the past 4 years with great results.

What You Need to Know

Fiestas themed lesson pack is recommended for grades 3-8. The packaged unit, which is what we received as a download, retails between $39.95 - $64.95 depending on what grade levels you will need. All grade levels together will cost you $64.95 while 3-4, 5-6, or 7-8 grades will run you $39.95 each. Included in this package is:

Soft Cover Book

Lesson Guide (PDF download)

Worksheets with Answers (PDF download)

Audio Files (MP3 download)

Flashcard/Activity Pictures (PDF download)

Teacher lesson plans can be purchased separately for $12.95(Fiestas). We received everything as PDFs, MP3s, and an ebook.

The author of Spanish For You recommends using the product 4 days a week which will have you finishing up in 24-30 weeks depending on the student's grade level. She is also quick to add that the student can go at a slower pace if needed. If a family has children in multiple grades the $64.95 package can be purchased and the entire family can learn together and have everything they need for a full year of Spanish. Currently Fiestas and Estaciones are available as packages with more coming very soon. Before a themed package becomes available the author uses it for one year in a classroom setting. This way all the "bumps in the road" can be addressed before releasing it to the public. Even though each themed unit is different it also has some review material from other units. The author also states that students who use this product for two or more years are well prepared for high school Spanish and some even start earlier than high school. Components included in each unit:

Vocabulary

Pronunciation

Syntax

Verb Conjugation

Grammar

Audios are provided as MP3s. One audio is the author speaking the entire Ebook while the other also includes a Spanish speaker from Mexico.

How We Used the Product and What We Thought

This review could not have come at a better time for us. As I mentioned in the beginning of this review, Grace does not like anything academic. To find something she enjoys, really makes my heart sing. Very often Grace feels she is not smart, this product has proved her wrong. She definitely seems to have a talent for languages (and art of course). Once I received the email with all the downloads I then proceeded to print everything and put it in a binder. I sectioned the binder into 4 units: 

LESSON GUIDE

FIESTAS EBOOK

WORKSHEETS

The fourth section includes all of the finished worksheets. This way Grace can easily go through all the materials on her own and find what she needs quickly. I have to say from day one she was hooked and very good at it. We used Spanish For You 3-4 days a week. Being homeschoolers we did tweak a portion or two by making flashcards online instead of index cards. Also with her being the only student and in 8th grade we have yet to play any of the games. She is quite happy with listening to the audio, reading the Ebook, studying the flashcards, and answering the worksheets. I find myself reading over her shoulder and learning just as much as she is. Grace is flourishing with this program and wants to continue it till the end. Over the summer to boot! That really says something about this product. Spanish For You is all that the author says and so much more. Spanish For You IS economical, effective, easy, and FUN. If you haven't noticed I highly recommend Spanish For You.

Be sure to visit Spanish For You and check Debbie Annett's wonderful product. Also visit TOS Review Crew to find out what the other families thought of Spanish For You products.