Rebeca Viquez » Maestra Viquez's Biography

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.
 

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Dear Parents,

This week, our Spanish class had the pleasure of hosting a special visitor who introduced our students to the beloved game of Lotería. Our 3rd-grade Group A (106) students had an amazing time playing this popular game alongside Principal Negrón.

Not only did the students enjoy the excitement of the game, but they also had the opportunity to learn about its fascinating history—how Lotería originated and eventually made its way to Mexico. During the activity, they practiced saying words commonly found on the cards, such as Mariachi, which means fiesta in the Otomí language.

It was a wonderful experience that combined fun, culture, and language learning. Thank you for your continued support as we bring enriching opportunities like this to our classroom!

Exciting News from 3rd Grade Spanish!

Dear Parents,

I’m thrilled to share the progress our 3rd-grade students have been making in Spanish class! They are now able to confidently recite the alfabeto in Spanish, a foundational skill that sets the stage for their continued growth in the language.

The students have also been learning to recognize unique letters in the Spanish alphabet, such as the Ñ ñ, and understand its special pronunciation and importance in the language.

Encourage your child to practice reciting the alfabeto at home—they’ll love showing off their new skills! This is a wonderful way to reinforce their learning and build confidence.

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

This Week in Spanish Class: Exploring Culture! …

This week, our students had the wonderful opportunity to learn about Las Posadas, a cherished tradition celebrated in many parts of Latin America during this season. Las Posadas is a festive nine-day celebration leading up to Christmas that brings families and communities together with songs, food, and joyful gatherings. As part of our learning, we explored the cultural significance of piñatas, a vibrant and essential part of Posadas celebrations. Students discovered the history behind the piñatas and how it symbolizes fun, unity, and cultural tradition. And of course, we got hands-on by creating our very own piñatas! These activities are a beautiful way for our students to connect with the rich traditions of Latino culture, fostering curiosity, appreciation, and joy. Thank you for supporting your children in this cultural journey ¡Felices Posadas!

Venado (Reindeer) Shapes: A Fun Way to Learn Spanish!

Dear Families, This week, our students worked on a special project combining shapes with creativity! Each student created a mini book featuring shapes like triángulo, círculo, cuadrado, and rectángulo—but this time, each shape had the face of a reindeer (venado). The students brought their venado shape book home to practice and share what they’ve learned. Please encourage your child to tell you the names of the shapes in their book and how to pronounce them in Spanish. Wishing you and your family a joyful winter break!

Dear Parents,

I’m excited to share that in our K-1 classes, we’ve been learning all about shapes in Spanish! Our students have been working hard to identify and create círculo (circle), cuadrado (square), rectángulo (rectangle), triángulo (triangle), óvalo (oval), and rombo (diamond).

We’ve also been combining these shapes with the colors we've already learned, using our new materials to create colorful and fun projects. The picture shows how our students have used these shapes to design their “casas” (houses), demonstrating both their creativity and understanding of shapes and colors.

I encourage you to ask your child about the shapes we've been learning—see if they can name them in Spanish or share their "casa" project with you. It's been such a fun and exciting journey, and I’m so proud of all their hard work!

Thank you for your continued support!

¿Puedo ir al baño? Room 106

Dear Parents of Room 106, I wanted to share a fun update with you all! We've been enjoying a catchy song in class called "¿Puedo ir al baño?" and it has quickly become one of the students' favorites. I introduced it with the purpose of helping them learn how to say "Maestra, ¿puedo ir al baño?" in a fun and engaging way. Not only have they picked up the lyrics, but they now sing it with so much enthusiasm every time they finish their work! It’s amazing to see how much they love it. In fact, if we have just a few minutes left of class, the first thing they ask is, "Did we earn the baño song? Can we listen to it?" And I always say yes, because they truly enjoy singing it together! If you listen to the video, you’ll hear how well they sing the lyrics—they’ve really mastered it! It’s wonderful to see them connecting with the language in such a playful and positive way. Thank you for your continued support, and I’m excited to see them continue to learn and have fun with Spanish!

This Week in Spanish Class!

Dear Parents,

This week, our students have been learning about the vowel E. They discovered that the letter E in Spanish has only one sound, and we've been practicing this sound through different activities.

One of the most fun projects was creating a mini-elephant book, where the children learned words like "uppercase E", "lowercase e", as well as other words that start with the letter E, such as "espejo" (mirror), "estrella" (star), "escalera" (ladder), and "elote" (corn on the cob). Each student had the opportunity to make their own book, and they really enjoyed the process!

Now, each student will be bringing home their mini-elephant book. We kindly ask that you practice the E sound with them and review the vocabulary inside their mini book. This will help reinforce what they've learned in class and build their confidence with the letter E in Spanish.

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning. I’m sure they will enjoy practicing together at home!

Dear Parents,

This week in class, we had so much fun creating our pavos/turkeys as part of a gratitude project! Each student added a feather to their turkey, writing words that represent the family members they are most grateful for—hermanos, abuelos, mamá, papá, tíos, and primos. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to reflect on the importance of family and express their gratitude (agradecimiento) for the people who are special in their lives.

The students enjoyed this hands-on project, not only because of the creativity involved, but also because we took time to talk about the value of family. It was a heartwarming experience to see them share their thoughts and celebrate all the loved ones they are thankful for.

Thank you for supporting this learning experience, and we wish you all a joyful time of gratitude with your family!

Celebrating Learning: Spanish and Sign Language Together!

Dear Families, I’m thrilled to share that we have been continuing our journey of learning about family members, not only in Spanish but also in sign language! The students are excited and engaged as they explore these two beautiful languages simultaneously. One of the highlights has been a song they’ve been practicing, which helps them remember the names of family members in both Spanish and sign language. They’ve worked so hard, and their enthusiasm is contagious! During our Thanksgiving break, I encourage you to ask your child to show you how to say the names of family members in Spanish and sign language. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their learning and connect as a family. Attached is a video showcasing how well they can sing and represent each family member using sign language. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do in class! Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you all a safe and joyful Thanksgiving break.

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!