Dual language Kindergarten Week 3.

I always start by saying....This is a blog about our Spanish school immersion experience. My husband and I transferred our son to the elementary school that provided a dual language program. They do half their day in English and the other half in Spanish. To see how we got this far please back up and read my first post about our transfer decision and process. I am not a writer, educator, or native Spanish speaker. I'm just a parent who wanted the best school experience we could provide for son. It's a unique one and I want to share it!

Communication:
Wednesday there was a Latina Breakfast. I never received anything about this breakfast but my Latina neighbor did. She asked me if I was going. I was like, "I didn't get anything, is it just for the Spanish mom?" Which would be fine. She was making a dish.....I don't cook Spanish food and I'm not Latina why would I go? WELL, turns out it was a breakfast with Latina food so ALL was welcome. It was a parent meeting. The PTO moms were there. Now I was just irritated. This was not advertised very well at all. I'm flexible...If it was Latina only FINE! If not then I wanted to come. Because I'm a transfer mom I feel obligated to be at everything possible. Also, I just want to go. Another mom in class, who's daughter was in the same preschool as Mason, said she had a problem with the lack of communication. We felt the same about homework night last week. We had no clue what it was or if it was for us. (us meaning--moms who know how to do homework) The school has also sent home some fundraisers. One has vague info. Grandparents picture day is next Friday but we don't know what time. It's not on the brochure. The book fair is next week. I have no clue what day or if it's open to the pubic. The catalog said, "Come to our book fair". Okay great, I will.....but when is it?  I don't want to find out the day before. I assume I will have to send him with money. I want to go so I can buy some Spanish books. I sure they will have them. I attended the first PTO meeting (Parent Teacher Organization) and I read somewhere they meet the first Wednesday of every month. Latina breakfast would have been that day. So it made since the PTO president and others were there. My neighbor filled me in on what I missed. They are supposed to have another meeting for those who didn't make it. And they are planning a fall festival. The first one in 5 yrs! The neighbor has already got 3 local Mexican restaurants involved to make donations. She said it will be a very Spanish fall festival since most of the school has a large number of Hispanic students. It's going to be awesome, I'm so excited! I want to help and I want to be involved. I just need a little help. I have never done this before. Plus, me and the other mom came from a school that always made sure we knew everything and was up-to-date. So maybe I'm just spoiled.

Homework:
After this weeks homework. I'm bored. So far it's been name/number tracing. Reciting Spanish alphabet sounds, counting in both languages, and what I call 2yr old level worksheets. We were told they would have all year to count to 100. Done! We're there. And Mason can count to 40 in Spanish. In about 2 more weeks he will be able to count to 100 in Spanish. The worksheets are literally cut the number out and paste it on the matching amount of circles. Please! He's been doing this since his  2 yr old class preschool. Now, I know not every kid has the pleasure of private preschool for 3 yrs before Kindergarten but we did. And I'm bored. So yeah, I do feel like the traditional program kids are going to be ahead in reading. But I'm optimistic and patient. I expected this and I believe the benefit will out weigh the risk. After all, I have the option to supplement his learning at home. I think it's time. I asked the husband today to go ahead and wipe out the old computer to put in his room so I can get him started on the websites the teachers recommend (See these in and earlier post). I've already started my Pinterest board. They teach phonics and writing in English. Science, Math, and Social Studies are presented in Spanish. So most of my "Pins" are those subjects. I completely understand that the Hispanic kids are starting at the very bottom of it all--ABC123--and it's going to take some time for them to get where we are. FYI--if this blog is choppy it's because my son keeps coming in here needing help with something every 2 minutes and if you're wondering where I have time to blog this--I don't, I get disturbed--I just have to do it. Anyway, so I'm finding ways to supplement his education. I do feel that Spanish part of the program is challenging enough. He loves it! All week I hear him singing and chanting Spanish songs and alphabet. Being a Spanish enthusiast, I love it as well.

As far as other Kindergarten stuff goes....
Road Runners got rained out. Too bad, I had my shorts on ready to walk fast. Lol! So they spent half an hour in the gym learning procedures like "how to get in line quietly". Very exciting.

Mason was very excited about his trip to the school library this week. They got to check out a book and learn how to borrow a book and take care of it.

Questions? Comments? Anything you want to know that I haven' answered? See pics below! I took a picture of Mason's desk I cleaned off for him. I also provided a picture of some really cool cookies with English and Spanish on them.

I plan to post a video soon of him practicing his Spanish sounds. So come back and read me!

Thank you! Mandy

Two Weeks into it.

Welcome back and Happy Labor Day! If you just now joining me, this is my blog about the Dual Language/ Spanish Immersion program I transferred my son into when we didn't make the Charter School lottery and we didn't want to send him to his district school. This was my first choice anyway. Please see my early post about our decision to send Mason to school here. This blog is to provide info for other parents looking to try a DL program who wants to hear a personal experience. I am not an educator, writer, or native Spanish speaker. I'm just a parent who wants to give my child the best opportunity. So read and learn with me. Because this is all new to me too.

This was a busy week. First, the regular Kindergarten stuff.  We started Road Runners this week. It's a track/running program for the kids. At this age they don't do much. Emphasis is more put on exercise and healthy lifestyle. I believe that is what I read on the http://www.rrca.org website. I research everything. He said he liked it and wanted to do it again. They have a small paved track behind the school. They basically ran laps for 40 mins. The coach said that this week they will pass out sticks to keep count of laps. They are required to attend 3 running events of the season to be considered an active participant. I found it a little unorganized. But I won't get into all that. They are only 3 weeks into school and it was the first practice.

Thursday night was a "Homework Workshop". Now, at first I had no clue what that meant and if it was even for us. The information given out wasn't detailed at all so I emailed the teacher. Turned out it was a beneficial workshop. Both Spanish Immersion teachers gave a power point presentation about how much homework we should do per night. The lecture was given in English and Spanish. We were also given a packet of English and Spanish site words that also included counting to 100 and pronunciation sheets to help us parents. They also gave us a list of usuful websites for English and Spanish. The presentation ended with all of us standing up and reciting Spanish pronunciation. For example: The kids touch their hands to their heads saying "Oso, Oso, Oh, Oh, Oso". Oso is bear in Spanish. Each letter had a hand movement to accompany it. They didn't seem to follow any particular order. Not like the military style Spanish alphabet that I learned in my highschool Spanish class. You can YouTube the military version. Mason and I use this at home. I let him tell me the version he learns in school. It makes him feel like he's teaching me. Which I think is one of the best ways to learn something....teaching someone else.  We also filled out a survey on how useful we thought the workshop was. We were given parent cards to keep track of our involvement. Every time we participate in activities such as this we get a hole punch. When the card is full, we get something. This is where I say I don't need and incentive to participate in my child's education. But this is a title 1 school and they don't have a lot of parent involvement so I understand why they offer it. I also realize not everyone can participate in their child's education due to jobs and other commitments. So, I'm not judging. I just consider myself lucky. Mason's Kindergarten class had the largest turn out of parents for "Homework Workshop" and they won the certificate for frozen yogurt.

Friday! I got the best news I could have ever been greeted with when picking up my son: "Momma, I got Student of the Week"  I thought this was awesome! He was so excited. He was also given a coupon sponsored by McDonald's for a FREE 4-piece chicken nugget. I really want to post a pic but the certificate of achievement has the school name on it which I don't wish share.

So the week was good! Homework was the usual so far. Tracing his name and lunch number. Reciting Spanish letter sounds, counting to 40 in Spanish/English. They have sent home handouts on how to do this if you don't know already.  Mason continued his chanting and singing Spanish songs around the house this week. So far he is staying engaged.

Look below! I've posted some of the handouts for you to view. If I were you I would find these interesting so that's why I'm sharing them with you. So you can see the sort of stuff that they have sent home.

 

I'm trying to keep up with this blog weekly/bi-weekly. Please ask if you have any questions for want to know something I haven't covered. Thank you for reading! Mandy