Bilingual Pre-K Delivers English and Spanish Instruction
Where can a four-year-old learn to read and write in Spanish while also learning English and having a lot of fun? The 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 bilingual Pre-K program, offered at 25 elementary schools.
鈥淚n 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 we embrace and respect other cultures and celebrate diversity,鈥 said Dr. Jackeline Orsini, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 director of early childhood learning. 鈥淥ur early childhood department is committed to meet the educational needs of each student whose native language is not English through our bilingual and ESL Pre-K programs.鈥
But what is bilingual Pre-K? Many people understandably confuse the bilingual program with ESL Pre-K. Both programs serve students whose first language is not English, but they are not the same.
Pre-K Students and Teachers are Bilingual
In ESL classrooms, students speak any number of languages, so the teacher instructs only in English. In a bilingual classroom, the students are Spanish speakers. Teachers speak both Spanish and English and teach in both languages.
鈥淭he Pre-K bilingual program connects directly to your child’s language and experiences, incorporated in a rich and rigorous bilingual curriculum,鈥 said Dr. Hildelisa D铆az, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 early childhood learning coordinator. 鈥淚t is a high-quality program that respects and draws on the language and culture of your child to further the linguistic, social and academic growth.鈥
The bilingual Pre-K curriculum is identical to all other 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Pre-K programs, but literature and social studies are taught in Spanish, and math and science are taught in English 鈥 all by the same teacher. During a typical day, the teacher will use books and songs to help transition from one language to the other. As a Spanish speaker, the teacher can offer support to the students when they struggle with English.
鈥淭he students are going to learn to read and write in Spanish,鈥 said Nadia Azari, a bilingual Pre-K teacher for the last 17 years at Morton Elementary and now an instructional specialist in the early childhood learning department.
Fluency is the Goal of Pre-K
The goal is to slowly add more and more English so that students become fluent and can eventually transition out of the bilingual program, usually later in elementary.
鈥淭hat starts from day one,鈥 said Azari, about incorporating English into the curriculum. 鈥淪ometimes the students feel intimidated because they don鈥檛 understand what the teacher is saying, but that鈥檚 where the Spanish support comes in.鈥
鈥淚n the beginning of the year, I used a lot more Spanish because the students feel more intimidated,鈥 said Nynyve Sanchez, a bilingual Pre-K teacher at Crow Leadership Academy. 鈥淪o, I would just say things in English and repeat it back in Spanish so they understood. It didn鈥檛 take long. Within weeks they felt comfortable and would say, 鈥業 can speak a lot of English now.鈥欌
By the end of the year, the students make tremendous progress in English while also learning Spanish and growing in confidence.
A major reason for the growth is something all 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Pre-K programs have in common 鈥 passionate teachers devoted to their students.
鈥淥ur highly-qualified and amazing Pre-K teachers help second language learners explore, discover, analyze and learn through fun hands-on activities in a warm and loving environment,鈥 Orsini said.
Azari and Sanchez are two great examples.
鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 be in Pre-K this long, but I loved it,鈥 Azari said.
Sanchez just finished her first year as a Pre-K teacher at Crow, but she has eight years in the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区, including four years as a bilingual sixth-grade teacher.
鈥淚鈥檓 not leaving Pre-K now for sure,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his is where I鈥檓 going to retire. This is it.鈥
Pre-K registration is open now. Register today.