I have always believed that it takes a ‘special’ kind of heart to be a kindergarten teacher – sugar maybe? As an upper elementary educator, I often take for granted that children come to me already knowing how to hold a pencil or writing words with spaces between them.
This week, I had the rare opportunity to visit a kindergarten classroom at my school and I was fascinated with what I saw…I just had to share the wonders that take place inside a dual-language classroom – especially kinder.
First, and contrary to what several people I have met thought, many students at dual-language schools do not come from houses where the target language is spoken. In fact many kinder students come from English-Only households (or EO’s).
So imagine this: A child comes to a classroom where his/her language is NOT spoken (in a 90/10 program which is more 100/0 at the beginning of the year). This student is spoken in the target language all the time from numbers, letters, to directions. Therefore I wondered: How do they do it (teachers)? How do children survive? I can only think of myself being thrown in a foreign country. What would I do?
It is here that the wonders of a well-designed dual language classroom start to work. Children survive…they just do. They learn fairly rapid commands and key words. It starts slow, but in a few weeks they take off (even their writing).
When I visited the classroom, what caught my attention were the amazing charts: plenty of charts with rich vocabulary and eye-catching illustrations. In fact, these charts become a crucial part in a child’s journey through kinder. EO’s rely on them especially for writing. The kindergarten teacher mentioned how children not only look for them but also request them.
The charts below are a small sample of what I was able to capture (I wish I were more artistic!).
So my question to you SpanglishBaby moms, dads, and other family members is: How many visuals are there at your home that support your child’s language acquisition? Is there a visual schedule, an area where you cut/paste/draw illustrations? I would love to read and see what amazing things you do at home.
Much love,
Kelly
Photos thanks to MLC’s Kinder Classroom
Wow! I love it! I really should have put my kids into a spanish speaking school. But its not to late. I want to push my kids to learn my cultural language. Since they are Guatemalan and African American there has not been a constant push through out the entire family to speak only spanish. I will make the attempt to have spanish spoken at least 50% of the time. We really miss you Kelly. Glad to see you doing well in your new school. No doubt you will make a great difference there.
Wendy!
So glad to hear from you. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I miss you all very much.
Also, I am happy to see that you are taking a step forward and trying to find ways to bring your culture into their lives. Elijah and his younger brother will for sure pick it up quickly.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Abrazos,
Kelly
MIL, MIL, MIL Gracias!!!! My children are in an immersion program (1st and K grades) and I often feel lost and wonder “what/how are they being tought”. Spanish, French and English are the core languages followed by Hebrew and Arabic at home. (Yes. People think I am crazy.) Since my children started school, I find myself ‘searching’ for dual immerson/bilingual resources and find it hard to find material. To answer your question, our children draw A LOT, but we don’t have many visuals – for the reason listed above. I actually created a visual bilingual schedule for the AM/PM routine, but it has taken me some time to do and complete – finding the correct immages, etc…. Trying to figure out what to do/incorporate with what they are doing at school is also a challange 0 seem as though I am playing catch-up. Wish I could create more but lack of time and resources are the struggle. Any suggestions where I could be looking? Any suggestions to help them learn to read Spanish?
At our school, I wish the program incorporated a bilingual alphabet that used the same sight word to recognize the letter, like B – Balon/Ball, E – Elefante/Elephant, S – Serpiente/Snake, etc… It would help the children SO much!!! Anyway, loved your post! And, I am happy to have found your blog. I will be sharing both with parents, teachers and administrators at our school. Te deseo muchisimo exito!
Thank you for your comment/feedback. I am glad you found the post helpful and informative. Also, oh my! 4 languages! You have to share with all of us the secret to doing it and how to handle it as well.
I have always believed that children can learn fairly quickly. In Europe it is not unusual for people to speak 3, 4 or 5 languages. Why can’t we do that here in the U.S.?
Again, thank you for your kind comments and for spreading the word about my blog/posts here on Spanglishbaby. It really-REALLY means a lot.
Mil gracias,
Kelly
Kelly A. Serrano´s last post ..How to Get Your Child to Want to Write More… in Spanish or any Language
Hello, that post was very interesting. In England we don’t seem to have dual language schools so home input is very important. I stuck some jungle stickers to my daughters wall (her room is jungle themed) and painted above and below the animals in both English and Spanish their names to help her learn when she gets older. I also take her to ‘sing and sign’ lessons. Although these are held in English using British sign language, I use the same signs when I speak Spanish to her. I’ve noticed it really helping to reinforce concepts she has learnt in English first when I say them in Spanish. The key to sing and sign really is to only sign a few key words in the sentence not every word. You can even make up your own signs for things, you don’t have to use set ones. It’s aimed at children under 2 or 3 years old but I recommend anyone raising a bilingual child do it as it really does support the idea that those two words both mean the same thing. After reading this article I will definitely be using more pictures to help in my quest of raising a bilingual child.
Dear Michelle,
I LOVED reading your comment and the info you shared about sign language. Sign language is in my bucket list for sure.
I am happy to see that you will be using more visuals with your child…they can only help.
Thank you for your comment!
Kelly
Thank you so much for this. This gave me a great idea to make these type of posters and post these in my home daycare room and also my child’s playroom. This can really help them build their spanish vocabulary. Lots of good ideas
Hi Kayla,
I am happy to see the post has given you some ideas for your daycare and your child’s playroom. Ans YES! This will for sure help them – One important thing though, make sure you are referring to the charts often, otherwise the become nice ‘wall art’ but have little or no impact on you kiddos.
If you use them/refer to them, your kids will do the same.
Gracias,
Kelly
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