BULLETIN BOARD - Peninsula Education Foundation

8
World Language Introduction at Elementary Schools
In the fall of 2007 the Peninsula
Education Foundation gave a grant
to the PVPUSD to establish an
elementary level world language
program. This start-up program was
introduced at all ten elementary
schools to encourage an introduction
to Chinese or Spanish.
World languages are important in
the academic curriculum for any
child. Studies have proven that early
introduction is key to the ability to
absorb and become fluent in any
language. The Peninsula Education
Foundation is pleased to fund the
continuation of the elementary world
language program this year from our
Endowment Fund.
The program is organized differently
at each school site, but the goal is
to introduce world languages at
an early age. For three elementary
schools, Chinese is the core language
taught to students during P.E. or in the
classroom. The other seven schools are
working on Spanish curriculum in a
variety of different ways.
Cornerstone has a Spanish teacher
(aide) for grades 1-5. Señora Cifuentes
teaches the curriculum that was
purchased a year ago, Viva El
Espanol. Spanish speaking parents
are providing instruction at the
kindergarten level. Señora Cifuentes
is at Cornerstone every Wednesday
for the entire day, where she works
with the classrooms.
Dapplegray is implementing
Rosetta Stone (Spanish) for grades
kindergarten-5. PEF funds were used
to purchase the program for 800
students and staff. It is a web based
program which allows 24 hour access.
The program will be used in the
classrooms utilizing laptop computers
and a password is provided for the
students so that they can access
the program at home. “Rosetta” has
augmented their product so that it is
geared for grade levels K-5 and up.
Lunada Bay has a Chinese teacher
19 hours a week who is working
in tandem with the P.E. teacher
integrating Chinese into the PE
program. They have articulated
vocabulary and language relevant to
PE including directions, action words,
commands, songs and rhymes.
Mira Catalina has hired a specialist
to teach Spanish in grades 2 through
5. She is at school all day Thursday
to instruct students and expose the
children to a foreign language. They
are hoping to incorporate parent
volunteers to teach grades one and
kindergarten. Spanish curriculum kits
and other materials were purchased
with last year’s funding to enhance
the effectiveness of the program.
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At Montemalaga School, a Chinese
language teacher, Whenchi Chang,
teaches students Chinese language
and culture. Lessons are taught in the
classroom, and grades 2 through 5
receive a half hour session every week.
During the lessons, students practice
speaking Chinese and try to write/
draw Chinese characters.
Point Vicente students will learn
Chinese this year with lessons taught
by a part time Chinese instructor.
The program will be an immersion
program in the classroom and will run
daily for six to eight weeks.
Rancho Vista has a Spanish teacher
who teaches kindergarten through
fifth grade. She is able to teach each
grade level two thirty-minute sessions
per week.
Silver Spur has “an incredible Spanish
teacher”. She teaches grades 1 to 3.
1st and 2nd meet for 20 minutes twice
a week; 3rd grade meets with her once
a week for 30 minutes. There is hope
to move Spanish into 4th grade in
the future.
Soleado is incorporating the program
into the P.E. program. The P.E. aide
is from Peru and each time that the
students have P.E., they have a 15
minute Spanish lesson before going
out into their P.E. time. During their
P.E. minutes, they practice the Spanish
they have learned.
Vista Grande has added second
grade this year to the 3-5 grades for
Spanish instruction. An Instructional
Assistant, fluent in Spanish, presents
the curriculum. Classroom teachers
reinforce the instruction. Next year,
first grade will be added, and then
kindergarten.