WWYD - DD6 going to PS for 1st grade - Spanish Immersion???

[BikeBookBread]

After MANY hours of prayer and discussion and self-doubt, we are, in fact, putting PDG into PS for first grade. We figure we can always pull her if it completely backfires. This school is amazing -- it is a Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts "CETA" school, and also has a Spanish immersion program.

 

We know we will only be here 2 - 4 years at the most, and we have no plans to keep her in PS indefinitely. The plan is to have her in PS for first, and then pull her back into HS for 2nd and onward. We also plan on after-schooling the WTM history cycle, and a classical language in first. My understanding of the Spanish immersion program is this: math, science and health are taught in Spanish, and reading, literature, and art and anything else are taught in English. The immersion students make up 70% of the student body at this elementary school, a significant percentage.

 

This is my concern: if we do, in fact, decide to keep her in this school for 2nd grade, and then we move to another Base before 3rd grade, and she is doing this Spanish immersion plan and is just not getting the math because it is in Spanish, she'll could fall really far behind in math and science, and I'll be playing major catchup at home. OTOH, it's a rare and interesting opportunity to be involved in a program like this and homeschooling DOES afford the opportunity to catch up if need be. From everyone I've talked to, the first year of the program is very confusing for kids, but for those who stick with it all 6 years (which we wouldn't) it is very rewarding.

 

What would you do? Put her in it or keep her out with the small percentage who are not involved? (This might afford more personal attention in science and math, though...)

[tofuscramble]

If I had access to something like that I would put my kids in it for sure.

[MorganClassicalPrep]

If I had the chance to put my daughter in a program like this I would, no question. Especially if you are planning on homeschooling later. You should easily be able to catch up in math later on if you find she needs it.

[JudoMom]

I don't know that I would do it. I definitely wouldn't do it if she wasn't strong in math. It's a hard decision, that's for sure!

[kmacnchs]

If I had access to something like that I would put my kids in it for sure.

 

:iagree: me too!

 

When I was in college (Spanish/TESOL Major), I spent a lot of time with Spanish Immersion Program Middle Schoolers. There was a whole school for Elem. students and they became fluent REALLY quickly! My dh and his family are native speakers but i know how difficult it is to learn a second language as an adult so I would COMPLETELY put my children in this (no matter when I decide to pull them out). :)

[Terabith]

I'd totally do it, and I'd keep her there as long as I could!!!! I definitely would not plan to pull her out after a year. I am very jealous, lol! I wouldn't worry about a classical language in first grade. I'd afterschool in math if I thought it was needed, and I'd make sure she learned to read phonetically. I'd do read alouds, but I would JUMP at that chance. Even if I couldn't do the math in first, you can catch that up.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Terabith

[OrganicAnn]

Me too. I would love a Spanish immersion school - especially if it had a good rep.

 

I would decide how much to afterschool after the school year starts. You might need to figure out how much time/energy she has for afterschooling. The immersion might take more energy for her.

 

I would just make the decision year by year.

[tiffany k]

This sounds just like the school in my neighborhood. I've asked a lot of the parents I've met and they have mixed reviews. I would say that those parents who have been the most pleased are semi-fluent in Spanish themselves and can reinforce the language at home. Quite a few parents started in the immersion program and then pulled their kids out for reasons relating to math retention and their kids really weren't acquiring the language. It seems like it would be difficult to really make a mistake either way in first grade! I hope you can find some parents who have used the program for 3 or so years and find out how they've made it work well for their children.

[DianeW88]

I have lots of friends here who have chosen to enroll their kids in a Spanish Immersion charter school. Most of them have pulled them out after one year. Mainly because the parents are not fluent in Spanish and have not been able to reinforce what is being taught at home. For many parents it was a complete disaster and they felt that their child lost a full year of schooling in the process. It seemed to be one of those concepts that looked good on paper, but the reality turned out to be faaaaar different. Not saying this would be the case with your dd....just throwing out another perspective for you to consider.

 

Diane W.

married for 22 years

homeschooling 3 kiddos for 16 years

[skueppers]

The elementary school in my neighborhood offers a popular and well-regarded Spanish immersion program, and honestly, if we weren't already doing German with the kids, I probably would have decided to send them there. I believe that fluency in a second language is the most important thing a child can learn in the early elementary years.

 

The parents in my neighborhood love this program, and people from other nearby school zones eagerly apply to get their kids into it.

 

I would definitely go for it if you're planning to send her to school anyway.

[Annie]

Does she want to do it? I think her attitude will make a big difference.

 

I went to a Spanish immersion school for K through 4th, and I think I would send her. If most of the teachers are native speakers, I would lean even more heavily on sending her. Those five years did great things for my pronunciation, ear for proper grammar, and ability to understand native speakers at the speed they naturally speak. It has served me quite well in life thus far.

 

The first few months were hard, but kids learn quickly and the teachers are trained to make the them comfortable. I quickly learned to pay attention to roots of words which were the same between the languages and the context in which words were used. It's amazing what you can understand if you really focus. Another poster mentioned homework issues, and those were certainly present on occasion, but I managed to get things done. I honestly think it helped me to be accountable for my own education and not depend on my parents. Sometimes I didn't get everything right because my parents couldn't check my work, but I think that was good for me. I tend to be something of a perfectionist, but it made me learn that it's ok to get things wrong while you're learning. When I had my first big project in 5th grade, at an English speaking school, I was one of probably three or four kids who it was clear had done their poster without the help of their parents. By that age, it didn't occur to me that my parent should have a part in my homework.

 

One thing that gives me pause is how few classes are actually taught in Spanish. We had zero English instruction except for English class, which wasn't started until 2nd grade, and gym. One of the huge benefits of immersion is that you begin to really think in the language you're learning, instead of constantly translating back and forth in your mind. I'm not sure this would happen with so much English instruction... I might also ask if she's going to be the only fist grader in her class who didn't attend kindergarden there.

 

Anyway, I would buy a good Spanish/English dictionary to translate the occasional homework word, and then I would hunker down for a little adventure.

 

If you have any questions about other challenges/experiences I had, let me know

Edited July 30, 2010 by Annie

[Sara R]

My son was in a Spanish "dual language" program from 2nd-4th grade. He'll go to a Core Knowledge charter school next year. The school teaches new-new math, so I've afterschooled that all along.

 

The pros of his experience? He learned to trill his r's. I never could figure that out. He got exposed to Spanish vocabulary.

 

Cons? He didn't learn much Spanish. It seemed like the teacher would give the instruction in Spanish, then English. The kids just waited until the teacher said the English thing and didn't really learn to understand the Spanish.

 

The spread of abilities was far wider in this class than other classes at the school. The English speaking kids were generally really smart (or else they wouldn't have been placed in the program), and the Spanish speaking kids were generally behind for whatever reason. That made it harder for the teacher to teach math.

 

I definitely wouldn't recommend it if English language arts doesn't come to your child naturally. If your child needs to be taught reading, spelling, English grammar, then they should be in a different class. These topics tended to get short-changed.

[Caitilin]

I would do it. This is how I learned German, almost. I went to a German elementary school for 2 years and came out with language skills (since lapsed a bit :() indistinguishable from those of native speakers. What have you got to lose? :)

[SOCKSINFOX]

I'd also put her in the Spanish Immersion. The only subject area that she might really end up behind in is Math, because at first grade generally the other subjects are not very involved in public schools. Math can always be supplemented, but with lots of other English speakers in the class I doubt you'll find it an issue.

[BikeBookBread]

This sounds just like the school in my neighborhood. I've asked a lot of the parents I've met and they have mixed reviews. I would say that those parents who have been the most pleased are semi-fluent in Spanish themselves and can reinforce the language at home. Quite a few parents started in the immersion program and then pulled their kids out for reasons relating to math retention and their kids really weren't acquiring the language. It seems like it would be difficult to really make a mistake either way in first grade! I hope you can find some parents who have used the program for 3 or so years and find out how they've made it work well for their children.

 

I PM'd you :)

[Tree House Academy]

I wouldn't...but thinking about putting my kids back in ps makes my stomach turn, so I am not the best to ask. I do wish you the best in whatever you choose, though. :)

[mommytobees]

Honestly, I would LEAP at that opportunity.

 

HOWEVER.

 

I would NOT leave math to chance.

 

I would teach math at home, in addition (no pun intended) to what she gets at school.

 

Singapore math is easy to teach. It is visually attractive and is engaging. Best of all, it is cheap. $8 for each workbook. If you go slow, you can easily do one year (two books A & B) a year. If you go at her pace AND she goes faster, it's another $8 per workbook. Cheap.

 

Kris

[BikeBookBread]

Honestly, I would LEAP at that opportunity.

 

HOWEVER.

 

I would NOT leave math to chance.

 

I would teach math at home, in addition (no pun intended) to what she gets at school.

 

Singapore math is easy to teach. It is visually attractive and is engaging. Best of all, it is cheap. $8 for each workbook. If you go slow, you can easily do one year (two books A & B) a year. If you go at her pace AND she goes faster, it's another $8 per workbook. Cheap.

 

Kris

 

Great idea...we did Singapore A the second half of Kinder, and just began Singapore B before we moved across the country. I'm going to keep it up for sure.

[Guest KarainTX]

I would only put her in the spanish immersion program if you planned on keeping her in it for more than one year.

 

We tried to get my daughter into the spanish immersion program in our district. It's a lottery system, and we didn't get in. They are very adamant that english speakers start and stay in the program. They don't even let english speakers start the program after the first few months of kindergarten because they will be so far behind.

 

It's definitely a great opportunity, but I think if you choose to do it, you should do it for a while to make sure she gets the full exposure.

[StephanieZ]

Fall behind in math & science in 1st grade?

 

IME, 1st grade math can be easily taught in 15 min 3-4 times a week (to a 4 - 5 year old). So, if you are worried, pick up a nice, simple math program. (Love Miquon or Singapore here.) and do it, for fun, a couple times a week.

 

Science can't be gotten behind in at that age. It's all gravy. Pick up some Let's Read & Find Out books and some Magic School Bus books and read one or two a week for fun at bed time. There you go.