Some fun (educational) things to do on your holiday break

With Thanksgiving already over and the winter break quickly approaching, have you thought about what you will do with the kids during your time off? Well, we have some ideas (or cool websites with ideas) that might help you entertain, while you educate the kiddos.

If recycling and crafting is your thing, you must check out reciclandoenlaescuela.blogspot.com - it's a great Spanish blog (you can use the translate button for English version) with TONS of educational games/craft ideas that are made out of recycled materials, most of which can be found in your home. Total bonus, cool ideas that don't break the bank.

Would you like your children to learn a little geography? I found this really cute video of two little girls singing the names of the seven countries of Central America set to the tune of Happy Birthday (such a cute idea). Here's the link wannajugarwithmigo.  They also created a simple puzzle that would looks easy to do. I'm for sure doing this with my kids over the break! The blog is also a great resource for other Spanish teaching ideas.  Have fun checking it out.

And if you are just looking for a little mindless entertainment (with a little education thrown in), I highly recommend the Spanish Pocoyo youtube channel. My kids love it and it's is very cute.  It makes me feel a little less guilty about sitting the kids in front of the TV/computer when I'm trying to get something done.

If you are still stumped on what to do with all your time, then I can't help you (just kidding); you should check out our Spanish resource link, it has tons of websites that will for sure fill every waking hour of your holiday break.

Happy holidays and feliz año nuevo!

Day of the Dead (Reference) - TeacherVision.com

For those of you looking for more information on the significance of Day of the Dead, we found this great resource with historical information. We hope you find it helpful!


Day of the Dead (Reference) - TeacherVision.com

Volunteers needed for Día de los Muertos

We need volunteers and decorations for Día de los Muertos.  Click on this link to sign-up for the various shifts needed. Also, you can leave notes on the spreadsheet if you are interested in donating papel picado, paper flowers, colorful skulls, Día de los Muertos artwork, etc.

Thank you in advance for your time and support!

A Personal Story- "A new school, a new teacher, a new language- Oh My"

"How exciting!  The first day of school!!!  As an educator, the first day of school has always been one of the most enjoyable and exciting times of the year for me.   The fresh, enthusiasm and optimism emitting and pure joy of seeing kids eager and ready to learn!   I loved decorating the classroom, making it creatively ready for my new crop of little learners to flourish & grow!

The first day of school for the student can be much different however.  Especially when it comes to your OWN children!

NERVES of MUSH!   My eldest daughter just entered the new Lincoln Dual Immersion Language Program, for first grade, A program that we have helped bring to fruition... talked about A LOT and have been very excited about!   She was excited for the school year to begin but apprehensive about her new environment, new school, new teacher, new classmates.. oh my!  That's a dreaded thought to a shy 6 year old.  and to add in A NEW LANGUAGE!   H O L Y   S M O K E S ! ! !    What pressure!

She went in that first morning with a mix of butterflies and enthusiasm... around 12:30pm we got a call from the school nurse that she was ill!   She had a tummy ache!   AND a low-grade temp!   BUMMER DEAL!

Picked her up and watched her go from being down n’ out to "normal" within an hour.... seemed fine the rest of the day thankfully and then went to bed, nervous about school the very next morning!  She had a difficult time falling asleep.  

She was full of apprehensive question after question about SPANISH!  How will I learn it?  When will I understand what my teacher is saying?  How will I know anything?  Why do we have to learn SPANISH???????

Every child wants to succeed.  It could be at checkers, hopscotch, basketball or piano. But it is not natural to want to fail.  Succeeding feels good!  Praise feels great!!  Feeling lost and out of place does not feel good.  Transition is hard.  Supporting your child in any transition is key to their flow of success.  

We talked to her, asked her questions, let her ask us questions and let her know that she was not alone.  One parent so wisely said to me, “maybe this will humble her, teach her humility and understanding of what other’s have to go through,” speaking of her own daughter’s experience on her first day of DLP Kindergarten.   Every life experience can be a learning experience…. Take these moments to teach…. After all, you are your child’s first teacher!   

With time, patience, understanding and support your child WILL flourish… a flower needs sunlight, soil, water, nutrients… all nurturing support in order to bloom…. So do our kids!

The next couple of weeks of school were like a mini rollercoaster ride of emotions… with a few more tummy aches and demands to not go to school,, our daughter struggled, she succeeded, she laughed and she cried.  And we were with her every step of the way.  Not only did we purchase Rosetta Stone to improve our Spanish, but her grandparents did as well!  My mother is a retired teacher and administrator and understands you are NEVER too old to learn! … modeling is HUGE!

Now in our 9^th week of school, our daughter IS flourishing!  She scored at benchmark or above in her assessment areas in Spanish!  WOW!  We were not expecting that, at least not 5 or 6 weeks into the new school year.  She is enjoying her new language, still heavily challenged – which is great!  You always want to strive for something, challenge that little sponge in your head… give it new information to tap that unused grey matter….

While typing an email to her grandfather last week our daughter was explaining how she was the first person to be called up for an award in the awards assembly at school and she typed 'MI CLASSE’.   Then she read back to herself what she had so easily typed… it flowed off her finger tips like rain drops in a storm…. “What does THAT say Mom?”  I said  'Mi classe’… you typed “my class” in Spanish!   She quickly erased it and typed in “my class”.  With a smile on her face she said… “how funny I did not even know I did that.”

Without a thought she transferred into Spanish.  It is working! She does not have any more tummy aches… and loves to talk, sing and try her best efforts at reading in Spanish, this new language that is penetrating her neuropathways!   What a gift!

Our daughter and her classmates are now finding solace in the fact that they ARE learning, and noticing signs of comprehension each new day!    The light bulbs are going off!"

Jamie Panziera

Parent of a fresh new 1^st grade DLP student

How to Celebrate Día de los Muertos

Wikipedia defines Día de los Muertos (English: Day of the Dead) as a Mexican holiday that celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday.  Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls,  marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

El Dia de los Muertos is not the Mexican version of Halloween.  The holiday has been celebrated in Mexico since the year 1800 B.C.   In the Mexican culture, this holiday is neither scary nor morbid.  It is a time of celebration and remembrance. It is a mixture of the Catholic Christian ritual and folk culture.

El Dia de los Muertos honors those whom have passed.  It is a welcomed opportunity to reflect upon one's life, heritage, ancestry and the meaning of one's existence.  Altars or ofrendas are a way to show honor, love and remembrance to those whom have departed.

In Mexico, neighbors gather in local cemeteries to share food, music, and fun with their extended community, both living and departed. The celebration acknowledges that we still have a relationship with our ancestors and loved ones that have passed away.

Many superstitions have been added over the years, but for the most part, this ancient holiday is as it always was - a time of remembrance and love. So, don't be afraid of the Day of the Dead. This is a happy holiday.  

Read a great article on how to celebrate Día de los Muertos on Spanglishbaby.com.

Here's a great, kid-friendly sing-along song on youtube 

Here's a great book for kids (recommended by mommymaestra) Click on the picture to order the book on Amazon.com.

Feliz Día de los Muertos

Los Sonidos Iniciales and other cool links

Check out this great audio link of Los Sonidos Iniciales.  If your child(ren) hasn't been working on this version of los sonidos, now's a great time to start.  You can supplement with los Alfamigos; however, this version is more comprehensive.  Click here for down loadable chart on los sonidos chant.

(Disclaimer: The resources provided in this blog post were posted by a third party and Lincolndlp.blogspot.com is not the publisher).

OTHER COOL LINKS THAT ARE A MUST CHECK OUT:

ClicClicClic - Cuentos Interactivos, by far one of the best interactive Spanish reading websites! For the non-Spanish speaking parents, you may need a little help navigating through the site, but it worth the effort. The site is rich in visual art and creativity.

Latinbabybookclub.com - Whoo hoo, this is a fabulous website full of recommendations of Spanish books for children. We love this site, because it features literature that celebrates the Latino culture and not just books that are translated from another language into Spanish. We hope you like this site as much as we do!

shaidallal.com/spanish - This site hosts some short and basic educational activities for young Spanish learners.  Unfortunately, it only has four activities, but they are fun and worth doing a few times with your child(ren).  We'll keep searching for other sites like this one.

Alfamigos- Los Sonidos Iniciales

Hey DLP Parents- The kinder classes are working on the abecedario (alphabet) with the use of Alfamigos and los sonidos iniciales.  According to Literacy Connection, phonological awareness is a strong predictor of later reading success. Phonological awareness refers to the sensitivity to the sounds. This is important because in order to be able to sound out words for reading, children need to be able to hear the similarities and differences in words. 

Here's a link to the  Alfamigos flash cards (click here) that you can print out and use with your child(ren).

Also, here's a link to a Alfamigos video of an adult pronouncing the Alfamigos- it's a great resource for practicing with your child(ren).

Here's a video of sonidos iniciales.  We've placed both videos on the sidebar of the blog for easy access.

Mommy Maestra: The Best Latino Children's Literature to Read with...

Mommy Maestra: The Best Latino Children's Literature to Read with...: Last week, Parenting.com shared their list of the best books to read with your child. While they had a lot of great titles on there, I was ...

1st Dual Language Program Parent Meeting 8/24th at 6PM

DLP Kinder and 1st grade parents- the first dlp meeting of the new school year will be held on Wednesday, August 24th at 6pm at Lincoln. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions and meet and interact with other families in the program. Please note, childcare will not be provided. We hope to see you all there.

Transitioning into Spanish

Well, the school year has started and kids, teachers and families are beginning to fall into the rhythm of the schedule. For many families, the first few weeks are filled with excitement, anxiety, hope and fear. It's especially challenging for families that are entering a dual language program for the first time. Some children are following right into the routine and others are having a harder time. That's why we've compiled some words of wisdom from  families that have experienced the transition into language immersion firsthand. If you have questions and/or concerns or just want to speak with someone who has gone through a dual language program, be sure to comment or send us an email at dlpadvocates@gmail.com.

"This one is from Grandma. I had three children in Spanish Immersion and it was 100% in kinder and 1st grade. Granted that every child is different, I think that you need to take a deep breath and relax a little. This is the first week. Of course, your child  might come home and say that he/she did not understand everything but give them a week or two and the picture should be different. Try not to show your anxiety about this because your child will pick up on it. Remember that yesterday and for the next few weeks there will be hundreds of children entering their first time in a language immersion class. Children are like sponges and they do pick up very quickly. Some of this difficulty maybe just adjusting to school in general. Be supportive and positive with your child and listen to them. If you feel like the problem persists speak with the teacher. Check to see that your child is eating well and sleeping well Other signs of difficulty maybe crying alot or being belligerent.  Change in those behaviors can indicate that there is some undue stress and needs to be addressed further. A lot of times, it may be the parent that is having the more difficult time. Hope this helps." Written by Madeline Ehrlich

"Try, as best as you can, not to show any anxiety to your kids.  Tell them how special they are to be learning another language with their fellow classmates.  Kids look to their parents for understanding and if they see how excited you are, they'll follow your lead.

Part of the anxiety comes from not knowing.  This can be an incredible life lesson for kids and adults, too!  There will always be times of non-knowing something and the more that we can teach them that this is a natural part of learning, the more they accept it and the better learners they can become.  Relaxed kids = better learners!

One of my favorite stories about a kid's first week in a Spanish Dual Language class is from the principal of our school.  A young boy kept coming home and saying "I think I'm in the wrong class, they speak Spanish in my class".  The mother kept reassuring him that he was in the right class.  Eventually, he stopped saying he was in the wrong class. This boy was our principal's son!

"You're giving your child an incredible gift!"
Written by Jenny Manriquez, Mother of 5th Grade, Spanish Immersion Student

"As an English speaking parent of a son who has spent the last five years in a Dual Immersion Program, I am thrilled with his speaking, reading, and writing skills in both Spanish and English. As all of his homework has been in Spanish over the years, the program gave me a chance to learn Spanish along side of him and opened up a world of resources in order to help him thrive. No matter your fears or hesitations, you can do this Your child(ren) will appreciate the gift."  written by Michelle Ramos, Castroville Elementary DLP & Boronda Meadows DLP parent

"Congratulations on your Spanish Dual Language Program!

I have three kids, just about to go into 2nd, 4th and 6th grades. We are an English-only household. Well, my husband and I only speak English! My kids have been in language immersion since Kindergarten. They LOVE Spanish. And their state testing in English is through the roof. From my experience, my kids didn't notice they were in Spanish immersion. They thought that all schools taught only in Spanish, lol.

Please reassure your parents that the anxiety their kids feel might be mirrored anxiety from the parents themselves. Plus, the kindergartners and first graders might be feeling the same anxiety that many kids feel going to school for the first time, or back to school after a long summer - regardless of whether they're in dual language, immersion, or any other school for that matter.

My husband and I both agree that giving our kids the gift of a second language is one of the best things we've done for them. Take care and stay with it! Oh, and don't forget to take a deep breath. You deserve it!" written by Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin

Recap on Spanish Immersion Preschool "Back to School Night"

Well, Spanish immersion preschool parents had their "Back to School Night" Tuesday, August 9th. From all accounts, things seemed to run well. There were a lot of questions, most were answered and some where not. If you are a Spanish immersion preschool parent, please let us know if you have any questions left unanswered, let us know here and we'll try and get them answered.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT- 8/11/11

Back to school night at Lincoln Elementary School is scheduled for Thursday, August 11th at 6:30pm. 

By attending a Back to School event, parents may learn about upcoming school activities, school protocol and rules, new staff, or many other aspects of school life that can help students as they navigate hallways and learn new schedules during the first few weeks of the school year. 

Back to School Night provides the opportunity to meet teachers and administrators, visit classrooms, and receive practical information about the upcoming school year.
 
And because parent involvement is so vital to a child’s academic success, Back to School Night is a great way for parents to learn about and become involved in the life of their child’s school.

NEWS- Lincoln DLP recently added third class!

Great news for families interested in the dual language program: Lincoln has recently added a third class for the 2011-2012 school year. In addition to one kinder class and one 1st grade class, the district is currently hiring a third teacher that will teach a combination kinder/1st grade class.

According to studies, students in combined grade class- rooms achieve as well academically as those in single grade classrooms. Students appear to benefit from the spirit of co-operation and mutual help that exists in these settings.  In addition, because kinder classes are half day at Lincoln, the 1st graders in the combo class will spend half of their day with their teacher at a student/teacher ratio of approximately 12 to 1.

Enrolling your child now does not predicate whether he/she will be placed in the combination class; however, there are limited spaces available in the program.  Families interested in enrolling a kinder or 1st grader in the dual language program must act quickly. Please see our earlier blog on what steps to take to enroll.

For more information about dual language programs go to www.dlpadvocates.org.

Lincoln Elementary DLP Commitment Form

Parents interested in enrolling their child/children in the Lincoln Elementary School Dual Language Program will need to fill out the Commitment Form seen here. To download this form, go to www.dlpadvocates.org/#!dl-programs and click on the world icon on the lower left hand-side.

Lincoln is #12 Please help our school win $10,000 worth of Avery school supplies!

Updated 8/23/11- ONLY A FEW WEEKS LEFT! PLEASE KEEP ON VOTING DAILY....This takes less than one minute. Please help Lincoln Elementary school win $10,000 worth of school supplies. The supplies would benefit every child attending Lincoln, including the DLP students.  It's super easy to help.

Just log on to the site below and register (you just need to enter a few details) and you can vote once a day. The school zip code is 93901. Currently Lincoln is NOW #12 on the list. We need your help to win the supplies!


http://givebacktoschools.avery.com

Thank you in advance for your support!

Now Enrolling Kinder & First Graders for DLP

June 27, 2011- Salinas City Elementary School District is currently accepting kinder and 1st grade enrollment for the dual language program for the 2011-2012 year.

Lincoln Elementary will begin a dual language program for the 2011-2012 with kinder and 1st grade classes.  There has been overwhelming interest in this new program and the district is currently accepting enrollments.  Interested families should enroll as soon as possible, as spaces are limited.

A dual language program  is an educational model that integrates native English speakers and native speakers of a target language for the entire school day, with the goals of promoting high academic achievement, first and second language development, and cross-cultural understanding for all students. Lincoln Elementary School will follow the 90:10 model of dual language instruction with Spanish as the target language. 


Students that are currently enrolled in kinder or 1st grade at Lincoln, must fill out a commitment form which can be obtained and submitted at the SCESD office 840 S. Main St., Salinas, CA 93901, (831) 784-2214.


Students that are within the Salinas City Elementary School District, must first apply for an intra-district transfer at the district office 840 S. Main St., Salinas, CA 93901, (831) 784-2214 and fill out the commitment form which can be obtained and submitted to the SCESD office.


Students that are outside the SCESD, must first apply for the inter-district transfer at their home district and fill out the commitment form which can be obtained and submitted at the SCESD office 840 S. Main St., Salinas, CA 93901, (831) 784-2214.

Lincoln is also offering a Spanish Immersion preschool program. The morning session is full; however, there is the possibility of an afternoon session. Please contact the district office for fees and specific details.

For more detailed information about dual language programs, please visit www.dlpadvocates.org. For specific information about the Lincoln DLP, please contact the District office at 831-784-2214.