Post by gretchenindisguise on Jul 7, 2013 17:37:06 GMT -5
Just learned today that our district has a Spanish immersion elementary school.
Looking at reviews between the Spanish Immersion school and our in town Elementary school - in town is better.
They're both good - but in town is a better/smaller school.
I want to go tour both, and I need to figure out the enrollment process and if there is a wait list for the SI school.
So which would you chose just based on:
In town school: 10/10 - smaller school - only k-3 - literally right down the street. Spanish immersion school: 7/10 - spanish immersion duh - k-6 - 10 minute drive down the highway (opposite direction of work).
I'd want to know about parent involvement at both schools and the math and science curriculums. I love the idea of spanish immersion, but not at the expense of other things. From my limited exposure the schools i've seen with really strong multilingual programs take a laissez affaire approach to math. I think early years really matter for comfort and fluency with mathematics down the line, especially for girls.
For me, I think it would come down to the overall feel of the schools. Either could be great choices, but ask about the curriculum, talk to the teachers and admins, and talk to parents. You might find that the atmosphere of one might be a better fit than the other.
I think you will have a better feel for where you want to send her once you visit both places. I would be rather skeptical of any reviews and take them with a grain of salt.
Obviously I don't have a kid, but given that you are able to do a Spanish immersion home if you want to, I might lean toward the school with better academics.
Former elementary Spanish teacher here/now a school administrator.
I'd ask both schools these questions:
1. Is your school a PLC (professional learning communities) school? (if one is and the other isn't, the one that is has a HUGE leg up) 2. Do you have scheduled intervention time to work with students who are struggling or students who need enrichment in small groups? (If yes, a big plus for all learners involved)
If you want her to be completely bi-lingual (which I am assuming she is verbally) in writing and understanding grammar, etc, I would probably lean towards the immersion program.
I do love neighborhood schools, that is where C will go here, but the idea of an immersion school is really neat as long as the curriculum as a whole is challenging.
I wouldn't worry about putting them in a "good" school until they get to about 5th or 6th grade, because I don't think there is that much difference.
Wait what? If students receive a sub par education, by 5th and 6th grade, the skill gap widens. Without a strong base (in both reading and math) future learning of more advanced topics may become a struggle.
This is especially true with math, as I have learned the hard way.
Former elementary Spanish teacher here/now a school administrator.
I'd ask both schools these questions:
1. Is your school a PLC (professional learning communities) school? (if one is and the other isn't, the one that is has a HUGE leg up) 2. Do you have scheduled intervention time to work with students who are struggling or students who need enrichment in small groups? (If yes, a big plus for all learners involved)
Feel free to PM me with more questions
I've never heard of a PLC. What is it and how would I know?
And yes, if L was speaking Spanish fluently I'd be less concerned. H doesn't speak it to her. It is a huge bone of contention.
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Say whut!? Why?? My mom learned Spanish by hearing and having to learn in order to speak with her Grandmother, but she never had a Spanish education so cannot read or write it. I think this is a regret for her.
It seems so silly that he won't speak to her when she will always be seeing his family.
My nephews are at a Spanish Immersion elementary school in Arlington and it is awesome. I wish we had one near us we could choose. But I am a big fan of immersion schools.
My nephews are at a Spanish Immersion elementary school in Arlington and it is awesome. I wish we had one near us we could choose. But I am a big fan of immersion schools.
PLCs are something that schools have, where teachers get together to set goals for their students and work together to problem solve for students who aren't meeting learning objectives. It is THE thing to do in terms of working to meet all students learning needs. If a school doesn't do it, they are behind the curve.
My nephews are at a Spanish Immersion elementary school in Arlington and it is awesome. I wish we had one near us we could choose. But I am a big fan of immersion schools.
Former elementary Spanish teacher here/now a school administrator.
I'd ask both schools these questions:
1. Is your school a PLC (professional learning communities) school? (if one is and the other isn't, the one that is has a HUGE leg up) 2. Do you have scheduled intervention time to work with students who are struggling or students who need enrichment in small groups? (If yes, a big plus for all learners involved)
Feel free to PM me with more questions
I've never heard of a PLC. What is it and how would I know?
Sent from my DROIDX using proboards
A PLC does not make a school good or bad. Our PLCs are mandated by the union and every single school needs to have them. The last school I was at was a great school but our PLCs sucked. My current school is a great school and our PLCs are pretty darn good.
That's where I grew up. I think The Key school is an immersion program, our neighbor's girls attended Key and loved it.
That is their school. It is an english/spanish immersion, so they do half the day in english, half in spanish, every day. They both speak/understand spanish fluently.
I wouldn't worry about putting them in a "good" school until they get to about 5th or 6th grade, because I don't think there is that much difference.
Wait what? If students receive a sub par education, by 5th and 6th grade, the skill gap widens. Without a strong base (in both reading and math) future learning of more advanced topics may become a struggle.
I'm not talking about a sub par education. She didn't say that one school was shitty and the other one was an amazing school.