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"Early childhood is, in fact, the age in which language is formed and in which the sounds of a foreign language can be perfectly learned."
- Dr. Maria Montessori
Spanish Immersion Program
The best way to learn a second language is through "total immersion" at a young age. In learning a second language, children increase their attention span, reinforce their listening skills, and improve native language development. Being able to speak a second language opens many doors. Here in Texas, Spanish is very important!
At Pebblecreek, our long-term goal is to offer a total-immersion approach in all our primary classes. Beginning 2007-2008, we will offer a pilot immersion class where one teacher will always speak in English and another will always speak in Spanish. The pilot class is the Tulip room, a primary-level class for 3 - 6 year olds. The Tulip guides, Mrs. Gabriela Wilcox and Mrs. Odette Ibarra, are both bilingual and native speakers of Spanish.
The following are examples of the immersion method: Every morning the children will be greeted in both languages. The presentation of their lessons will be given in English followed by the same presentation in Spanish. The question and answer approach is central to the immersion program. As children progress in the language area, their command cards will be written in both English and Spanish.
Touch Spanish
The Spanish immersion pilot program complements preexisting and ongoing Spanish instruction in all other classes. Pebblecreek utilizes a hands-on program called Touch Spanish, with a specific sequential order of skills from vocabulary to conversation to grammar structure. Mrs. Wilcox developed Touch Spanish within the Montessori philosophy.
The average Spanish language program for young children teaches isolated vocabulary. Yet, conversation is the key! Touch Spanish facilitates conversation using an approach that is entertaining and exciting to capture children's attention. From the very first lesson in which isolated vocabulary is presented to the child, a series of questions and answers also forms part of each lesson. As the child progresses with the oral aspect of the program, reading skills are introduced, preparing the way for writing. Touch Spanish carries the student from the basic skills, all the way to the equivalent of an eighth-grade level language ability.
In addition to their structured Spanish lessons, students have access during their individual work times to Level One of Touch Spanish, which includes 84 hands-on language exercises.
For more information about the Spanish immersion program and Touch Spanish, please contact Mrs. Gabriela Wilcox.