Spanish in the Classroom…Update – STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ
In a previous blog, I shared that I have several students with Spanish as their first language in my class. I have also been taking Spanish conversation classes to help better support them. I thought I would provide an update on how we are doing.
The Students
Actually, the students are doing great! Based on individual measurements, several of them have made significant increases in their content areas of choice. For example, students that love literature and language have made big jumps in that area. Students that love math have made big jumps in that content area. Several of them still have gaps to close in the content areas that they do not like as much, but I will say that I have noticed that they are more willing to challenge themselves in those areas. I found that interesting. In reflection, this supports the belief that it is easier to learn in areas that we find interesting.
We have been working on academic vocabulary in all content areas and making connections between Spanish and English academic terms when possible. During these lessons, my ELL students were able to see their peers struggling with the same concepts that they struggled with. I think this helped even the playing field and helped them see that some concepts are simply more challenging and will require more work from most students.
The focus on academic vocabulary also provided them with another opportunity to practice effective note taking and study skills. They were welcomed to write their notes in their language of choice and encouraged to draw and label pictures of their thinking. Using and learning academic vocabulary provided natural opportunities for authentic peer conversations. Students were encouraged to explain their thinking in their language of choice to their peers with translation support as needed.
I was pleased to see the ELL speaking students taking great pride in explaining their thinking, terms, and concepts in both languages to their peers. I was surprised to see the Spanish speaking students forming groups among themselves to discuss the academic vocabulary in detail. Thankfully, I was able to support and participate in those conversations as needed. I believe this was specific grouping was especially powerful because it provided an opportunity for the students to use higher level academic vocabulary in Spanish with Spanish speaking peers.
La Maestra
Continuo a aprender conversaciones en espanol en clases privido. Estoy hablando mas con las senoras en mi escuela y con mas detailes. Ellas ayudanme mucho. Es mas facil para me a entender cuando leo en espanol. Tambien, cuando estoy hablando, no traduce en mi mente todo el tiempo antes hablo. Estoy progresado en fluencia. Los estudiantes y las senoras de la escuala tienen todavia las autoridades de la lengua de espanol en me clase, pero estoy mejorando poco a poco. Mas importante, es cuando mis estudiantes que hablan espanol necisitan un momento a hablar en sus lengua nativa a explicar sus idea, es posible para me a ayudar ellos mas ahora.
Yolanda Wheelington
