Spanish Immersion Kindergarten

Rachel&Brad

Has anyones child experienced this for Kindergarten? I'm considering it, as it is offered in our school district. They will be in the 2nd year of it by the time my son attends in Fall of 2013.

Would love to hear from those with the experience. Thanks!

Littlejen22

Not to ask a dumb question but I assume the intention is to continue it beyond Kindergarten, right? Is it full immersion? I love the idea but only if it is done well and I have no idea how to look into that. My one concern would be how hard it would be to help with homework if you so not speak Spanish, not sure the answer to that.

Rachel&Brad

-auntie-:

Assming it is a full elementary experience and done well, it can be awesome.

One of my friends did this with her two kids. It was a bust for her genius IQ son who has Aspergers but a great fit for her very average DD.

Could you tell my why it was a bust for her son? My son is very bright and has some similarities to Aspergers. Thanks!

jlw2505

My home district has a wonderful Spanish Immersion K-6 and they are expanding the program into the middle school.  What I have heard from friends who go, they love it.  The program is 100% immersion K-2nd grade and in 3rd grade, they do half and half so the kids are not behind in the English stuff.  I have heard that kids that start in the immersion program and then switch back to regular in the early grades do have a harder time at first as they will be behind in some of the English stuff.  The parents need to be 100% on board and willing to help and do what they can.

mrsseguin

While it's not entirely the same, we have DS in a full french school.  I LOVE it.  I wouldn't do it if it was only for kindergarten, DS's school goes from K-8 then he'd go to a full french high school. You should look into it. 

happywife2b

My #1 went to Chadwick until recently (she just moved to an area where there isn't one) and they had multiple language groups represented, with teachers fluent in each. They kids began learning Latin, Greek, Mandarin, Spanish or French in nursery school. There were also many other languages you could request to have spoken/taught to LO including Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, etc.We are going to send this upcoming LO to a school that teaches Mandarin in nursery school, as well. Then they start on Latin, Greek and French in 1st grade.

I think immersion is wonderful, esp since I don't take the 'no English at home' approach that my mother did. Because my daughter doesn't live with me it would be difficult for us to converse in French or Japanese or Arabic all the time, since she isn't hearing it at home.

lyhmgt3

I agree that immersion is an amazing experience (my child is in an immersion program.)   The homework is sent two sided (one in English/one in Spanish) so we can understand the assignment but have our child do the work on the Spanish side.  An important comment by the teacher was to continue to work with your child in their native language and that some level of fluency in the native language helps the child process/learn the new language.  Good luck in your decision.