If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostiity, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.”
Dorothy Law Nolte
Children do learn what they live, but so do adults. Mia is in a Dual Immersion Spanish program. She is finishing her first trimester as a first grader or “grader” as she likes to refer to herself now that she is not in kindergarten anymore. Max starts kindergarten next fall and Mia is taking advantage of all the moments of not having to share the playground with her baby brother.
Max is gifted with as much language as she, except he cannot do it in Spanish….yet (though he nailed potty training in about an hour). Neither can Mommy, though I am doing everything I can to keep pace. I tell myself daily “You can do better. Just jump into conversation with the other moms and dads at pick up time, and speak a little social Spanish.”
I am quiet at pick up time. I listen and observe. I am learning. I am in the silent phase of acquiring language.
Stage 1: Listening.
If you enter Mia’s immersion classroom, the vehicle driving instruction is LANGUAGE. No, not conjugating verbs or memorizing prepared meaningless dialogue. Rather, one would see children using Spanish by speaking, reading, writing, adding, discussing fractions, measurement, conducting science experiments, arguing, singing, whispering - every bit in Spanish.
This of course is directed by the guidance of a teacher who follows the same curricula as the district’s English only classrooms, but she gives Mia a gift that I cannot - the mother tongue of Spanish with perfect delivery and high expectations.
We wanted this program for Mia, longed for it and cried when we did not get accepted during the first round of school of choice applications. Mia is able to maintain English and absorb a second tongue while her brain is most receptive to learning language. Her academic and social gains, across cultural, ethnic and linguistic boundaries are some of the most positive public education experiences I have been a part of in 20 years of teaching.
It is also the hardest and most challenging endeavor for me.
For Writer Dad and Mia, speaking Spanish is like taking a breath of fresh air. They skip rope with Spanish like we all skip rope with English. For me, speaking Spanish is like white knuckling the edge of the North rim of the Grand Canyon before dropping into the deep depths of the wild unknown.
This is a recent homework assignment which Mia attacked with enthusiastic speed, proficiently giving it her all, and finishing with the pride and detail that is our family’s trademark.
Estimados Padres,
Por favor ayuden a su hijo/a a escribir un parafo con 5 o mas oraciones acerca de las jirafas. Adentro de su folder encontraran intomacion importante acercad de las jirafas que aprendimos en clase. Nota: Esta tarea los va preparar para el ecamen de escritura del Miercoles.
Gracias,
Senora Alaniz
Translation:
Dear Parents,
Please have your child write a paragraph with 5 or more sentences about giraffes. Inside his/her homework folder you will find some important facts they have learned about giraffes. Note: This homework will prepare them for their writing test on Wednesday.
The light at the end of the tunnel was a note Mia had written to me after our last homework session. I found it written on red paper (my favorite color) and in her best first grade penmanship rolled up like a scroll tied in white ribbon. It said:
Dear Mommy, You are the best Mom. You try so hard and you are smart. Don’t give up, keep on trying because you are the best. I love you so so so sooooooo much. Thank you for helping me. xoxo Mia
If that doesn’t make you fall to your knees and weep I don’t know what would. Her words of encouragement made me hold tighter and try harder this weekend when we had to plot out a weather pictograph and write a paragraph about it. I want to be able to skip rope with Mia and Writer Dad in Spanish. Max and I are ready, and guess what?
Max is also left handed.
I can add writing with my left hand to model for my son, so I can both feel and understand the difficulty of writing with my least dominant hand, then add it to my to do list under master Spanish. It takes time, but that is the best gift I have to give my children.
Here is Mia’s exam on Giraffes. She received a score of a “4″ which in Dual Immersion Land means advanced proficient.
Las Jirafas
Las jirafas son mamiferos. Tienen crias cuidan a sus crias las crias toman leche de su mama y tambien tienen cuellos muy largos, manchas cafes, y colas muy largos. Viven en la savana de Africa. Comen hojas verdes de los arbols y palitos. Algo de sus adapsienes son: manchas, cafes para camuflajearse, cuellos my largos para ver cuando sus en emigos van a atakar y duermen a dos horas por dia. Jirafas son amigables.
Can you translate this without running to Google?
Namas Daisy
Republican or Democrat, Tuesday was a significant day in the history of our great nation; a day I felt fortunate to share with Mia and Max on our drive to school. I reached my hand to the back seat at every other red light. Each time they grabbed my fingers and traced them affectionately with their own. This is something we regularly do during any car ride longer than a minute, a way to slip in another connection, “just one more time,” as Max is known to say.
