Last week in my newsletter I shared with you the homework guidelines Prior Lake – Savage Area Schools have set as their standard. If you missed that blurb, please check them out on my educational website, Relevant Paradigm:
http://relevantparadigm.weebly.com/blog/la-ola-del-lago-spanish-immersion-prior-lake-savage-area-schools-homework-tips-for-parents
In this part two of three discussion around homework, I would like to continue this conversation about two things:
· What role do parents play in an immersion program?
· If we do not speak Spanish, how can we help our child with homework?
Next week, part 3 of 3, will focus on how language immersion students learn to read English when he/she isn’t taught formal English Language Arts until third grade.
What role do parents play in an immersion program?
Like all parents of children in school, parents of language immersion students need to maintain an active role in their child’s education by providing experiences that enrich language skills (English and/or Spanish) and enhance their cognitive and affective developmental growth. Parents are encouraged to read to their children daily in English and engage them in activities to extend what they are learning in class. Families are also asked to make a long-term commitment to the program.
If we do not speak Spanish, how can we help our child with homework?
In general, homework should never be new learning for a student, but rather practice of a skill or concept that has been introduced and practiced during the school day. When additional support is required from adults who are supporting learning at home, immersion teachers use a variety of methods to make this possible for non-Spanish speakers. English translations of bigger homework instructions are often posted at the teacher’s webpage, Schoology, newsletter, etc. However, it is not common practice that language immersion teachers translate all homework. The most important thing to remember is that your child’s teacher is the best place to ask questions.
The most important thing we can ask you to do at home is continue to read to your child in English. Read and ask questions – check for comprehension, ask them to retell, ask them to guess what will happen next, make connections, etc. Reading in any language supports the acquisition of reading skills such as fluency, vocabulary building, comprehension, etc. As we mentioned last week, your child’s homework should support what s/he has learned in class. Students should be able to tackle the assignment on their own. Homework should not be a struggle. If it is, please talk with your child’s teacher. This is a perfect example of why the teacher/parent/school/student relationship is essential for maximum learning.