Bilingual Education And Academic Success Advocacy plan / MBoddie
Observing and Interacting With Professionals : the Program Director and the Administrative Assistant
Observing and Interacting With Professionals : the Program Director and the Administrative Assistant
Name: Monica Boddie
Date: Observation date 2-5-2013
Name of Program/Setting: Christopher House UpTown
Who I spoke with: The Site Director and the Administrative Assistant
My area of interest in the early childhood field is the importance of bilingual education and academic success. Bilingual education means teaching in two languages, in the child’s mother tongue and in the secondary language. My purpose is to advocate for the children and the families so that they will have equality in education and a plan for educational success, no matter what language that they speak.
My growing understanding of advocacy, and some of the strategies that I can use to become more informed about advocacy efforts in my community. are to continue to mentor the children in the area of language through modifications such as pictures a, books, and magazines. I will address advocacy issues with professionals in your setting by preparing notes and information on how we can individualize with each child and provide adaptations and modifications as needed. I will find, out more about or possibly become involved with current advocacy programs in your setting by keeping abreast of new laws and sharing any and all information that I have acquired with the parents and my co-workers.
The difference I would like to make in my setting, my community, and my field is to become the go to person for information and resources for the parents and co-teachers. I would like to be there available with resources from the media as well as information from books, staff, and research to individualize with the children.
Three focus questions:
What can teachers to in the classroom to have rich language based environment that promote natural language development?
What can I do to help students make the transition from their native language to English?
What are the methods of teaching bilingual education at the early childhood level?
Questions asked while observing and interacting With Professionals:
Site Directors interview questions:
1. How does language impact behavior?
When asked how does language impact behavior the Site Director stated that it is all related to understanding each other and communicating well. The Site Director stated that she visits each classroom weekly and interacts with the teachers and the children. The Site Director stated that with dual language learners it is different from immersion with the other students who are not proficient in English. We were in the Directors office and she went into the classroom and began to sing and do finger plays during circle time. The Site Director participated during instrument play and encouraged a child who appeared to be shy. late the Site Director explained that the child’s parents spoke little English at home, and that although the child enjoyed music; he preferred to dance on the side lines.
The Site Director is bilingual and often she searches for the shy child or the child that appears to need more encouragement to interact with. The Site Director stated that language is used even when we are communicating through interactions of art, music,dance, science, math as well as gross motor activities. When we are interacting through game play, the child needs hand movements and sometimes props can be made for such interactions. The Site Director stated that some behaviors are learned and some can be shaped through dance, interactions,songs, and prompts.
2. What can teachers to in the classroom to have rich language based environment that promote natural language development?
The Site Director said in the classroom books, music, compact disc, instruments, flash cards, and whatever modifications are needed for the individual child.3. What can I do to help students make the transition from their native language to English?
The Site Director stated that we can be there for support and help for the child and be prepared to use props or whatever individualized materials that the child needs.4. What methods are necessary for teaching at the early childhood level ?
The Director stated that immersion is necessary and that for dual language learners other methods are necessary as they cross over to English speaking lessons.Administrative Assistants Interview questions:
1. How does language impact behavior?
Language is very important says the Administrative Assistant because every voice needs to be heard. Behavior can change when the lines of communication are not open.
2. What can teachers to in the classroom to have rich language based environment that promote natural language development?
Teachers can learn more about the child and their environment while finding out the best method of educating the child with supports.3. What can I do to help students make the transition from their native language to English?
As an Administrative Assistant the statement was that often people don’t know that there were meetings, workshops, and classes that help to instruct children as they make their transition from home to school. The administrative Assistant stated that all of the education that was completed helped to see that respect for the child and their educational as well as emotional needs are very important. Respect is the key.4. What methods are necessary for the early childhood level teaching.
Often tutors are necessary, or Para professionals, and Social workers also along with modifications for the child as necessary. At the beginning of the school year test are given to see where the child is and how to provide age appropriate instruction to get them where they should be said the administrative Assistant.Two insights, experiences, or quotes that I will share in my blog this week…
- One insight is that we should not assume that because a person is an Administrative Assistant that they do not have child care classes, and that they are not proficient in the methods of the classroom instruction.
- I learned that all children need respect, support, and the immersion technique or dual language learners need the inclusive approach to high-quality education.
- English proficiency standards for children in grades prekindergarten through 12 are available for teachers and professional to make sure that age appropriate instruction is given for dual language learners, non English speaking students, and English speaking students as well.
I love the Spanish language, and would love to learn how to speak it fluently. I enjoyed reading your post, but I would like to add some insight to it. I believe that one of the many issues is that society expect people to conform to American culture, and forget about their. I say because I learn through research that too many students are losing their native language because the emphasize is on English. This concerns me because student loses the ability to communicate with their family members and to me that is a BIG issue. I hope that each of my bilingual students never lose their native language because the lost of them not being able to communicate with their grandparents upsets me. Isn’t American meant to be diverse so why don’t these schools have teachers learn their student’s native language so then the transition for both will be learning experiences. I have research this and like everything it becomes about money..
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI too love the Spanish language although I do not speak it very well. I have found creative ways to communicate with the children and families. W have a GED program on site that the parents can go to to be helped with language as well as attaining a high school diploma.
Society indeed does expect people to conform to American culture, however we can not expect them to give up their culture in the process. Children loose their native language when it is not spoken at home, however we encourage the parents to speak their native tongue with the child. At school we have people in each classroom that not only speak Spanish, but whatever language the child brings into the classroom community.
America is very diverse and it means something different that was not noticed in the past. Now we have immersion programs, dual language programs, and are better equipped to help both student and family. It does seem that everything is about money, however with blogs, trainings, workshops, and interactions with the child and family we have moved forward with our knowledge of bilingual education.