Spanish in elementary schools

[Anonymous]

For your DCPS elementary school-- not charter schools or immersion schools-- do you have a full time Spanish teacher as one of your specials teachers?

We were told that Hearst is losing their Spanish teacher because it is no longer required by DCPS to have global language classes in the elementary levels, and that there isn't room for it in the budget.

Can you tell me if your DCPS elementary school has a Spanish teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For your DCPS elementary school-- not charter schools or immersion schools-- do you have a full time Spanish teacher as one of your specials teachers?

We were told that Hearst is losing their Spanish teacher because it is no longer required by DCPS to have global language classes in the elementary levels, and that there isn't room for it in the budget.

Can you tell me if your DCPS elementary school has a Spanish teacher?

My school had a Spanish teacher for 17-18 and 18-19. We had a French teacher for the 1st week of 19-20 SY then they quit. We haven't had language teachers since then.

[Anonymous]

The kids barely learn anything, it would be better to have an intervention teacher instead. Or another school counselor. Or a teacher who worked with advanced students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids barely learn anything, it would be better to have an intervention teacher instead. Or another school counselor. Or a teacher who worked with advanced students.

Hearst also lost its STEM teacher a year or two ago.

[Anonymous]

Lafayette is losing theirs for next school year.

[Anonymous]

Lafayette is dropping Spanish in favor of using the money to add more music and art teachers. Most parents were in support of this, and most parents who have had their child there for years agreed that their children didn't really learn any spanish.

In a perfect world we could have it all -- but even if money wasn't an issue, kids can't learn another language by having it for 30 minutes every 6th day. In order to make it worth keeping; DCPS would really need to figure out a different model for teaching it.

[Anonymous]

Tubman teaches science everyday to K-5 in a mix of Spanish and English. I’m not sure how effective it is at teaching Spanish, but the kids really seem to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tubman teaches science everyday to K-5 in a mix of Spanish and English. I’m not sure how effective it is at teaching Spanish, but the kids really seem to enjoy it.

More than 50% of Tubman students are Hispanic. The mix of Spanish and English teaching is probably for them.

[Anonymous]

Agree that language is a waste if it is only for 30 to 60 min a week. Better off putting that money elsewhere. Hiring and aide that supported ells (generally Spanish or Amharic speakers) would be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tubman teaches science everyday to K-5 in a mix of Spanish and English. I’m not sure how effective it is at teaching Spanish, but the kids really seem to enjoy it.

More than 50% of Tubman students are Hispanic. The mix of Spanish and English teaching is probably for them.

I’m a sub at Tubman, so I only know what I have observed, but combining Spanish with Science has also been a benefit for the advanced learners. Students complete writing prompts in the language of their choice, but if they have more time, they re-write their answer in the other language. It’s a really cool model.

[Anonymous]

Shepherd has full time Spanish and French teachers but they are an IB school so I’m sure that factors into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For your DCPS elementary school-- not charter schools or immersion schools-- do you have a full time Spanish teacher as one of your specials teachers?

We were told that Hearst is losing their Spanish teacher because it is no longer required by DCPS to have global language classes in the elementary levels, and that there isn't room for it in the budget.

Can you tell me if your DCPS elementary school has a Spanish teacher?

Wow, that's awful. My son graduated Hearst last year and had a full shot of Spanish from preK-5th. He is by no means fluent, but he has a very solid foundation and would easily move to fluency through an exchange program or high intensity language classes. It's also a real shame for kids who speak Spanish at home (and maybe not so much English) to lose a place where they can shine.

Do you by chance have any further info (links to policy or something at the district level)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd has full time Spanish and French teachers but they are an IB school so I’m sure that factors into it.

When my kid was there they didn’t have a Spanish teacher for a year and a half.

[Anonymous]

I'm of the camp where it's not clear they learn much of any value with a language once a week for 45 minutes. So am fine with schools figuring out what makes sense for them, e.g., using those personnel funds for other specials teachers or aides or other supports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For your DCPS elementary school-- not charter schools or immersion schools-- do you have a full time Spanish teacher as one of your specials teachers?

We were told that Hearst is losing their Spanish teacher because it is no longer required by DCPS to have global language classes in the elementary levels, and that there isn't room for it in the budget.

Can you tell me if your DCPS elementary school has a Spanish teacher?

Wow, that's awful. My son graduated Hearst last year and had a full shot of Spanish from preK-5th. He is by no means fluent, but he has a very solid foundation and would easily move to fluency through an exchange program or high intensity language classes. It's also a real shame for kids who speak Spanish at home (and maybe not so much English) to lose a place where they can shine.

Do you by chance have any further info (links to policy or something at the district level)?

Are you a native Spanish speaker? I suspect you have an inflated perception of your son's foundation.