APS Spanish Immersion -- Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Curious how other families are doing that have kinders in Spanish immersion at this point in the year? Our DC (we are not native speakers) has been showing some signs of potential challenges with the dual langue learning. We are happy with the teachers and the school (Claremont) but do not want to turn a blind eye to signs of potential struggle. It's hard to tell if it's just starting school in general or the immersion aspect. We had a frank conversation with her teacher who suggested looking at supplemental help (in fact, she said she suggests all non-native speakers look at a tutor for the first two years???? ) to get outside the classroom support but also shared it often takes time for kids to get in a groove when it comes to learning a new language. Which makes sense, but how long do you wait to see. We somehow got a spot at ATS too and turned it down for immersion and I'm second guessing everything. Just hoping we are not the only kinder family who is feeling a bit unsure at this point.

[Anonymous]

We had a kid start in APS immersion with no background in Spanish at all. They disliked immersion all of kindergarten, stating that they didn't understand anything. The beginning of the year was especially hard and stressful. Their Spanish absolutely exploded in first grade and now as a second grader they have whole discussions in Spanish. It's amazing. They now love immersion and love learning in Spanish. I would try not to judge in fall of kindergarten--it takes a while to get over the learning curve. See where your student is at the end of 1st or beginning of 2nd.

As for outside support, I'd try to find some way to keep up Spanish learning over the summer, perhaps with a Spanish speaking nanny or babysitter. I'd try not to take the summer off from Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a kid start in APS immersion with no background in Spanish at all. They disliked immersion all of kindergarten, stating that they didn't understand anything. The beginning of the year was especially hard and stressful. Their Spanish absolutely exploded in first grade and now as a second grader they have whole discussions in Spanish. It's amazing. They now love immersion and love learning in Spanish. I would try not to judge in fall of kindergarten--it takes a while to get over the learning curve. See where your student is at the end of 1st or beginning of 2nd.

As for outside support, I'd try to find some way to keep up Spanish learning over the summer, perhaps with a Spanish speaking nanny or babysitter. I'd try not to take the summer off from Spanish.

I'll add that outside tutoring in kindergarten is crazy. Kids are already exhausted after a full day of kindergarten, especially with a chunk of the day being immersion. At most I'd turn on Spanish kid songs at home in the background.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a kid start in APS immersion with no background in Spanish at all. They disliked immersion all of kindergarten, stating that they didn't understand anything. The beginning of the year was especially hard and stressful. Their Spanish absolutely exploded in first grade and now as a second grader they have whole discussions in Spanish. It's amazing. They now love immersion and love learning in Spanish. I would try not to judge in fall of kindergarten--it takes a while to get over the learning curve. See where your student is at the end of 1st or beginning of 2nd.

As for outside support, I'd try to find some way to keep up Spanish learning over the summer, perhaps with a Spanish speaking nanny or babysitter. I'd try not to take the summer off from Spanish.

I'll add that outside tutoring in kindergarten is crazy. Kids are already exhausted after a full day of kindergarten, especially with a chunk of the day being immersion. At most I'd turn on Spanish kid songs at home in the background.

I can't agree more about tutors in kindergarten, and some of the lower elementary grades. With that said, it seems to be a common theme and something a lot of families in APS have to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a kid start in APS immersion with no background in Spanish at all. They disliked immersion all of kindergarten, stating that they didn't understand anything. The beginning of the year was especially hard and stressful. Their Spanish absolutely exploded in first grade and now as a second grader they have whole discussions in Spanish. It's amazing. They now love immersion and love learning in Spanish. I would try not to judge in fall of kindergarten--it takes a while to get over the learning curve. See where your student is at the end of 1st or beginning of 2nd.

As for outside support, I'd try to find some way to keep up Spanish learning over the summer, perhaps with a Spanish speaking nanny or babysitter. I'd try not to take the summer off from Spanish.

I'll add that outside tutoring in kindergarten is crazy. Kids are already exhausted after a full day of kindergarten, especially with a chunk of the day being immersion. At most I'd turn on Spanish kid songs at home in the background.

I can't agree more about tutors in kindergarten, and some of the lower elementary grades. With that said, it seems to be a common theme and something a lot of families in APS have to do.

What do you mean "have to do"? I don't know anyone who used a tutor before 1st, and even that was only for reading and started later in the year. I don't know anyone in immersion with a Spanish tutor in the younger grades. Some kids do have nannies or au pairs who speak Spanish to continue immersion at home, but that's not a tutor.

[Anonymous]

Is your kid happy at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a kid start in APS immersion with no background in Spanish at all. They disliked immersion all of kindergarten, stating that they didn't understand anything. The beginning of the year was especially hard and stressful. Their Spanish absolutely exploded in first grade and now as a second grader they have whole discussions in Spanish. It's amazing. They now love immersion and love learning in Spanish. I would try not to judge in fall of kindergarten--it takes a while to get over the learning curve. See where your student is at the end of 1st or beginning of 2nd.

As for outside support, I'd try to find some way to keep up Spanish learning over the summer, perhaps with a Spanish speaking nanny or babysitter. I'd try not to take the summer off from Spanish.

I'll add that outside tutoring in kindergarten is crazy. Kids are already exhausted after a full day of kindergarten, especially with a chunk of the day being immersion. At most I'd turn on Spanish kid songs at home in the background.

I can't agree more about tutors in kindergarten, and some of the lower elementary grades. With that said, it seems to be a common theme and something a lot of families in APS have to do.

What do you mean "have to do"? I don't know anyone who used a tutor before 1st, and even that was only for reading and started later in the year. I don't know anyone in immersion with a Spanish tutor in the younger grades. Some kids do have nannies or au pairs who speak Spanish to continue immersion at home, but that's not a tutor.

I am surprised the above poster doesn't know anyone in younger grades with a tutor in immersion. We are at Claremont as well and know many families who have or had tutors for their littles. It doesn't seem that it's that out of the norm to hear about in the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

Why did you choose immersion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

We were not interested in immersion specifically because of the change to 80% of the day in Spanish. We don't speak Spanish at home. We would love for our kids to be bilingual and we have high levels of proficiency ourselves after years of living overseas, but I knew 80% would be overwhelming for my kid. And we're not paying for tutors so they can attend immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

I personally would not keep him in a program if he was not interested in learning Spanish, even at that young of an age. Some kids really take to it and love it, others don't. You do not want to set up negative associations with school or have him fall behind. I have seen several kids transfer from immersion, sometimes after years of struggling.
I am not judging you for trying! My kid was in the wrong school for a couple of years before I realized what they really needed. It was things that weren't originally important to me but I really wish I had made the switch earlier.

[Anonymous]

No shame in changing programs. We thought immersion was the way to go for our kid and what we wanted for him. We left after 2nd grade and it was the best decision for all of us. As much as we wanted him to be in the program it just wasn’t a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

We were not interested in immersion specifically because of the change to 80% of the day in Spanish. We don't speak Spanish at home. We would love for our kids to be bilingual and we have high levels of proficiency ourselves after years of living overseas, but I knew 80% would be overwhelming for my kid. And we're not paying for tutors so they can attend immersion.

This was us too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

We were not interested in immersion specifically because of the change to 80% of the day in Spanish. We don't speak Spanish at home. We would love for our kids to be bilingual and we have high levels of proficiency ourselves after years of living overseas, but I knew 80% would be overwhelming for my kid. And we're not paying for tutors so they can attend immersion.

This was us too!

I think it will lead to declining enrollment in the next few years. I don’t understand why immersion gets to schools and all the other option programs only get one. They should give Claremont back to South Arlington to alleviate overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid happy at school?

OP here -- yes because they are social and love seeing their friends. They are not super happy everyday with 80% of their day being in Spanish.

We were not interested in immersion specifically because of the change to 80% of the day in Spanish. We don't speak Spanish at home. We would love for our kids to be bilingual and we have high levels of proficiency ourselves after years of living overseas, but I knew 80% would be overwhelming for my kid. And we're not paying for tutors so they can attend immersion.

This was us too!

I think it will lead to declining enrollment in the next few years. I don’t understand why immersion gets to schools and all the other option programs only get one. They should give Claremont back to South Arlington to alleviate overcrowding.

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