Joining Immersion program in second grade

[Anonymous]

I am interested in hearing from families as to how much Spanish their children knew after one year (1st grade) in Fairfax county immersion program. We currently live in Maryland but are planning to move back to Fairfax county in a year. My DS will be starting second grade. We have had a spanish-speaking Nanny for 4 years. While my DS is not fluent, his comprehension is good, and he can read in spanish (he has worked out the phonetic part) but doesn't always understand everything he reads because he still needs to develop a more extensive vocabulary. Will this be enough to allow him to test in at the beginning of second grade?

[Anonymous]

I would call the County's foreign language office that oversees the immersion program. We're in Arlington and after first grade, you have to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency to be able to get in (not sure what the exact expectations are). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP, did you get into one of FCPS' Partial Immersion programs via lottery? Your post is vague on this point. My understanding is that you can only enter in K or 1st grade in FCPS via lottery. I have 2 kids in Spanish Partial Immersion.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We don't live in Fairafx county at the moment, but will be moving back next year when my son will be getting ready for second grade, therefore he would have to test in, which I understand. So I am trying to figure out exactly how proficient he would need to be to be at the same level as the other children starting second grade in the immersion program.
For example, by second grade are the students completely fluent in speaking, reading and writing spanish? My son understand spanish, can read in spanish, but is only basic when it comes to speaking Spanish (struggle putting complex sentences together.) Will the other children be too far ahead of him?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he should be fine. But honestly, you probably wont know until he goes to school. My son still struggles a bit with it, but has improved dramatically since K ( he's in 2nd grade now). My daughter started in 1 st grade and is fluent (according to her teacher).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We don't live in Fairafx county at the moment, but will be moving back next year when my son will be getting ready for second grade, therefore he would have to test in, which I understand. So I am trying to figure out exactly how proficient he would need to be to be at the same level as the other children starting second grade in the immersion program.
For example, by second grade are the students completely fluent in speaking, reading and writing spanish? My son understand spanish, can read in spanish, but is only basic when it comes to speaking Spanish (struggle putting complex sentences together.) Will the other children be too far ahead of him?

Arlington parent here again. Kids are not even close to fluent speaking, reading and writing in Spanish by second grade. Your son sounds like he probably would be able to handle the program. Good luck!