APS Spanish Immersion -- Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

I'm another Claremont parent with a child in kindergarten, and have older children who are in immersion. I'm shocked that a kindergarten teacher would recommend a tutor. Maybe they encouraged you to read in Spanish, play Spanish music, expose your child to Spanish language cultures? Definitely share with your child why you chose immersion for them, but make it relatable. Don't tell them its to help them get a job someday, that is too far off. Explain it as an opportunity to make more friends (ability to speak with people who speak only english or only spanish), to learn about cultures and places (though APS has so many people from all over the world this can happen at any ES, immersion schools just have a spanish language culture focus). Maybe this is a chance for your child to learn about their spanish language heritage or be able to communicate with their spanish speaking relatives. Whatever your reasons, think about them and explain them to your child in terms they can appreciate. It can make a surprising difference.

[Anonymous]

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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.

We're at Key and I've never heard of anyone using a Spanish tutor.

Families at Key use tutors, some in person, some virtual. Many also have au pairs from Spanish-speaking countries.

[Anonymous]

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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.

We're at Key and I've never heard of anyone using a Spanish tutor.

That is very interesting. I also know of families at Claremont that have tutors. We don’t have one yet but are only in 2nd grade. I wonder if there are variances with the programs at the schools or if it is just kid dependent and situational.

If tutors were prevalent at Key, I'd expect to see parents asking for tutor recommendations on the very active WhatsApp group, but I have never seen that question asked.

It's a very active group, but there is also a very specific tone to that group. Any questions or concerns about the school are immediately shut down by 10 people that post otherwise. Key has such a loving PTA, but sometimes I worry about the inability to engage with questions that give even a hint of a potential area for improvement. I would not feel comfortable asking about a tutor on that group, but have received recommendations about supplemental help (from Spanish speaking families, I might add)