Oyster starting in 2nd grade

[Anonymous]

Hi. We're moving to DC in next month. We're trying to finalize housing now in boundary for Oyster. The plan is that my son (who will be in 2nd grade next year) will enroll in Oyster. I know it's late to be asking this question... but I would love to get thoughts on how difficult his transition might be and what we can do to help him with it. He's taken some after-school Spanish and traveled in Central America. His father and I are both native English speakers, but both speak Spanish (although mine is getting really rusty) so we often speak Spanish in front of him (often when we don't want him to understand... so that's a big motivation for him to learn it). So he's had some exposure to Spanish language and culture (through travel), but he doesn't speak it at all...

I'd love to hear thoughts about how the transition might be and ideas to make it easier. And, especially since we'll arrive right before the school year begins, ideas for getting to know the community.

thanks!

[Anonymous]

I am half joking when I say - contact Michelle Rhee. Her children entered Oyster as older children and she might be able to give you some insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi. We're moving to DC in next month. We're trying to finalize housing now in boundary for Oyster. The plan is that my son (who will be in 2nd grade next year) will enroll in Oyster. I know it's late to be asking this question... but I would love to get thoughts on how difficult his transition might be and what we can do to help him with it. He's taken some after-school Spanish and traveled in Central America. His father and I are both native English speakers, but both speak Spanish (although mine is getting really rusty) so we often speak Spanish in front of him (often when we don't want him to understand... so that's a big motivation for him to learn it). So he's had some exposure to Spanish language and culture (through travel), but he doesn't speak it at all...

I'd love to hear thoughts about how the transition might be and ideas to make it easier. And, especially since we'll arrive right before the school year begins, ideas for getting to know the community.

thanks!

hi there and welcome! - join the Woodley Park listserv for community. Hang out at the playgrounds (Walter Pierce, Woodley or Kalorama), go to the Cleveland Park library, join a sports league.

The transition will be difficult. He will be with kids who have 2-3 yrs under their belts. I would consider getting an afterschool tutor to help him catch up.
Normally, a child would not be allowed in to the school (from out of boundary) without passing a test. Look into Communikids ASAP and see if you can get him into a class immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi. We're moving to DC in next month. We're trying to finalize housing now in boundary for Oyster. The plan is that my son (who will be in 2nd grade next year) will enroll in Oyster. I know it's late to be asking this question... but I would love to get thoughts on how difficult his transition might be and what we can do to help him with it. He's taken some after-school Spanish and traveled in Central America. His father and I are both native English speakers, but both speak Spanish (although mine is getting really rusty) so we often speak Spanish in front of him (often when we don't want him to understand... so that's a big motivation for him to learn it). So he's had some exposure to Spanish language and culture (through travel), but he doesn't speak it at all...

I'd love to hear thoughts about how the transition might be and ideas to make it easier. And, especially since we'll arrive right before the school year begins, ideas for getting to know the community.

thanks!

hi there and welcome! - join the Woodley Park listserv for community. Hang out at the playgrounds (Walter Pierce, Woodley or Kalorama), go to the Cleveland Park library, join a sports league.

The transition will be difficult. He will be with kids who have 2-3 yrs under their belts. I would consider getting an afterschool tutor to help him catch up.
Normally, a child would not be allowed in to the school (from out of boundary) without passing a test. Look into Communikids ASAP and see if you can get him into a class immediately.

Or the Adams Morgan listserve, if your new house will be on the Adams Morgan side.

[Anonymous]

Welcome op! Sounds like your child has a great start for bilingual school. Travel in central America is great icebreaker for you and for him. Even if he doesn't speak Spanish, research shows hearing you speak at home and with parents and teachers at school (even if rusty) will be positive in terms of language and social development. Your son could probably teach the English teachers a thing or too. CommuniKids is great. One of founders kids goes there.

[Anonymous]

Echoing the person who said that the transition can be tough, I would call Oyster and ask about their experience with children starting in 2nd grade: how much outside tutoring have they needed? how much extra help is provided during the school day?

My kids are in language immersion at another school (private). Children entering later than K who are not already bilingual spend a large part of the school day in an accelerated language-learning class; otherwise, there is not much chance that they could work at grade level or keep up with kids who have been speaking/reading/writing the 2nd language for several years.

I'm not trying to dissuade you, because Oyster is a terrific school, and bilingualism is a great gift to children, but be sure to ask lots of questions, assess whether your child is ready for extra work outside of school, and make sure that the school is ready to step up to help. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thanks for the feedback. We have talked with the school and have talked with parents in other bilingual programs.

I must say that these responses make me a little more nervous than I had been... Both my husband and I have lived over seas (I liveed in Central America for 3+ years) and studied other languages (as an adult) - so our son learning at a young age is really important to us. We will definitely look into additional resources to help him to catch up.

Any idea of the number of kids who enter at Oyster at after 1st grade with out Spanish (and will be in the same situation)?

thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP,

It will be worth it. I saw kids enter at different grades and it was a challenge but I didn't know a child who didn't meet that challenge. Your knowing Spanish is a puls, you can read aloud and you will understand his tarea instructions. I also recommend getting a tutor. As for the PP who recommended asking about the school stepping up, I agree. not sure where Oyster is on that. I would ask parents about how the school handles this. (My child is an Oyster alum.) Post a question on the Woodley Park listserv, Adams Morgan rarely gets Oyster posts. (I belong to Adams Morgan).

The school can tell you how many students might be entering 1st grade without Spanish. It changes every year.

Good luck I am sure you will find the community and the program wonderful!

[Anonymous]

oops: knowing Spanish is a PLUS.

[Anonymous]

Your child should have a tutor after school to build gradual conversational and reading fluency. Not only language but content is taught in both tracks at Oyster. You don't want him/her missing out on too much. Good Luck-- former Oyster teacher

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the replys!

PP - as a former Oyster teacher - do you know what support the school provides for kids who come in later with little spanish? Is tutoring something the school can help us arrange - either formally or informally (ie: are there teachers that tutor students after school for a fee)?

[Anonymous]

There have been in the past (teachers who tutor after school for a small fee). They should have even more in place if this new principal is worth her beans--I left before her. There was a need for the school to have more formal SSL (Spanish as a Second Language) support. Not necessarily just for latecomers, but also because it is a, well, second language for half the students and some students need some extra oomph. Current Oyster parents?