Anonymous
11/01/2011 21:02
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
We are really excited about the unique opportunity that Claremont offers.
Someone has mentioned the arts strength at Claremont.
Is anyone aware of how Claremont students fare in math in the long-term (especially since many are learning it in a second language and since math is a subject that really builds upon previous learning)? Are there any data on Claremont kids in middle and high school with regard to math?
Someone has mentioned the arts strength at Claremont.
Is anyone aware of how Claremont students fare in math in the long-term (especially since many are learning it in a second language and since math is a subject that really builds upon previous learning)? Are there any data on Claremont kids in middle and high school with regard to math?
Anonymous
11/01/2011 09:50
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what the current class sizes are for 1st grade at Claremont?
Can a child enter the school in 2nd grade?
Class size for our DC last year in second grade ranged from 20 to 24. You cannot enter in second grade without prior immersion school experience or you already speak Spanish fluently.
Anonymous
11/01/2011 08:56
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Does anyone know what the current class sizes are for 1st grade at Claremont?
Can a child enter the school in 2nd grade?
Can a child enter the school in 2nd grade?
Anonymous
10/31/2011 16:38
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Anonymous wrote:There's a big difference between FLES and immersion. FLES is an early start to a language using traditional foreign language learning methods. In immersion, you learn by doing. DC is at Claremont and studies math, science, Spanish language arts, and (depending on the year), art or music in Spanish. It's really comparing apples and oranges.
Don't get me wrong - I think it's great that Arlington has FLES and hope that all schools eventually get it but we're certainly glad that DC is at an immersion school. Claremont (and Key) follow the exact same curriculum as any other Arlington elementary school - it's just that half the curriculum is taught in the target language.
Right, we understand the difference. We're just saying that there's nothing inherently superior to the immersion approach. The kids still learn the language. There's no extra virtue to immersion. Happy it works for you though.
Anonymous
10/31/2011 10:59
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
There's a big difference between FLES and immersion. FLES is an early start to a language using traditional foreign language learning methods. In immersion, you learn by doing. DC is at Claremont and studies math, science, Spanish language arts, and (depending on the year), art or music in Spanish. It's really comparing apples and oranges.
Don't get me wrong - I think it's great that Arlington has FLES and hope that all schools eventually get it but we're certainly glad that DC is at an immersion school. Claremont (and Key) follow the exact same curriculum as any other Arlington elementary school - it's just that half the curriculum is taught in the target language.
Don't get me wrong - I think it's great that Arlington has FLES and hope that all schools eventually get it but we're certainly glad that DC is at an immersion school. Claremont (and Key) follow the exact same curriculum as any other Arlington elementary school - it's just that half the curriculum is taught in the target language.
Anonymous
10/30/2011 14:33
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We have the option to send our rising kindergardener to Claremont in the fall. I am having trouble finding honest opinions on Claremont from parents with students enrolled there. Any thoughts from parents with kids in the school would be much appreciated.
Can't speak to Claremont exactly, but at Jamestown I was surprised to find my kids in Spanish three times a week. So, while not immersion, they're getting a lof ot exposure to a second language from a very young age (1st and 3rd). I don't think I started languages growing up until 7th grade...
I don't know whether other Arlington schools do this or not. I suspect they do... This exposure-short-of-immersion follows the model of many European schools, so I'm pretty happy with it and don't feel like my kids need immersion to learn a language.
I only with the language being taught was Mandarin or Arabic and not Spanish.
A number of the Arlington elementary schools are now including Spanish as part of their instruction, but they have been ramping up slowly and got delayed a bit due to budget cuts. But I'd say half or almost half now offer FLES (Foreign Language in Elementary School) which offers Spanish 3x a week and eliminates the Wednesday early release. For now it is only Spanish, which frankly I think makes most sense since it is a highly useful language and an easier starter language.
Anonymous
10/29/2011 09:56
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Anonymous wrote:We have the option to send our rising kindergardener to Claremont in the fall. I am having trouble finding honest opinions on Claremont from parents with students enrolled there. Any thoughts from parents with kids in the school would be much appreciated.
Can't speak to Claremont exactly, but at Jamestown I was surprised to find my kids in Spanish three times a week. So, while not immersion, they're getting a lof ot exposure to a second language from a very young age (1st and 3rd). I don't think I started languages growing up until 7th grade...
I don't know whether other Arlington schools do this or not. I suspect they do... This exposure-short-of-immersion follows the model of many European schools, so I'm pretty happy with it and don't feel like my kids need immersion to learn a language.
I only with the language being taught was Mandarin or Arabic and not Spanish.
Anonymous
10/28/2011 13:31
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Highly recommend it - it's a great school in so many ways. The opportunity to learn a second language is a huge plus, the teachers overall are great and there's a really nice community feeling.
Anonymous
10/28/2011 11:29
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Any more feedback from parents this school year on the school? I am looking at it for next year.
Anonymous
05/11/2011 00:02
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Press release on Claremont ES from the APS website:
"Claremont Honored as Immersion School of the Year
The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain in the United States and Canada recognized Claremont Immersion Elementary School as the “2010 Colegio Del Ano – School of the Year” at an awards ceremony on May 6.
Claremont was one of seven schools across the United States recognized for excellence in language education programs, specifically Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programs in English and Spanish. As part of the recognition, Claremont received $4,000 that will be used to support Spanish language instruction."
"Claremont Honored as Immersion School of the Year
The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain in the United States and Canada recognized Claremont Immersion Elementary School as the “2010 Colegio Del Ano – School of the Year” at an awards ceremony on May 6.
Claremont was one of seven schools across the United States recognized for excellence in language education programs, specifically Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programs in English and Spanish. As part of the recognition, Claremont received $4,000 that will be used to support Spanish language instruction."
Anonymous
05/02/2011 09:38
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am in the same position as OP, we are deciding between Claremont and St. Agnes, two totally different programs. Our concern is that we don't speak Spanish at home - any thoughts on how kids without Spanish at home fare at the school? Thanks!
It depends a lot on your child. Lack of parental Spanish isn't a big deal if your child is more of a self-starter and can tell you what's going on. Most of the Spanish homework involves math, and math is math in any language. It's a good opportunity for you as parents to start learning a bit. Use a dictionary or online translator to tell you what the instructions say. There are lots of families without Spanish at Claremont and their kids do fine.
Anonymous
05/01/2011 22:47
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Admittedly not a Claremont parent here, but I have two friends with kids there. Both really like the school and the community. Neither has Spanish speaking parents at home and it has not been a big deal.
Anonymous
04/29/2011 13:37
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Hi, I am in the same position as OP, we are deciding between Claremont and St. Agnes, two totally different programs. Our concern is that we don't speak Spanish at home - any thoughts on how kids without Spanish at home fare at the school? Thanks!
Anonymous
04/28/2011 14:31
Subject: Re:Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
Parent of a second grader at Claremont here - love the school. The education is great, parent community is strong and it's great that our child gets to learn a language naturally, by doing and through context. Claremont also has a very strong arts program. Feel free to ask more questions.
Anonymous
04/28/2011 12:34
Subject: Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington
We have the option to send our rising kindergardener to Claremont in the fall. I am having trouble finding honest opinions on Claremont from parents with students enrolled there. Any thoughts from parents with kids in the school would be much appreciated.