Welcome to the Kindergarten Resource Page!

Dear Families,

Welcome! In our dual immersion school, Kindergarten is an exciting time of growth in language, learning, and independence. Your involvement at home is crucial to supporting your child’s bilingual journey. This page offers easy, practical tips to make learning fun and part of your daily routine!

Supporting Language Development

• Read daily in both languages, even if they don’t understand every word—exposure is key!
• Sing songs, play rhyming games, and have conversations in both languages.
• Encourage storytelling by asking your child to describe their day or make up stories.
• Practice vocabulary by labeling household items in both languages.

Building Early Math Skills

• Count objects during daily tasks such as snacks, toys, or steps (count by 1s, 5s, 10s)
• Find and talk about patterns in nature, clothing, or home décor.
• Use cooking activities to explore measuring and sequencing.
• Play sorting and matching games with everyday items.

*These can be done in English and Spanish

Developing Fine & Gross Motor Skills

• Encourage drawing, coloring, and cutting to improve hand strength.
• Build with blocks, use playdough, and practice threading beads.
• Practice independence with buttoning, zipping, and utensil use.
• Promote movement and coordination through jumping, balancing, and climbing games.

Encouraging Social-Emotional Growth

• Establish consistent routines for morning, learning, and bedtime.
• Help your child identify and express their emotions.
• Teach calming strategies like deep breathing or counting.
• Encourage sharing, turn-taking, and using polite language in both languages.

Preparing for School Success

• Set up a quiet, organized learning space.
• Keep school supplies easily accessible to encourage independence.
• Praise effort and perseverance to foster a growth mindset.
• Include learning in daily activities, like writing a shopping list or sorting laundry.

Working Together

Your support at home makes a tremendous impact on your child’s success. By fostering a love for learning and bilingualism, you are giving them a strong foundation for the future. We’re here to support you! Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education!

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Family Learning Activities

Here are some fun and educational activity ideas for families of students in a dual immersion Spanish program:

1. Bilingual Storytime

• Families can visit local libraries or online platforms for bilingual storytime sessions. Alternatively, they can have a family reading night with books in both Spanish and English.
• Book Suggestions: "La Oruga Muy Hambrienta" (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) or "Donde Viven los Monstruos" (Where the Wild Things Are).

2. Cooking Together

• Cooking traditional dishes from Spanish-speaking countries can be a fun way to learn food vocabulary and cultural traditions.
• Activity Tip: Follow recipes written in Spanish, like making tacos al pastor, empanadas, or churros.

3. Language Exchange Game Night

• Families can play bilingual board games like Lotería (Mexican Bingo) or language-focused games like Scrabble using Spanish words.

4. Music and Dance Sessions

• Listen to Spanish music genres like salsa, reggaeton, or mariachi.
• Activity Idea: Learn a simple dance routine or sing along to popular Spanish songs with lyrics displayed for reading practice.

5. Cultural Movie Night

• Watch movies or cartoons in Spanish with English subtitles (or vice versa).
• Movie Suggestions: Coco, Encanto, or El Libro de la Vida (The Book of Life).

6. Travel the World from Home

• Using the globe theme from your school’s logo, families can “travel” to different Spanish-speaking countries by learning facts, trying out foods, or exploring virtual tours of famous landmarks.

7. Art and Craft Activities

• Create crafts inspired by Hispanic traditions, such as papel picado (decorative paper cuttings) or making piñatas.
• Pair this with learning colors, shapes, and cultural significance in Spanish.

8. Community Events and Field Trips

• Encourage families to visit cultural festivals, Spanish-speaking markets, or museums featuring Hispanic art and history.

9. Family Language Challenges

• Set daily or weekly challenges, such as using 10 new Spanish words each day or having short conversations only in Spanish during dinner.

10. Digital Language Games and Apps

• Suggest educational apps like Duolingo, Gus on the Go, or Endless Spanish for interactive learning.

 

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The Spanish Experiment is a website that offers Spanish-language learning resources, including free short stories with audio, language learning tips, and beginner Spanish lessons. It provides engaging and accessible content for learners of all levels, making language acquisition fun and immersive.