Fustrated

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I AM IN THE EDUCATION FIELD BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL "FRUSTRATED."

I am an education major working as an ESL para in a first grade classroom. For the most part, I work independently with a girl whose first language is Spanish. She came to the States in November with a year of schooling in Mexico. She has learned very little English so far. She does understand if I speak to her in English. She naturally prefers when I speak Spanish.

Since she came we have been working on our numbers and letters in English. She still does not know them. She can count, if the numbers are in order. However, she cannot number her paper or recognize the numerals. To number her paper, she looks at the clock. For her letters, she just guesses on most letters. I choose to concentrate on the letters in her name, hoping they would be easier to recognize. She still has trouble realizing what letters they are or even that they are in her name.

We have traced the letters and numbers in sand, used play dough to make the numbers, used a Leap Frog, made number and letter books, read many books, and more. Everyday we do our flashcards. I am feeling pressured to have her show more progress. I am becoming fustrated because I believe that she should be showing more progress than she has. Does anybody have suggestions? I am opening to trying anything. Thank you so much!!!ss

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I was just talking with some teachers today about the storyline method of teaching. You embed the learning in a storyline.

Say you are going to study about communities. You design the city, buildings, decide who will be the people. Then everyday you have scenarios. Maybe the bakery has to have pastries for the town carnival. Decide how many pastries they will need etc. Or come up with your own ideas. Put the learning into context of real life situations.

I think that would be of more benefit to your esl girl. She is already using what she knows about her environment to help her. Teach her how to use her environment for learning. Find learning in the world around her and teach her the concepts that way. It may make more sense that way and not seem so abstract to her.

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Did she really have schooling in Mexico? Basic number sense and foundations of reading should transfer much more readily. Granted the language will take much more time. How does she perform if tested on the numbers or letters in spanish? Trying to get an ELL tested for learning disablilty is HARD. If she can perform in her native tongue, then it will just take time. She must learn, and remember, and retrieve the new name of each and every number, and letter, not to mention that the letters say a whole new sound. Continue working ,as you are, with things that are familiar to her (her name...)Pick just a few (5-7 at the max) and drill, drill, drill. Make different games, flash card, have her verbalize often. maybe mix it up by changing intonation. whiper voice, squeaky, grumpy deep voice. If you can get her outside, bouce a ball in conjunction witlh saying the name of targeted learning that day. Trying to change things up, and getting physical, can sometimes trigger another part of the brain to help in retention and recall.

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I'm not sure who is applying the pressure, but I think she's being bombarded with too much at the same time. It must be relevant to her life. Start with the letters of her name. flash, let her teach them to you in Spanish. Numbers to 10 we all know. Make it equivalent to our numbers using objects.
Use common things, like boxes, cereal boxes, teddy grahams for rewards.

I have been working with Spanish speaking students for awhile, It will take time. Can you read Japanese ? Imagine trying to learn it in 6 months !!!

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Put yourself in her shoes. How would you be in a new country with a totally different culture, language and way of life? Don't you think she is going through a lot? Patience goes a long way. First of all, the school should evaluate her in Spanish and find out what she really knows and them you could take it from there. My daughter has a speech delay and the therapist shows her cards with actions, she tells in each card what the person is doing and she has to repeat. She makes everything very nicelly and fun. My daughter loves her and is improving a lot. Be patient when dealing with a little and maybe scared and afraid child. Good luck!

[mainman83@yahoo.com]

Your spelling of frustrated is wrong. Just thought I would let you know since you are a teacher and all.

[Unregistered]

name= nombre in spanish
number=numero in spanish
they kinda of sound a like ..it could be the reason she is confused.

[Unregistered]

I agree with other posts...focus on letters in her name first. Once she has mastered those in random order, add only 1 or 2 new letters until she has mastered those. Continue in this manner as she shows proficiency. Be sure you are taking a multisensory approach...write letters in chocolate pudding, shaving cream, sand, salt trays, sidewalk chalk, paint with water on concrete or fences, make letters with play-doh, shape biscuit dough into letters, sort letters or numbers, count fun objects, make sets with exciting manipulatives, play letter or number Bingo, go-fish for letters/numbers, play games with number dice, etc. It has to be fun!!!

Have you tried singing educational songs to help her learn letters/numbers? You can teach the songs in Spanish, then sing them in English to help her make those connections. Great CD's/songs and early childhood ideas can be found at www.drjean.org. Dr. Jean is very developmentally appropriate and amazing! Good luck!