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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The Advancement of World Understanding begins with self-respect, and access to programs which develop the ability to lift oneself out of poverty. Education is the key pathway which can accomplish both. Focus on early STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math)lays the foundation.
IDENTIFIED NEEDS:
GLOBALLY COMPETENT STUDENTS in a 21st Century environment need strong backgrounds in STEM education. Young children merging into school from non-English speaking or disadvantaged homes have a difficult time with basic language skills and MUCH more difficulty with more ephemeral concepts found in science. Materials do not exist to bridge this gap. 2nd language learners need a smooth and early bridge to basic science vocabulary in a dual language setting, with both text and audio reinforcement. Familiarity with, and understanding of, language rudiments as well as fundamental science terms provides the youngsters with a huge leg-up in their early years of formal education.
HISTORY:
The last two years through District 5320 Matching Grants with VPRC, a highly successful workshop series focusing on dual-language STEM reinforcement for middle school and high school learners was carried out. As a result, the programs were featured in the opening meetings for the Orange Unified School District for the 2014/15 school year. A small STEM program was also pioneered with early school ESL learners. There was much community appreciation (see article documentation and photos)and the decision was made to focus efforts this year on the younger second-language learners, since building a foundation of love for Science is laid down in these early years.
HOW THE NEEDS WILL BE MET:
Working together, the Chair of Foreign Language Dept.(Brenda Ochoa, Orange County teacher of the Year) and Chemistry Teacher (Dr. Bartrom) will develop materials which present science concepts through ABC rhymes (think Dr. Suess) in simple repetitive language BUT in both English and Spanish. The simple small books with colorful pictures for contextual clues to concepts, would also be accompanied by a CD in both English and Spanish for audio and pronunciation development. The materials would be introduced by a Science Teacher working in tandem with a Foreign Language Teacher, parents will be encouraged to be present, and all materials would be taken home to vastly MULTIPLY the effect in each family. The goal of the proposed workshop is to develop and introduce a STRUCTURED FRAMEWORK OF SCIENCE CONCEPTS to young learners in a way that, through rhymes and bright pictures, ENCOURAGES ASSIMILATION AND RETENTION. Concepts and the supporting math operations used in STEM programs use "Tier Three" vocabulary. Even young learners who have technically tested out of Spanish Language, and have been "recategorized" as able to be "immersed" in English course offerings in STEM content, still find technical terms in STEM programs very difficult to understand without the support of contextual cues and affective support.
SPECIFICS ON IMPLEMENTATION:
Early elementary 2nd language learners will have three workshops (90 children total served) with 2 "ABC" books each, presenting a dual-language literacy-based introduction to Science concepts. The education of second-language learners must be focused on their difficulty accessing new science concepts which use technical terms not commonly used in everyday language. Concepts do not exist in isolation, they derive meaning from, and are enriched by, a web of relationships to other concepts and concrete associations.(1) Assimilation and retention of vocabulary and concepts is aided by precedent learning,(2) and is even more important in the case of 2nd language students. This is supported by the presentation of concepts in first language juxtaposed to the 2nd language, and presented in simple, rhythmic phrases.(3)
Citations:
(1)Ausubel, D.P. (2000). The Acquisition and Retention of Knowledge: A Cognitive View. Springer, online. (Original- Ausubelian Psychology, 1977).
(2)Hamrick, Bartrom-Olsen, Harty, Ault, (2010 published online). Concept Structure Interrelatedness Competency (ConSic): A Tool for Examining and Promoting Cognitive Structure. School Science and Mathematics.
(3)Hagan, Elsa Cardenas. (2011). Response to Intervention: Implications for Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners. University of Houston, RTI Action Network.
MATERIALS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
1. Books will be provided for each child with dual language in English and Spanish, and taught by two teachers in both English and Spanish. Food will be provided and a small backpack with both books packed inside at no cost to every young participant.
2. Each book will additionally have a CD with the text content in both English and Spanish for audio reinforcement of the languages for every learner. PARENTAL INCLUSION will be accommodated and encouraged.
3. The books will each be introduced with an animated version to bring audio-visual excitement to front-load the books, and will be shown in each workshop prior to the reading exercise. Each learner will be provided this DVD to continue the excitement in their homes with their siblings and significantly MULTIPLY the outreach of the program!!!!
ROLE OF ROTARIANS:
Rotarians will develop materials, secure sites, promote the events, select participants, order materials, record & press CD's, pack backpacks, greet and facilitate the meetings, teach the workshops in English & Spanish, plus VPHS Interact will provide classroom support as well.
1.Materials design and workshop teacher: VPRC Rotarian Dr. Bartrom-Olsen
2.Workshop Coordinator and hands-on facilitator: VPRC Rotarian Greg Mills
3.Spanish Language Greeters: Villa Park Rotary Spanish speaking INTERACTORS
4.Workshop hands-on implementation: Rotarian Marianne Koepnick
5.Organization and packing of backpacks: Rotarian Chad Zimmerman
6.Elementary language skills consultant: Rotarian Dr. Roberta Lansmen
7.Community outreach and securing sites: VPRC Rotarian Ed Howard
8.Community outreach and advertising: VPRC Rotarian Teri Brooks
9.Concept support and workshop organization/materials review: Rotarian Pete Moriarty
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTING PERSONNEL:
1. Brenda Ochoa, Chair Foreign Language Department (2015 OUSD Teacher of the Year);
2. Pablo Larios, Chair Graphic Design;
3. Ulises Garcia ESL Transition Teacher
4. Andie Mills, OC Register Reporter
COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS:
ChemClub; INTERACT; VPHS
TIMELINE:
AUGUST: team building: English and Spanish authors, graphics designer and animator.
SEPT/OCT:decision on workshop locations, dates and audience decision for each date;
animation software purchased. Materials for outreach
NOV: team meeting: updates from team members/correlation of activities;outreach begun
DEC: Print materials, backpacks, CD's ordered; continue outreach; correlate w.
counselors. Ongoing: animation
JAN: team meeting: order backpacks, recording, pressing and casing DVD's and CD's.
FEB: Books received, CD's and DVD's sleeved and secured inside books; backpacks packed
with both books, CD and DVD's
MARCH: Workshops 1, 2 and 3. Interact and ChemClub to provide additional hands-on support
APRIL: team meeting: analysis of success/areas for improvement; prepare final report
and submission of Final report to Rotary District 5320
ADVERTISING/COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Outreach to advertise to families and select learners will be internally through OUSD schools counselors, spearheaded by Rotarian Ed Howard and implemented by Ulises Garcia our ESL Transition Specialist; print materials to advertise and apply both in English and Spanish will be developed and used; Newspaper article in Orange County register will advertise the upcoming workshops as well as report afterward; Villa Park Magazine will provide an article with photos on the project. All materials will cite Rotary's role in this program.
BUDGET:
$2000 Book sets for 2nd language learners: K-2nd grade
$500 CD and DVD (wholesale) supplies for audio and animated versions: English and Spanish
$750 animation software for animated version of text for classroom use
$1100 workshop supplies: 90 backpaks + shipping/food for workshops
$250 printing: advertising/syllabi/instructional materials/DVD covers/casing.CD cases
$4600 TOTAL
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