Mental Health Latio in San Berdino California - EL CENTRO DE AMISTAD

This month Carmen Tobar, our Learning Center teacher, focused on fostering and developing English language development. This was done by introducing or reviewing the subject of weather. Carmen has a handful of students who are in Spanish speaking classes. They range from as early as pre-kinder through fifth grade. She wants to help them develop their English language and to do this she implemented SDAIE (Specially- Designed Academic Instruction in English) strategies into the unit. Some of these strategies included brainstorming, comprehension checks, graphic organizers, group discussions, and round table. Carmen also made sure to use a lot of visuals so that the students could have examples of what is being taught. Carmen also had them practice their sentences orally as well as writing them. For the little ones they could represent the weather by using an illustration. Carmen also asked the younger students what the picture represented to them, and explained to them that pictures and writing represent a thought or idea.

The class also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Carmen read books to them and discussed how the holiday is celebrated. For example, Carmen introduced the concept of leprechauns, pot of gold, luck, and four leaf clovers. The class also decorated four leaf clovers. Most of the student wore their four green leaf clovers on St. Patrick’s Day.