Hi, A.!
I cannot MORE HIGHLY recommend this program!!!!! I need to give you a bit of my background first, so you can determine if we're coming from a similar place. Both of my daughters and a niece are in Spanish Immersion. My daughters have also both been in the Gifted and Talented program since Kindergarten. They, as well as my niece, have maintained excellent grades. My older daughter is entering 7th grade and has gotten 3-5 B's since she started school. My niece is entering 3rd grade and my younger daughter's entering 2nd and they've both maintained straight A's. Additionally, my niece has ADD/ADHD, so learning can be a bit of a challenge for her at times, yet she's STILL made excellent grades while also learning another language. Plus, many of the TAKS test scores that my older daughter's class have had have been above-average when compared to their peers. Recently, her SI class had the highest test scores in the entire district on their Science TAKS test!!!!!
Most of the concerns and "cons" that I've heard are from people who do not have first-hand experience with the program, I.E., parents who are considering it, but talk with teachers and other parents and then decide against it. Unless you have a child with learning difficulties, I don't know why you would NOT choose this program! The children selected are good students, but, mostly, it's your average child who comprises the large majority of students in the program. Here's what so many people don't get: It's NOT about learning Spanish! It's about learning HOW TO SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE. Truth be told, 1st grade is a bit late to start, but it's the best we have for now and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity my children have been given through the HEB ISD. It's been proven that when a person learns another language, he/she is utilizing parts of the brain not normally accessed. For those of us who know only one language, the communication pathways that are being used by our children have, for the most part, closed in our adult brains. Basically, you either use it or you lose it. In this country, most of us don't use it. So, though learning Spanish is extremely applicable living in this part of the country, the bigger consideration is that our children are being given the opportunity to learn 2, 3, 4 languages or more later in life, should they choose to do so. You're giving your children choices that most of their peers won't have. It seems to me that a child who offers what many others offer PLUS speaks at least one other language would be more appealing to colleges. This is about so much more than just speaking Spanish! Our district also offers French and German, which can be taken in conjunction with Spanish starting in the 7th grade. Currently, students can also learn Mandarin Chinese and Hindi starting in 7th grade at Central Jr. High and continuing at Trinity. The hope is that that both high schools will support the program in coming years, as Central is a split school. Additionally, the intention is for Arabic to be available, too. At this time, these programs are not available in conjunction with Spanish Immersion, but the district's always expanding and adding to what they already offer. Bottom line: unless you don't feel your child would do well, there's no reason to not put him/her in the program. You're providing you child with an incredible chance to do so much later in life. Perhaps the day your child graduates is the day he/she will stop speaking that additional language or, perhaps, he/she will be able to consider careers where speaking an additional language is a huge advantage or even a requirement.
Clearly, I'm EXTREMELY passionate about the program, as well as the HEB ISD school district. Please feel free to call me and/or send me a response with your contact information if you'd like to speak in person. I hope this helps you make the right decision for your child.
Sincerely,
S.
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