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June 26, 2006
El Famoso Instituto de Espanol
That’s where I’m at this week. I don’t know how famous it is, but we all believe it is. A group of 30 of us finished the course in Tehama County and now the last hardy 18 are making their way to Puerto Vallarta for the last week.
The plan is for us to be speaking Spanish most of the time. Well, if you’re talking to any of the teachers or the director, of course we are. When left to our own devises we are mostly getting to know each other in English.
Gloria is going to retire and work in the preschool arena beginning in July. Janine has just finished her student teaching and is looking for a job. Chris is in maintenance and is working on his teaching credential. Mark is a principal, and Marine has a set of apartments with Spanish speaking tenants. She wants to talk with them. There’s a nice cross section of folks along with a spouse and a couple of children of one of the participants.
Hablamos Espanol y jugamos tambien.
Posted by Dr Joni at 03:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Interesting Flight
On the plane to Puerto Vallarta I sat next to an active two year old, well, almost two. She was having a wonderful time trying everything in sight. One of the things that fascinated her a great deal was the tray table. For a child of few words, she managed to turn the knob, drop the tray table down, and slide it back and forth.
What was fun for me was watching her figure out how to do it and try it over and over again until she could do it with ease. It might well have driven the woman in front of her crazy and it certainly was making her mother crazy, but she wanted to try the activity over and over again.
What was also fascinating was the struggle mom was having. Mom kept trying to redirect her daughter, but she just didn’t want to be redirected. Mom’s major goal was to keep her daughter from making a lot of noise and disturbing others, but what the child wanted to do mom didn’t want her to do and every time she didn’t get what she wanted she cried.
Yes, almost two-the only identifiable words were “no” and “mine.” I recognized them. They were the only two words my kids knew at that age. At least they were the only two I heard on a regular basis.
Of course, just as we arrived in Phoenix, the little one fell asleep. What a surprise!
Ahora, vamos a hablar Espanol.
Posted by Dr Joni at 03:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 22, 2006
O, As, A, Amos, An
Yo puedo hablar un poquito en Espanol. This week I've had plenty of chance to practice speaking Spanish. I've been attending a Spanish Summer Institute sponsored by the Tehama County Office of Education. They've been doing this for years and I've wanted to sign up for a long time. This year I finally said, "Okay, esta bien, I'll go."
My first day of class I felt like thousand of children must feel every year walking into a classroom where the language spoken is not one they know. Every word out of the mouths of the teachers and support folks was in a language I didn't hear every day. I was afraid I couldn't keep up, I couldn't understand what I was supposed to do, and I'd look and feel stupid. It was a real awareness of how it feels for kids to walk into the same situation.
But what I found is what I hope kids find when they come into our schools. The teachers were well aware we were concerned and well aware that their job was to help us learn. They spoke no English to us, but with lots of expression and body language and a little help from friends in the class who might whisper, "she said what's in the grocery store," or "what's your name not how old are you," we were able to catch most of what we needed to do.
By the end of the first day I was feeling fairly comfortable, surprised at how much of my high school Spanish I could remember, and greatly appreciative of my those high school teachers who had drilled words into my head. I was understanding a great deal of what I was hearing even if I couldn't conjugate the verbs fast enough to answer any major questions.
Today is Friday, the last day of class for this week. I'll be sharing pictures of my family today, finishing a mural and a musical instrument, finishing the soap opera we've been watching (we have to find out if the girl finds her client's long lost relative or if others will stand in the way), and enjoying tortillas and pizza (?) with new amigos.
With 45% of the families in my area who have children coming into kindergarten speaking Spanish, I need to be able to have conversations with them. I need to be able to understand their needs and what they want for their children. I don't want language to get in the way. If learning Spanish is a way to improve communication, then it's time to learn Spanish.
Besides, this has been fun. Yes, it's a challenge to think, read, write, and speak in another language. It's hard to shift gears back and forth, but it's getting easier with a little practice.
Thank you classmates for your help. Thank you to the Spanish Summer Institute staff for all of their help. And a special thanks to Lupe Funderburk, a great teacher. We've all enjoyed her enthusiasm as well as her patience. Gracias.
Next week, we take the class to Puerto Vallarta. Yes, I know it's tough but someone has to do it. We'll be studying daily for a week, and I'm sure doing a little relaxing and enjoying as well. I'll do my best to update you on progress, but I'm not sure the Internet capabilities so we'll see...
Adios.
Posted by Dr Joni at 07:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 19, 2006
One Last Graduation
Just when I thought graduations were over, one last celebration popped up. It wasn't one I'd attended before, but it was a great cap to the season.
The ceremony was small. It was after actual graduations were over, but it was in recognition of four students who had graduated from high school under more difficult situations than most. All four were foster children living away from their parents and with foster families. Three were able to make the celebration. The fourth was working but sent his best.
Hm. It's tough enough some days to get through high school. There are all the hurdles of learning how to get along with everyone else, studying, passing tests, going to football games and dances, finding classrooms, deciding what to wear, and all the other stuff high school brings. To have to do all of those things on your own, without any parent guidance is absolutely daunting.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are times my children wished I wasn't around or hanging over their shoulder to get their homework done or telling them they couldn't go this or that place. They rebelled. It's normal.
What's not normal is to have no parent around to make sure you get home on time or have clean clothes to wear the next day. For whatever reason these kids had lost that at some point in their lives.
On the day of their graduation celebration, the three girls showed up with their foster parents, their foster families, and their friends. It was a celebration of making it, not just through high school, but through a system that provided them care when they couldn't provide care for themselves. It was a recognition of having made it, often on their own, sometimes with people who supported them and sometimes not. Each of the graduates deserved much more than the rolled up diploma.
Two of the girls were going on to college while one was going into the Navy. All three seemed sure their lives were on track. We enjoyed and shared their successes. I truly wish them well.
Posted by Dr Joni at 07:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 15, 2006
MIgrant Education
When we think of children in school, we usually think of a classroom of 20 or 25 students, a teacher, an aide, recess, lunch, studying, the normal routine of a school day. My children went to the same schools for their entire K-12 experience so they were very familiar with the daily routine, they had known their friends since preschool, and the occassional newcomer was absorbed into the group after a few months. It was the norm.
For some children the norm is quite different. They move schools every few months, they travel in trucks or trailers from one place to the next, they make few friends because they will move again, and education becomes spotty at best. Their parents work in the fields and migrate from crop to crop and job to job.
Yesterday I had a unique opportunity to work with a group of folks from the North State who are from Migrant Education. I had been asked to talk about activities to do in the summer time to keep learning happening. Whenever I do a workshop, I learn more from the participants than they learn from me.
One activity I like to use is to ask each member of the workshop to give me a word that descibes him/herself. There were words like caring, dedicated, and helpful. There were also works like busy and overworked as well as fun and playful. As we went through the morning I found their words to be very accurate. They are truly commited to helping children and families who work in fields, pick fruit or olives, and move often. They understood the needs of their families and were working hard to make it better.
My job was simply to give them a few ideas and to facilitate their own thinking about what else they can do. I saw them responding, thinking, and moving in a positive direction. I know it will make a difference for the children they serve.
People keep asking me what I'm going to do as I step down as County Superintendent. This is one of those things on my list to do. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to watch people make changes in the lives of children and families. I'd like to continue to help that process along.
Posted by Dr Joni at 06:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 08, 2006
A Special Graduation
Samra Zokari shyly said, "Yes," last night when I asked her if I could write a story about her. Samra is 16 years old and graduated from eighth grade yesterday. It was a huge accomplishment for a number of people.
Samra was born in California. She is a beautiful, capable young woman who is very bright. Why is she only just now graduating from eighth grade?
Her family is from Yemen. They lived in the United States for several years while Samra was little. She learned to speak both English and Arabic as a child. Just as she was beginning school her mother moved back to Yemen taking Samra with her.
Education in the Middle East is quite different than it is here. Samra's brothers attended school. Samra's schooling was hearing the Koran, but not learning to read, write, or do math.
At the age of 14 she returned to the United States to live with her sister. Her sister enrolled her in high school. For a month Samra sat in the room not being able to do any of the work. She couldn't read it. Although she could understand what was being said, she had no concept of how to do homework or figure out a math problem.
The school district moved her to the middle school. Still she sat. Her sister brought her to William Finch Charter School around October two years ago. She didn't know what to do. Could the teachers in the home/independent study school help her learn?
William Finch is set up to handle some unusual situations; parenting moms, working students, or family illness, but this was the first time they had run across a student like Samra. The teachers put their heads togehter and Joanne Chapman, one of our long time teachers said, "Sure, we can do it if she and her sister are willing to do the work."
Work they have. For at least a year, Joanne worked with Samra every day and sent her home to do much more work. From not being able to read or do basic math operations, Samra has learned to read at a fourth grade level and writes in complete sentences. She has learned to read maps, calendars, use measurements, and work in our money system. She loves math and will be taking a prealgebra class next year. In addition she was an aide in the library part of the year.
Last night Samra was dressed in a long black dress her mother had sent from Yemen. She wore a beautiful gold necklace also sent by her family. Her sister talked glowingly about all the things she done. Samra smiled and answered my questions. Joanne beamed.
I've watched this child and asked for updates since she arrived in our program. We don't often get the opportunity for such a dramatic change.
People sometimes fight over the angels on the head of a pin. Should we have preschool or not? Should we use this textbook or that? Should we have school uniforms? Should charter schools be allowed? Those are all wonderful intellectual discussions to have, but for me the real test is can we help a child learn?
Thank you, Samra, for reminding us that you are what this is all about. I know you and your family will read this so I want you to know how proud we all are of you, how much we've enjoyed helping you, and how much we wish you well.
Posted by Dr Joni at 06:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 02, 2006
Politics and Education
Unfortunately, I hate a mix of politics and education. Now this is coming from a person who spends most of her work day dealing with political issues. If politics is government, then I spend a lot of time with the government's rules, regulations, and budgets. If politics is policy, it's my job to set and carry out policy. If politics is people, I spend my day talking with people and working things out. So I understand what all of that is about.
But education to me is about learning. It's about kids learning to read and adults learning to speak English. Learning is about growth and opportunity. Politics is often about policy and status quo. I don't like to mix the two, but there's no way around it.
Right now, it's more intense than ever. The position of County Superintendent, my day job, is elected. The election process is intense and difficult and has little to do with the job you do on a daily basis. I remember when I was asked if I wanted this job. My answer was, "Absolutely, if I don't have to run for it."
Unfortunately election is the only way to the job so running for office is not an option. So today, and I doubt if I've ever written in article or blog form before, I want to share with you what I believe to be important in the work I do.
To me education is about kids and families. Those are who we serve and what we do everyday. Learning is about children and adults learning new skills and being better able to help themselves, their families, and their community. I love watching people learn.
Education is about budget. Unfortunately there’s not enough money to do everything you’d like to do and pay everyone what you’d like to pay them. To stretch every dollar to its greatest possibility to provide the learning needed in a community is a daily challenge. You have to enjoy it to keep doing this day after day.
We run education through a variety of programs. County Offices are more program driven than any other segment of education I know. You need to understand programs-special education, Head Start, curriculum, Charter Schools, and adult education. New programs start all the time and require understanding of laws and regulations and of course all the personnel involved to make them happen.
Two years ago I realized I could not be Glenn County Superintendent of School forever. I needed to find someone to replace me. This job has gotten so complex it would take time to help someone else learn all the ins and outs of budgets, programs, requirements, and policies so I needed to identify someone I could work with to learn how to do this before I retired. I didn't want a clone. I wanted someone who would be their own person, but who could understand all the intricacies of what goes on everyday and who could make decisions that would benefit children and families.
My choice was Coleen Parker. It still is. I have had the opportunity to work with her for two years, and the more I know her the more I realized how dedicated she is to kids and families, and to making sure the budget can support programs that can support those kids and families. She believes in the things I do, but she's different. She is the reason I can let go and trust we will be okay.
You have not read political statements or rants in anything I have done in the last 10 years. I try hard to separate politics and children’s learning. My only reason for breaking my rule today is knowing how much the job of County Superintendent affects learning in our county. I have loved doing what I have done for the last 12 years. I want it to continue in a way that will help the community and to make this a special place for our children. I hope you feel the same way.
Thank you for allowing me to serve. Please let Coleen Parker do the same. She will.
Posted by Dr Joni at 05:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack