Want Your Child to Learn Another Language?

Two Way Dual Language

The Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (C-FB ISD) is offering a Two Way Dual Language Program to students who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2012. C-FB ISD launched the Two Way Dual Language Program in the fall of 2006. This program offers the opportunity for native English speakers and native Spanish speakers to learn to read, write and speak in both languages. From Kindergarten through the fourth grade, students in the Two Way Dual Language Program develop strong literacy skills in both English and Spanish.

Students entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2012 may request to participate in the program at Stark or Thompson Elementary. The Two-Way campus will schedule testing during the month of April and August of 2012. The process includes an English fluency test. Acceptance into the Two Way Dual Language Program is limited to the space and availability. Parents are asked to agree to a three year commitment or more to the Two Way Dual Language Program upon acceptance into the program.

More information about the Two Way Dual Language program. 

Hop Your Way to Reading Readiness

Little ones love to move.  So, combine their energy for movement with a readiness skill.  What do you need to do?

•  Create a hopscotch board.  You can use chalk and draw it on a sidewalk.  Or use a clear shower curtain liner and draw it on with a permanent marker.  
• Next, you can draw or place letter cards in each square.  
• Have your child jump on the square while saying the letter name, sound it makes and a word that begins with that letter. 
• After your child knows his or letters and sounds, you can place common words in the squares for your child to learn like cat, a, the, is, etc.

Have fun and be creative with this game.  It will make learning fun. 

Pre-Kindergarten in C-FB ISD

The first day of Pre-Kindergarten is September 4.

Pre-Kindergarten teachers work to develop the student’s oral language skills and basic concepts. All classes emphasize basic language skills. Bilingual classes use both Spanish and English as the basic language of instruction.

More information about Pre-Kindergarten in C-FB ISD

Check out What Superintendent Dr. Burns' Blog

C-FB ISD Superintendent Dr. Bobby Burns keeps parents and the community up-to-date on what' happening in the district through his weekly blog.  Check out Focus Points to stay in the know. http://cfbfocuspoints.blogspot.com/

Make a Story with Magnetic Words

From Education.com: Make a Story with Magnetic Words

In his famous rhyming book Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss creates an imaginative story out of only 50 small words. Can your young learner do the same? This Seuss-inspired project turns into a fun activity to be played over and over again to reinforce her reading skills and creativity. She'll be delighted to form unique stories and read them aloud to a captive family audience!

What You Need:

• "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss
• Magnetic sheet with one blank side (found at craft stores)
• Permanent markers
• Magnetic surface (such as your refrigerator or a cookie sheet)
• Scissors

What You Do:

• Have your child go through and make a list of each word that is used in Green Eggs and Ham. Instruct her to write each different word that is used only once. When she is done writing, there should be 50 words on her list.
• On the magnetic sheet, help her write out the 50 words using permanent marker. She can either write the words in all capitals or in all lowercase. Leave enough space between each word so that they are easy to cut out.
• Have her carefully cut out all of the words as separate pieces.
• Ask her to place all of the words onto the magnetic surface.
• Challenge her to make a story using the words! If she wishes, you can also make a few more magnetic words, such as one with your child’s name on it, in order to personalize her set of words. Perhaps see if she can come home every day and spell out something about her day in magnets using the words of Dr. Seuss.

By Melissa Blough

Play an ABC Balloon Game

From Education.com: Play an ABC Balloon Game

Try this chaotic balloon game inspired by The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss! Kids practice the alphabet while trying to keep 1, 2, 3, or even 26 balloons up in the air.

What You Need:
26 balloons (preferably red and white in honor of the Cat in the Hat)
Permanent marker
4 or more players (the more the better)

What You Do:

• Inflate all 26 balloons (just air, no helium). You may want to get some help for this one!
• Write one letter of the alphabet on each of the balloons with permanent marker and draw a cat face above.
• Now start the game. Have the kids form a circle. Toss balloon A into the circle, shouting "A" as you do. Have the players shout "A" back. The object of the game is to keep the balloon in the air and prevent it from touching the ground.
• Let the kids toss balloon A around a bit, then repeat step 3 with balloon B. Make sure you shout the letter name!
• Continue repeating step 3 with the rest of the balloons, shouting out each letter as you do. It may get a little chaotic, but keep going—the more balloons the better!
• Once a balloon hits the ground, have everyone stop and recite the alphabet once, then resume playing. Keep going until all the balloons are in play!

By Melissa Blough

Use Springtime to Learn

Play a fun game about Spring called "What am I?"  Choose a springtime object (bunny, flower, leaves, grass, etc.) and describe the item by saying something like "What am I?  I am green and grow on trees."  Have your child guess the item.  Then have your child make up his/her own riddle.  This game builds memory and vocabulary.  These are important pre-reading skills. 

Reading is Important!

It is important to and with read to your child everyday. Modeling how to hold a book, turn a page properly as well as talking about what you read are important skills for a young child to learn.  A trip to your local library or bookstore will provide an opportunity for you to talk about books. These conversations and actions will help your child be prepared to learn to read.

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

Kindergarten Readiness Tip: Phonological Awareness Activity

What is phonological awareness? According to education.com, "Phonological awareness involves knowing that words are composed of sound units and that sound units can be combined to form words."

Sound games and activities help to build phonological awareness.  For example, hold up a letter in the alphabet and have your child make up nonsense words that begin with that letter.  

Kindergarten Readiness Tip: Phonological Awareness

Sing "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" and count on your fingers.  This practices counting and phonological awareness.

Example:
Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, [three] bags full.

[One] for the master, [one] for the dame,
And [one] for the little boy who lives down the lane.

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, [three] bags full.

Change the number and add names of friends.  Use bags of cotton balls to help your child count.

Example:

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, [seven] bags full.

[Four] for the Lydia, [two] for the Paul,
And [one] for Jackie who lives down the lane.

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, [seven] bags full.