What’s it been like at the annual convention of the California Association for Bilingual Education? While keynote speakers and the leadership have stressed political agendas, rank-and-file conventioneers say the greatest value is in sharing ideas and support with like-minded people and learning what educational materials are available for students who speak languages other than English.

Wilma White, science teacher, Casita Elementary, Vista:

“I am such an advocate of something like this. This is the only time of year when you can get every multicultural publisher together. We have been like the stepchild of education, but because we are such a big group, we have all this turnout of vendors. And we can take a look at something rather than just looking at a catalog.

“I was very excited about a 25-volume series of books about nature in Spanish. It has things like descriptions of insects, mammals, fish.

“Our non-English-speaking kids have to have access to science or they’re never going to become scientists. ” Felix Flores, third- and fourth-grade bilingual teacher, Wilkerson Elementary School, El Monte:

“You get a lot of new ideas here. For instance, I picked up some handouts on ‘theme cycles. ‘ Instead of just teaching one theme in isolation, you spread it across the curriculum. If you’re studying presidents, you don’t just do reading about them, you do science about them, you do math about them.

“And at the workshops, you find people who are interested in the same kinds of things you are. ” Denise Indvik, first-grade teacher with Spanish-speaking students, Finley Elementary, Westminster:

“You get a sense of unity, that you’re with other teachers out their dealing with kids whose native language isn’t English.

“Sometimes you feel very alone out there. Everyone here is rah-rah bilingual education. It’s nice. You get a little fired up.

“You also get good creative ideas, and good materials. I don’t speak Spanish. I have a Spanish-speaking aide in my classroom. ” Lupe Reyes, bilingual social-studies teacher, Hueneme High School, Oxnard:

“You’re getting regenerated. You’re tired and then you come to these workshops and you get jazzed again. You hear of other people doing different things, new techniques.

“For instance, for literature, I learned about peer editing.

It’s easier for the students to catch each other’s mistakes and learn from each other, and it cuts down on my paperwork.

Olivia Fuentes, principal, Sparks Elementary School, La Puente:

“We come because we see all the up-to-date materials that are for language-minority students. And it reaffirms that you’re on the right track. It kind of refreshes you.

“Just looking at everyone who is here _ 5,000 people _ that tells you people have that support and commitment.

“You also see that it’s not just a Spanish emphasis. There are materials here in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean. ” Peggy Ripley, English as a Second Language and US history teacher, Valley Vista Continuation High School, Huntington Beach:

“I’m looking for writing materials in Spanish, and the vendors have been excellent. They’re coming out with materials that teachers can afford with their small budgets.

“Many teachers here are talking about how the English-only movement is a threat to bilingual education. They’re also talking about class size _ they’re trying to teach beginning English and they’ve got 45 kids in a class, and it’s difficult. They’re talking about the shortage of teachers in this area and about teacher training.

“A few of us were just talking about student teachers and how to get them interested and motivated to go for their bilingual certificates. ”

Compiled by Register staff writer Dan Froomkin



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