1. Bilingual program implemented in 2008 | Mater Gardens Academy

2. Mater Gardens Academy The Bilingual Program at Mater Gardens Academy started in 2008. Currently, our students are offered the opportunity to participate in the bilingual program as early as, Pre-Kinder. In the primary grades of Pre-Kinder, Kinder and First grade, the Spanish curriculum is infused on a daily basis and the language is incorporated into the daily schedule of instruction. This is accomplished by switching classrooms (half day in Spanish with the Spanish teacher, and half day with the English teacher). In the intermediate grades, the students participate in a daily, rigorous advanced Spanish class instructed by Spanish teachers. The bilingual program participants enjoy the benefits of learning a second language by being introduced to many new and exciting aspects of the Spanish language and culture while developing different language skills in the listening, speaking, reading, and writing modes. The bilingual curriculum consist of a variety of meaningful and engaging methods and teaching strategies that correlate with the Common Core Standards. MATER GARDENS ACADEMY

3. Pre-Kindergarten The Estrellita Early Literacy Program is a stand-alone program for Pre- Kindergarten. The purpose of the program is to teach students the sounds of the letters by immersing them in a variety of phonemic awareness activities and to provide practice with basic blending in order to prepare children for reading in Kindergarten. This program teaches individual sounds through a combination of whole language and phonics-based strategies that are developmentally appropriate and fun for young children. The program includes a variety of activities such as stories, rhymes, riddles, cheers, and games designed to develop and foster phonemic awareness. The program addresses a variety of learning styles by incorporating all the senses, as well as different learning styles which include oral, verbal, tactile, visual, and kinesthetic activities. The Spanish program is offered to two groups of Pre-Kindergarten students. This program is implemented for thirty minutes every day in each group. The program additionally integrates the concepts that children learn in their English classes with the Spanish. The core content areas of of math, language arts, social studies, and science are linked in the bilingual instruction to provide ease of language transfer. MATER GARDENS ACADEMY

4. Pre-Kinder An integral component of the program is the Games and Activities module. The program includes a variety of materials, which include blackline masters, trade books or poems, initial sounds coloring book, pre-writing booklets, apron cards, and puppets. Special events celebrated during the year:  A poem for Christmas  The heart of friendship Each theme is accompanied by projects with the object of strengthening the work of the school and the family. MATER GARDENS ACADEMY

5. Kinder The Spanish program is offered with two kindergarten groups. This program is implemented for two hours and thirty minutes every day in each group. Subjects taught in Spanish are: math, language arts, writing, social studies and music. Materials: Cuaderno de Español Kinder, Ed. Santillana Ortografía Santillana. Niveles A y B. Tilde 1. Proyecto Aventura, Ed: Algar Bromera Programa de Aprendizaje de la Lectura : “Estrellita” Primer Paso, Ed: Hampton-Brown Mi Primer Diccionario, Ed: Parragón MATER GARDENS ACADEMY

6. Kinder Special Events celebrated during the year: August: “Fiesta de Bienvenida al Nuevo Curso: Somos Bilingües”. September: “Fiesta de las vocales”. ”Fiesta de las frutas y el campo”. October: “Festival Anual de la Hispanidad”. “Encuentros con Don Quijote por España”. “Mis amigas las sílabas”. November: “Conmemoración de Acción de Gracias”. December: “Bookabration: Festival del libro”. “La Navidad alrededor del Mundo”. January:“Los Reyes Magos”. “Los 100 días de colegio”. February: “Celebración de la Amistad: San Valentín” March:“Reciclamos y salvamos la Tierra: Los Verdes”. “San Patricio: Herencia Irlandesa”. April: “La Primavera y el conejo de Pascua” May: “Función teatral: Nuestro libro favorito del curso”. June: “Gala de Graduación”. MATER GARDENS ACADEMY

7. 1 st Grade The Spanish class is held daily, for a 45 minute period. Science is integrated three days a week for a period of 40 minutes. During the year, students read four books simultaneously in English and Spanish. The program used is Yabisi from Santillana. MATER GARDENS ACADEMY Grades 2nd - 5th The Spanish class is held daily, for a 50 minute period. Social studies is integrated in the program to support English content. Books, materials, and resources are in a digital format. The program used is Yabisi from Santillana. Yabisi, is the first Spanish for native speakers program that integrates technology with language and literacy skills development, while strengthening critical-thinking skills through high-interest readings and activities.

8. Middle School 7 th & 8 th Grade The Spanish class is held daily, for a 50 minute period. Books, materials, and resources are in a digital and paper format. The program used in this class is Fans del Español from Santillana. This program integrates language and culture in each of the four units, or Desafíos, which take students on different cultural adventures within Spanish- speaking countries. Language, vocabulary, and grammar are presented authentically to help students make comparisons and connections and communicate in all contexts. MATER GARDENS ACADEMY Middle School 8th Grade (Advanced & Pre-AP Classes) The Spanish class is held daily, for a 50 minute period. Books, materials, and resources are in a digital format. The program used is En Español from Santillana. This language arts program has been designed specifically with the native/ heritage speaker in mind. It focuses on Spanish literacy, development, maintenance, and reinforcement. The program gives students oral language, vocabulary, grammar, and skills retention through Spanish listening, reading, speaking, and writing activities. It gives students additional opportunities to observe and gather information, think critically, analyze data, and draw conclusions.

9. During the year, our students participate in diverse events such as:  Hispanic Heritage Festival  Bookabration Parade  Black History Month  Pen Pal Project  Annual Spanish Spelling Bee  Club de Libros  Field trips MATER GARDENS ACADEMY