Friday, April 17, 2009

Little pre-K access for Latinos

Latino kids are the ones who can benefit from pre kindergarten the most and yet, many of them are not enrolled. This puts them at a great disadvantage when they start school. - - Donna Poisl

Kids behind at start of school, advocates say

By Margaret Ramirez | Tribune reporter

Inside Casa Infantil Head Start in Logan Square, teacher Janeth Medellin called on her students to form a circle and then started singing a bilingual version of the "Good Morning" song.

"What day is today?" she asked 4-year-old Gustavo. "¿Qué día es hoy?"

When he hesitated, she touched his shoulder and said, "It's OK to answer in Spanish." With that, he shouted in English, "Monday!"

By using bilingual preschool curriculum and providing financial assistance, the Casa Infantil Head Start program is confronting one of the most debated issues in early childhood education: how to raise academic levels of low-income, Latino children.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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