February 18, 2020

February 18, 2020

Meeting Agenda

Dual Language Advisory Council

 

  1. Welcome and assign someone to take notes
  2. Purpose of Council
    1. To create a sense of community and to provide an opportunity for dialogue to improve the Antioch Dual Language Program.
  3. Questions/Comments/Concerns
    1. In regards to the new homework policy, our K children are still being sent home the same amount of homework each week. Are the traditional Kindergarten classes having homework every night/week? Does this policy not apply to DL? Kindergarten hasn’t changed their homework amount, just a little adjustment. Raz-kids was added and that one and IXL are optional. The DL kindergarten homework is a little bit different from the rest of the grade level. 
    2. How is Gutierrez and Tamburello time currently being split between the 2 K classes? At the beginning of the year Ms. Gutierrez went to 3 classrooms, but we changed a couple of weeks ago. Now they support just Kindergarten classrooms.
    3. What are the teacher plans for next year? Will there be a TA between the two 1st grade classes? No answers can be given by now. 
    4. Comment: A native spanish speaking parent recommended a book, Coquito. Several parents have found this helpful. Parents have raised a concern that it is difficult to participate in their child’s homework. Homework is an important thing for the students to do more independently. If the child doesn’t understand, they need to ask the teacher for help. The book can be purchased on Amazon. 
    5. Please translate K weekly vocabulary words. Some words have multiple meanings when parents look them up. The words will be translated and will have a picture, the presentation will be sent to the parents. 
  4. Puppet show: Mr. Puerto will ask his class if they liked the Puppet show from last year. If they accept, they will be doing it as a 5th grade activity. 
  5. 4th grade parents: Are they going to be in the trailer next year? Most probably, yes. 
  6. Spanish in upper grades: We continue working in Spanish, instruction, etc. But there is a bridge between Spanish and English that we need to work with, so there is English involved during the lessons.
  7. CoGAT: Third grade test. Is given to every kid in 3rd grade. It is used as an AIG screener. It is an aptitude test, not an achievement.
  8. Middle school plan: Does Mr. Childers know that parents at the meeting overwhelmingly wanted Related Arts (not Science/Social Studies) and that Jessica Garner agreed.
  9. Breaks during the day: The students have the chance to have small breaks. 
  10. We might have another meeting before the end of the year.