But the district takes care of those students who speak little or no English and come to school later in their academic careers. Here students are taught in Spanish and get intense lessons in literature. They attend English classes two Saturdays a month. In teacher Veronica Medina's newcomer class, she uses sight and sound to help students understand. She constantly uses a graphic organizer, a stacking set of blocks drawn on a flip chart, to outline characters, plots and themes.
Medina offers a real-life lesson as well.
She once was a newcomer. I know what they're going through. I know their fears and excitement. I had to show them that a Mexicana can learn it. After a year, the newcomers are taught in classes where the instruction is in Spanish with increasing amounts of English.