inVISIBLE Americans

Storytelling is a powerful medium for understanding and empathy. Recently, my students bravely told their stories of challenging situations that they and/ or their families experience. Transience, immigration, language barriers, and translation ran as common threads. Via telling their stories, they are helping to make visible the topics that society often pretends are invisible. Many thanks to Melissa Engle Photography for her work photographing the students and to those involved in the original inVISIBLE Americans project for their inspiration. Here are some samples from the students:

Student 1:

When my mom and my brother and I came to the U.S., it was hard. My mom came in August 2015 and I came in July 2016. I stayed with grandparents and cousins in Costa Rica. When I came to the U.S., I did not know English. I was scared because I did not understand. Now I understand the people a little. When my mom went to the U.S., I felt bad. I spent a birthday without her. My dream is to be a baker and do it in the U.S. for the people that know English or Spanish because I will speak two ways.

Student 2:  

            I was helping my mom to know what it is in English. It can be in a store. My mom wants to go in the store, but she doesn’t know the words. I feel happy to help my mom! 

Student 3:

I have a difficult time because I can’t be with my dog. My family is not in Puerto Rico. We are in the United States of America.

When my family goes back to Puerto Rico on summer vacation, we can visit my dog. When we go back to the United States of America, someone would take care of him. I would still miss him and his licks. If I made a wish, I would say I want to stay with my dog.

Student 4:

When my mom needs help talking English, I will help her. When someone knocks bam on my mom’s door, I will help translate English for her. I will go to Walmart with my mom to buy food when I don’t have any food at home to eat. My mom wants to know how much the bread costs. She tells my sister to ask as a grownup. It feels strange to me because she is the grownup and I am a kid. I wish she knew all words in English.

Weather Research

4th grade English Language Learners have done research on tornadoes, and they are eager to share it with you!

Student 1:

    Suddenly, there is a wall cloud and it forms a tornado. Tornadoes do a lot of damage, it forms quickly, and it is strong.

    To start with a tornado does a lot of damage. Every year it does 400 million dollars damage and it can kill 70 people (National Geographic). In Oklahoma in May 1999 a tornado cost 12 billion dollars of damage (Green).

    Also a tornado happens when the weather conditions are right. The cold fronts have a rain cloud but the cold front pushes the warm air (Green). The warm air and a updraft and it is a funnel.

    Also tornados are strong. But they look at a fujita scales if a tornado is F.0 it is not strong but if it is F.5 it is very strong (Green). Also it can go to 261 miles per hour it is incredible damage.

    Tornados are powerful storms A tornado happens when a wall clouds you can look at a scale to measure damage.

Works Cited

Green, Josie. Tornadoes: Extreme Weather. Australia: Macmillan Education, 2005. Print.

Society, National Geographic. "Forces of Nature -- National Geographic." National Geographic. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.

 
Student 2: 

    Suddenly, there is a loud buzzing sound. The clouds are turning gray like a storm is coming. There's a tornado. Meteorologist forecast the weather. Also, tornadoes cause a lot of damage and they form quickly.

    To begin with, meteorologist use different tools. Doppler radar, satellites, weather balloons, and computer modeling are tools to use to forecast the weather (National Geographic). Doppler radar can record wind speed and areas of rotation (Green).

    Second, tornadoes form when there are fronts and pressure. Cold front have storm clouds and warm air rises and spins in a updraft (Green).

    Finally, tornadoes do a lot of damage and can go up to F.5 and the lowest is F.0. Every year 400 million dollars in about 70 people got killed on overage (National Geographic). Tornadoes damage in Oklahoma in may 1999 (Green). Tornadoes destroyed houses and stores.

    Tornadoes are powerful storms. Weather forecasters use tools. Warm air rises and spins causing a lot of damage.

Works Cited

Green, Josie. Tornadoes: Extreme Weather. Australia: Macmillan Education, 2005. Print.

Society, National Geographic. "Forces of Nature -- National Geographic." National Geographic. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.

Moving to the U.S.

Here is a fifth grader's perspective on being in an American school for the first time:

The first day of school. My mom and grandma drove me to school. I didn't know English. Mrs. M. showed me the school and she taught me English.

First I felt scared, but then all of my classmates were really nice. They were saying ‘’Hola Senorita’’, while N. was translating some words. The other words that they were saying were ‘’ I’m loco’’. I started feeling excited. Next my classmates and teacher wrote sentences strips saying what they like. Someone likes cheetahs, and the next person said I like birds. The other person said I like cats, and the next person said I like dogs. I felt content because they expressed themselves and now I knew what they like.

            Then like 10 minutes later, it was time to go to the the buses. When I was already at the bus the people were saying ‘’Hi".  J. and N. introduced them and they told them that I speak Spanish. After my parents asked me how was my day and I told them it was really nice. I felt happy because I got to know my classmates better.         

Our School

Here are some articles about our school, written by 4th grade students. Enjoy!

How to Fix an iPad at P. Elementary

Something exciting is happening at P. Elementary. Students we need Ipads every day, but sometimes we need to fix the iPads.

           To start with the technology people can give you steps to fix the IPad. Mrs. S. is Apple certified by taking special classes to fix Apple products.

          Second there are common problems with the iPads. The headphones get jammed and the students drop the iPads. The apps don’t load correctly.

          Finally we can give you steps to fix an iPad. You can take steps and if the teacher doesn’t know and tell Mr. S.

          At other schools they don’t have iPads. However, we can use the ipad’s. Sometimes the IPads have problems but we have ways to fix iPads. 
          

Apps We Use

          Guess what is happening It’s in Paradise Elementary. All students use iPads. We use them every day.

          First, one app we use is Notability. Click on the paper with the pencil on it. Click on the pencil icon. Use your finger pointer or style.

          Second, another app that we use is PicKid’s. Capture pictures and screen shot of this topic. Tap the plus button to create a space.

          Finally a third app that we use is Schoology. Ask for feedback in the comments. If there’s a number click on it. Look in the comment section.

          At the other school’s they don’t use iPads. At our school kids do use iPad’s. 

Music Class

          Something exciting is at P. Elementary in music class. Students are starting to touch instruments and other activities. Each class are going to music classroom in a week.

          To start with their are music instruments. Some students will play a percussion instrument. There’s some weather instruments for students. If you use a drum you use your hands or mallets.

          Another example is borrowing an instrument you like to use or play. Play an instrument with your group if they don’t have any. Last use or play an instrument. Day 4 is music class.

          Finally there’s some activities at the music class. The activity’s are that you can sing and speak if it doesn’t sing. You can play instruments and move.

          At other schools music class puts some videos that has music on it. However at our school has different thing’s at music class. Some people will have video’s only but others play musical instruments. Other students want to learn to play an instrument. Student’s practice playing instrument’s.

More Projects!

My students have been busy working to prepare projects that help their families with needed vocabulary in English. Here are some more final products!

1) Phone conversations for work: These are some common situations and how to respond.

2) Restaurants: Here are common words used at a restaurant.

Café y Conversación

If you have attended these meetings, please take some time to provide some feedback.

Understanding Math

Math instruction is very different from when parents were students themselves. Language creates another barrier. With that in mind, here are some resources to help make sense of it.

1) Khan Academy (Español): This provides examples and video explanations. If registered, it can track one's progress.

2) Math Expressions (English): These videos explain concepts covered in each chapter for 4th grade math.

3) Math Expressions Family Letters (Español): Click on the grade level you need and then on the family letters link. There are Spanish versions.

4) Expresiones de Matematicas: Here are resources for the Math Expressions series-- but in Spanish! Click on the grade level and then "Homework and Remembering" to find the homework directions in Spanish.