Esperanza... a chapter of "hope"

I’m back! I can definitely say the new school year is off and running, and so am I. With that said, I am so excited about our district’s investment in the Esperanza program.  For those of us that our bilingual, we know the word “esperanza” means “hope,” so it is my “hope” that this will be the key to improving Spanish literacy for our Dual Language students. 

The Esperanza program is a Spanish multisensory structured language approach for reading, writing and spelling. The goal of the Esperanza program is to provide a multisensory, sequential, systematic approach to achieve Spanish literacy. Esperanza provides a balanced approach to literacy, which is right in line with our district initiative on balanced literacy… YAY! Esperanza addresses phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency skills.   

Research states the successful development of the first language will facilitate the acquisition of the second language.  Research also states that it’s easier for children to acquire a second language than an adolescent or adult.  This is just one more reminder of how crucial the primary grades are in the development of bilingual and bi-literate students. 

 Esperanza’s early childhood program, called Lenguaje y Lectura, includes the following components: phonological awareness, the alphabetic principle, letter/sound correspondence, early reading and writing skills, oral language and comprehension. There are also activities for parents to implement and reinforce at home.  

The next level is designed for the emergent reader and its components help develop a strong structure of the Spanish language to help students with reading, writing and spelling. This level also includes vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. 

The goal of Esperanza is to systematically and cumulatively develop a strong knowledge of the structure of the Spanish language so students can read, write, and spell in their primary language.    

This is a brief overview of Esperanza and the goals of the program.  Of course as with all things, the success of the program will depend on the implementation and fidelity to the program components. 

I’m looking forward to the training in the coming weeks. J