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School program serves a dual purpose

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By JESSICA BALANZA

jbalanza@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2009

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Students at Alexander Elementary last week made crafts such as Ojos de Dios, or God's Eye, as part of honoring Hispanic Heritage Month.

The children also went from station to station learning about traditions from Hispanic countries such as Mexico and Puerto Rico on Oct. 21.

The stations allowed students to make the crafts such as Ojos de Dios, which is a Mexican tradition that involves yarn being wrapped around two Popsicle sticks positioned in a cross. Other stations involved making flags and paper flowers.

Principal Kristina Alvarez said the celebration coincided with the school's dual-language program, which it has had for five years.

The program integrates students who speak only Spanish with English-only students, who then help teach the Spanish speakers' science, math and social studies in both languages. By the end of the program students are bilingual.

"We are very fortunate to have it (the program)," Alvarez said. "Research shows it works."

Throughout the celebration, students received information in Spanish and English.
Kindergarten teacher Lucy Menendez worked a station making tortillas.
Menendez explained to the students what tortillas are and how they are eaten.

"We eat them with milk," she said. "We eat them with honey."

And then she repeated what she said in Spanish.

Although she was teaching the students about culture, she also incorporated math in the curriculum by having the students tally whether they liked the tortilla with cinnamon and sugar or salt and lime.

"Ahora quiero saber si lo quieres con azúcar y canela o sal y limón," she said, prompting the students in Spanish.

"I like that we can speak two languages, and there is a mixture in everybody," said Gabriela Sioudi, a fifth-grader.

Community producer Jessica Balanza can be reached at (727) 451-2342.

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