My second session of volunteering

This past week I returned to Adams Spanish Immersion school to volunteer. Nikol had arranged for me to sit in with three different classes and observe. I was excited to see the differences in the classrooms.
My first class was Srita Eide in kindegarten. This was the third week of school for the chicos. Srita Eide was very patient with them. To me it was like hearding cats. Once the chicos were settled she took out a book that had a matching CD that when played the book while someone sang the word. The class sang along while she pointed out the different words to the matching pictures. She them did a matching session asking the class if the picture matched or did not match.
My next class was with Srita Peters. My time in class with with second graders. They were making making a tree with fall leaves by tearing construction paper instead of cutting the shapes. The question was asked why can't we cut them in english and answered in spanish because trees and leave are not straight lines. When the demonstration/instructions were complete the chicos headed back to the tables and began tearing and assembling their trees. I was able to walk around and observe them. I found that each of the treesdifferent as what each one of them saw was different as well as the skill level of the chico. I enoyed my time in this classroom and I think the chicos enjoy art with Srita Peters.
My next session with with Sr Casey in first grade. In kindergarten the class sang a song while pointing to the pictures that are associated with the words. First grade does the same thing. I concluded that by singing the chicos much learn quicker. Sr Casey was going to read to the class. He asked for ideas of which book to read. The class chose a story of a big black dog that was to protect a little boy. I enjoyed the story by the photos (I couldn't see the words). There was a pause in class when one chico's lunch came back up. Mr Casey handeled it well. I should have asked what the spanish word is for puke.
When my classroom time was done, I went back to the volunteer room. There are three aids that work at the school. I was able to spend sometime with one of them (I forgot how to spell her name..I will ask again this week). She is 20 and from Spain. She was telling me about Spain and how much she loves it there. She said that with her time here in the US as an aid she will be able to get a job that will pay much greater than not having the experince in the US. She said that English is taught in the lower grades in Spain, but not mandatory once you get out of grade school. She found it intersting that in the US that unless you attend an immersion school that a second language is not taught until high school. She said she personally found a second language comes easier when you are younger. I believe her, as I took French in high school for one year and I found it difficult to get the correct enunsian. From what I have seen singing is a big part of teaching a second language to younger chicos. I had to laugh as I could not see high school students singing to learn.
I enjoy my time at the school and look forward to my next session.