Kinderspiel
German
English Dual Language Immersion Program
About
us
Kinderspiel
is the German-English Dual Language Immersion Program for kids ages 2
1/2 – 6 at the German Language Center in Houston.
Our team consists of two certified Specialists in Early Childhood Education,
both bilingual in German/English. Starting in August, we offer a year
round educational Pre-School Program on weekdays (Monday to Friday), specializing
in the language acquisition of both German and English.
Program
Learning at Kinderspiel
takes place through a thematic curriculum. At the heart of the curriculum
is the belief that child-initiated and teacher-supported play is the most
effective tool for cognitive, physical and social development. Educational
activities include storytelling, reading, singing, art projects, movement
activities, nature exploration, celebration of German and American holidays,
field trips support the development of early literacy skills in both languages
preparing the children to be successful life-long learners. To this self-directed
philosophy of learning, Kinderspiel
adds a multi-age approach. The small size of the school allows children
to assume nurturing and leadership roles rarely afforded in same-age Preschool
groups.
Educational
Philosophy
Brain research and cognitive studies on language acquisition
have shown that children learn more in their first 6 years of their lives
than at any other time. They are curious about everything and learn quite
naturally with a determination and insatiable appetite for knowledge about
their world. Children naturally enjoy learning and learn through physical
activity and play using all their five senses to discover the world around
them.
This remarkable ability to acquire knowledge applies to young children’s
unique language learning abilities as well. Bachi, an early researcher
in children’s language acquisition, found that a three-year-old
child is able to learn a new language faster and more easily than a thirteen-year-old
child. Research also unequivocally demonstrates that children who from
birth or from an early age are raised with two or more languages develop
high levels of competency in both languages. The languages become the
medium for learning rather than the object of learning. A multilingual
education begun at an early age opens the doors for a successful future
in our global society.
Dual
Language Immersion.
Immersion (lat. immergere = to indulge)has proven to be a highly successful
method of foreign language acquisition using a very natural and approach.
The foreign language is taught by an age appropriate look and contact
with the natural environment the child lives in. Immersion is a world
wide known and thoroughly researched teaching and learning method. Immersion
is implemented in all levels of learners, from Kindergarten through Secondary
Schools. In North America, Australia, Asia and in Europe, specifically
in Scandinavia, France and Spain, this method is used since over 40 years.
The key to success is a distinct separation of languages – either
spatial or personal. At Kinderspiel,
we separate by person. The American teacher uses exclusively English,
where as the German facilitator uses German only. “A consequent
separation of the languages taught, is like a well labeled route. It is
easier to find your way.” (Montanari, 2002).
Various studies in Applied Linguistics stress the positive effect of the language separation. The distinct separation on who speaks which language with whom is essential. No child, raised in two languages, is truly “bi-lingual”; it has the tendency to prefer one language over the other. Therefore it is important that there is one native speaker as a “language model” per language.
Curriculum
modeled after the „Texas Prekindergarden Curriculum Guidelines“
and the“Bayerischen Bildungs- und Erziehungsplan für Kinder
in Tageseinrichtungen bis zur Einschulung“
The curriculum will be posted on the Kinderspiel
Web site on a monthly
basis
Daily
Schedule Kinderspiel
Daily
Schedule Kinderspiel-PrepProgram
School
Year Calendar
The calendar is aligned with HISD, w/a few exceptions. Start and end of
the school year, Spring and Christmas Break do coincide. A final calendar
will be posted in early August.
Facility
Kinderspiel
is a TDFPS
Licensed Child Care Facility # 892019
12 children
2 certified bilingual Early Childhood Specialists
1 Teacher's Aid
Student/Teacher Ratio: 4:1
Campus - School Garden - Play & Learning Stations
Teachers
Renate
Jessica
Brooke
Laura
Frehiwot
Sybille
Teacher's
Aid
Lauren
Registration
Papers 2010-2011
General Admission Information
2010-2011
Tuition
(based on 175 days of instruction per school year)
$ 660 per month (5 Day Program: Monday through Friday)
$ 460 per month (3 Day Program: Monday-Wednesday- Friday)
$ 360 per month (2 Day Program: Tuesday-Thursday)
Supply fee: $ 100 per school year
Parent Orientation
Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at 6:00p.m. @ GLC (mandatory)
Mom’s make “Schultüten”
Sunday, August 8th, 10:00p.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ GLC
First Day of School
August 23, 2010 @ German Language Center (August 24, 2010 for children
in the 2-Days Program)
Readings
and References
The
Bilingual Brain
Two Way
Immersion
Two
and more Languages in Early Childhood
Knirpse
und Fremdsprachen
Why, How, and When Should My
Child Learn a Second Language