I am Mary Ann McCubbin and I am the ESOL teacher for Rockwell, Faith, Morgan, and Shive Elementary Schools.
I have students whose families are from Cambodia, El Salvador, Honduras, Laos, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Our annual ACCESS testing is now complete and we are working hard to prepare our students in grades three through five for the End of Grade tests that are ahead.
Please help your child succeed by making sure that they get adequate rest and attend school everyday. Although we hope that your child will be in school each day, please do not send your child to school if he/she has a fever , is vomiting, or has a contagious condition. Also, be sure that the school has your current information on file as we would need that in the case of an emergency.
. Please take a few minutes each day to read with your child. This is also the perfect time to tell your child all of the old stories from your own childhood and stories from your family's history. This helps children to get a better understanding of the past and to have a good sense of their own roots and family culture. Although we work hard to help them learn English , we never want them to forget their own cultural heritage.
Take time as a family to visit the Rowan Public Library. If your child does not yet have a library card, please get one for him/her. The card is free and you may check out books, CDs, DVDs,VCRs and other items at the library for free. Take a copy of a bill that shows your home address on it to the library to prove your residence and they can sign you and your child up for a library card. The library has several books available in Spanish as well as English and they offer services to assist those who wish to learn to read English..
Is your child reading at home? I hope so. Reading is the most important subject for children to learn.
Please ask your child to read to you every day. Make "story time" a regular part of their going to bed routine.
Encourage them to read signs to you when you are away from home.
Reading is the heart of learning. It is very important that your child practice reading.
It is also very important that you read stories and tell stories to your children.
It is fine for these to be in your native language , for I want my students to be able to remember their native languages as they learn English.
Please help your children with their writing skills. Short notes to friends, shopping lists, lists of books they have read all of these are ways that they can practice their writing.
One very good way is to have them draw a picture or take a photograph and then write a short story about the picture.
You are invited to visit our classroom. Since I work at four schools it would be a good idea to call me at the school before you come to make sure that I will be there. Rockwells phone number is 704-279-3145, Faith's phone number is 704-279-3195, and Shive's phone number is 704-279-2899.
The ESOL department has a PARENT CENTER at the corner of North Ellis Street and West Liberty Street.
The Center has a computer that you may use, reference materials to help you find local resources, and materials to help you help your child succeed in school. I hope that you can visit the Parent Center sometime this school year.
If you need to speak to someone in Spanish about your concerns for your child or any other matter, our ESOL Parent Liaison, Miriam Basso, will be happy to help you. She may be reach by phone at 704-630-6089.
Some interesting and helpful links for youListed below are some web sites that offer FREE translation services. The translation will not be perfect but it should be helpful. I will continue to try to find and add additional sites. If you know of any that you could recommend, please let me know. I am also listing a link for information on your family's native country. Some of these sites can be viewed in more than one language. The location for this option is varied. If you know of a better site to represent your country, please e-mail me with the web address. The last link on the list is a very good quiz to test language skills. Give it a try.
