What's in Your summer?

   Some of us are at that stage of the year when parents are asking us, "What can I do to help my child over the summer?" Some have already crossed that bridge & are just chilling a bit to regain our sense of calm & control. I happen to be in the former group, and while I do have parents asking for camps, tutors and play groups for the summer, I want to focus just now on what I want to do to help ME. I get to this point every year, and every year there are some reccurring themes of "to do's". However, I nearly always have some new challenge each year, which moves me to reflect on how well (or not) I handled the situation, and what I could do differently should this situation occur again in my career (as is very likely).

   Once in a while I actually pursue the study urges BEFORE the need occurs, as happened a couple of summers ago. I enrolled in the University of Minnesota's "Struggling Learners in the Immersion Classroom" class. It was definitely a theme that we had discussed in our school, but had never seen much research nor writing on how to approach the unique needs of struggling learners in our immersion classrooms. I did have a vague idea that I would be needing the advice in this class, as I knew of a student who would be coming to my class 2 years afterward. I just completed the year with this student. One of the issues that was discussed in the class was, When or How do you know if Immersion education is not right for your child? I cannot go into the specifics of my particular student, as we are still in that decision making process, but I am so thankful to have had the preparation for having this discussion. (By the way, I highly recommend Carla Summer Institute at the University of Minnesota for your continuing Immersion education!)

   My colleague, Megan, has been working on her Masters' with a heavy emphasis on technology in the Immersion classroom---another great theme! What would you like your immersion students to be able to do or find on the internet in the target language? Or how about interventions? Although this is mandated now for all schools, some are incorporating "Response to Interventions" more rapidly and universally than others. Another colleague, Amanda, is making a move this year from our one-way immersion program to a two-way or dual immersion program. I have recommended a very helpful book for her to read over the summer, Dual Language Instruction, by Nancy Cloud, Fred Genessee, and Else Hamayan. Some of us may just need to spend some time reading for our own growth & enrichment in our target language. After teaching 1st grade for so many years, I find that even reading a 3rd or 4th grade novel helps refresh my vocabulary! Some of my colleagues are traveling overseas this summer! (So jealous!!) What a terrific way to immerse ourselves and experience again what it is like to be the learner! Better yet, why not consider visiting a country to experience immersion in a third language!

   Teachers and administrators, give us your ideas! Maybe we'd like to follow your lead! Share, share, SHARE! What's in your summer?

~Sheryl René