Monday, March 17, 2008

She's In!

We got an e-mail today from the preschool I was hoping to get Maija into. There is a spot open, so...yea!!!...Maija will for sure be going to preschool in the fall. I think I've even got summer lined up. Am I a soccer mom in training or what?

I've been teaching a little Spanish preschool class for about a month now, and I have to say that I am loving teaching again. There is something so fulfilling about seeing the lights come on, especially when they are so young and are absorbing the world around them. Many linguists believe that there is a critical period for acquiring language, which pretty much ends at puberty, and is at its height in the preschool years. You can see it with these little girls. They are taking so much in and are learning faster than my high school kids ever did.

Maija is in the Spanish class, so between my speaking to her occasionally, watching Dora, and her Spanish class, she is actually picking things up. The other night after tucking her in bed, I was headed out of her room, when she yelled to me, "Mommy! ¡Espera!" which means "Wait!" That made my day! Spontaneous EspaƱol. Now I'll have to start working on Rebekah too.

4 comments:

Omgirl said...

I can't beleive how much Spanish Daphne learns from Dora and Diego. The other day she got stuck under her crib and yelled "Mommy, Ayuda me!" I was so astounded that she not only knew the words, but understood them enough to use them in context! They are like little sponges right now.

Unknown said...

Yes, Dora teaches quite a bit alone! It always surprised me when my kids would pop out Spanish words (especially since Joel and I speak Romanian...)

Congrats on the preschool. Finding my kids preschools I approve of, can afford and have openings has been one of my most difficult parenting challenges. Good for you to have that all squared away! :)

Lara Neves said...

Sorry, that last comment was me. Joel was signed in.

Lacey said...

Glad you can breathe a sigh of relief over that one!