Puente de Hózhó
Fifth Grade
Ms. Hernández
Transdisciplinary Units: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Math
Welcome to the start of the 2021 school year. It has been quite the summer and I know we are all making adjustments. I know there will be challenges, but I find myself excited about the possibilities we have. We have the continued opportunity to reimagine education, to take risks, and be uncomfortable. It is in this discomfort that we have the opportunity to grow, to learn from others, and to hear voices that are not always heard. I look forward to embracing these opportunities with my students. May we co-create a space that explores and acts upon these opportunities.
- Ms. Hernandez
Welcome to fifth grade at Puente de Hózhó!
It is my honor to facilitate the learning of this year's fifth graders. Students will develop language skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening while learning about social studies and science topics. Students will also learn the math concepts identified as essential by the Arizona State Standards. My goal is for students to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills as students apply and act upon their constructed knowledge. As an aspiring International Baccalaureate school, students will also develop 10 learning attributes. Please browse this site for more information.
Philosophy of English Immersion Teaching
OUR PHILOSOPHY OF ENGLISH IMMERSION TEACHING
Language is power and potential. Through language we each tell our story. If we are unable to tell it, then either it will not be told, or someone else will tell it for us. For this reason, all students at Puente de Hózhó need to master the language of their home, which is the language of their heart. For many this is Spanish, for others English, and for some Diné or another language.
Regardless of the home language, every student at Puente de Hózhó also needs to learn English and learn it exceptionally well, both formal and informal, conversational and academic. One reason is opportunity. Over the centuries, English has evolved into a major lingua franca; it is a passport for participating in academic discourse on the international stage and for interacting in a global society. In the United States, a strong command of English is essential for maximizing social, educational, and economic mobility. Most importantly, however, English is the thread that weaves together our collective identity; it is the common language of our school, of our community, and of the United States.
Learning another language can be one of the most enlightening and rewarding journeys in a child’s educational experience. While there are many language program models and methodologies, a well-designed and well-implemented immersion program is the fastest and most effective way to teach a second language to school-aged children. Immersion teachers support students’ foundational learning in their native (first) language to enhance acquisition and transfer of the second language.
The goal of the English immersion program is to produce independent, masterful speakers, readers, and writers of the English language. Students engage within an authentic, purposeful, relevant, and social learning community, making genuine connections between the language they speak, read, and write and the world in which they live. Immersion teachers create a learning environment for students to master the English language in student-directed contexts. This empowers students to use language as a tool for achieving lifelong dreams and goals. It enables students to tell their stories and understand the stories of others.
Language learning is transformative. It can change a child and a child can change the world.