Reading plays key role for students learning English
Parents, teachers aim to foster love of reading in students
BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

RED BANK - Increased literacy is the goal for all students at Red Bank Primary School, and bilingual students are no exception.

Andrea Fontenez, a first grade teacher of bilingual students who are not quite ready for placement in the general education classes, has been working with students on writing and reading comprehension in both English and Spanish.

"We encourage parents to read with their kids," said Fontenez. "Even if they're reading in Spanish, it's a really good thing, because the skills transfer to English as the kids progress."

Some of the students in Fontenez' class came to this country only a short time ago, and they are already communicating very well in English, thanks, in part, to the district's emphasis on increased literacy and enjoyment of reading.

"Literacy is the key to anything and everything these kids are learning," said district Superintendent Laura Morana. "Our goal is to have solid and independent readers when these students move on to the middle school."

Fontenez said that one of the best ways to encourage students to enjoy reading, is to see their parents reading and to have their parents read with them.

"It's important that children see their parents with a book in their hands," she said. "They have to get their kids to love reading, and the parents really get excited about it."

Fontenez' students start classes 45 minutes earlier than the rest of the school Monday through Thursday, so children who are in need of extra help can get, and the entire class can have a jump on the day's lessons.

According to Morana, a student with a strong foundation in their native language when moving to the states, can move out of the bilingual classrooms within three years.

"Some of them do not have a foundation, even in their native language," she said, "and they are struggling with that. It would usually take them as many as five years to move in to the general education classes, but it all depends on the circumstances."

Morana said that the key is high expectations for all students, even those who are not native English speakers.

"The families work with the teachers," she said, "and the teachers work very hard, as do the teacher assistants."

Stacy Frazee, a third grade teacher at the primary school, said she tells students at the beginning of the year that she sets the bar high, and expects all of her students to put forth their best effort to meet that.

"I will modify it for some particular children," she said last week, "but all my students do the same thing, just at different levels."

According to the New Jersey Department of Education's School Report Card released last week for the Red Bank Primary School, 68.2 percent of students come from homes where English is not the language most frequently spoken at home.

As a part of the district's emphasis on promoting literacy and language comprehension, Fontenez and Frazee are both participating in the upcoming "Read Across America Day" on March 2.

The nationally celebrated day commemorates the birthday of children's book author Theodor Seuss Geisel, known popularly as as Dr. Seuss, and encourages members of the community to read to children at local schools.

Fontenez said that there are many volunteer readers lined up for the event, including Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, and Fontenez said that she is excited about the possibility of the multi-lingual mayor reading in Spanish to her students.