Spring Break and Summer

We are following the LISD calendar. So please keep in mind that no classes will be held the 3rd week of March (16-20).
During the months of June, July and August no regular classes will be held, either.
We’ll have a SUMMER CAMP from August 10 to 14 (5 days) from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the BMCC. The cost is $150. For more information, please send us an e-mail info@spanishtrain.org

Carnaval

On February 24th we had “Carnaval-Day” for the children . Carnaval is widely celebrated in Latin America with parades of all sorts (fruits and flowers in Ecuador, Samba in Brazil, etc.)

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training

The last 2 weekends I had the joy to attend the Montessori Essentials training organized by Saint William Catholic Church in Round Rock. This was part of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation course, which uses the Montessori pedagogy.
It was such a marvelous training which included a lab for us to work with the practical life materials and feel what the child feels when he or she is immersed in the work.
Among other things, this training helped to reinforce the idea that the children need to be expose to nature, feel it and learn from it. Also the importance of making them realize the creation as a great gift from God and the interdependency dynamic involved in every aspect of life. Everything was so profound and at the same time so simple.

New Year, New Classroom

As we anticipated, the division of the classroom has brought much more opportunities for the children to work independently without sudden interruptions. Still, we will be adding a low door between the two areas. This way, we can have a little more “traffic control”, and the younger explorers who want to touch everything and see cause and effect will be less tempted to interfere with the big kids’ work.

In the News... Our way to celebrate Advent!

On Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, parents, grandparents and children from the Spanish Train Mother’s Day Out program got together to celebrate the beginning of the Advent season. A prayer corner was set up at the school. A table cloth and runner, a Bible, a small natural Christmas tree and an Advent wreath were among the elements offered by each of the students at the school. The meaning of each of these elements was read by the parents in Spanish. Advent songs were sung and the Annunciation scripture was read. This was a very special and meaningful way to start this time of hope for all the families who form the Spanish Train community.
Spanish Train Mother’s Day Out is a Spanish immersion program sponsored by the Steiner Ranch Home Owners Association. It is held at the Bella Mar Community Center on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. For more information on the Spanish Train initiative, you can visit the website www.SpanishTrain.Org.

Book of the month

It’s Christmas time! So, during the month of December we will read the infancy narratives from the Bible (Annunciation, Visitation and the Birth of Jesus).

A pamphlet with the translated scriptures will be handed out to you during the presentation of the prayer corner on Dec. 2nd.

If you can, I suggest you read them in English one night and in Spanish another night.

Early drop-off/Late pick-up available

Effective November 4th, Spanish Train will be offering —to those interested— early drop-off and late pick-up service.
The early drop off time is 9:00 am and the late pick up time is 1:00 pm.
There is an additional fee of $50 per month for this service. Please pack lunch for your children so they can have lunch with us, and let us know ahead of time at info@spanishtrain.org so we can be prepared.

Spanish Train during all the pre-school years

It was brought to my attention that some of you are concerned about how long your children will be able to stay in our Spanish Immersion Mother’s Day Out program. The age requirement for new students is 18 months to 3 years old.
Although we only accept new students in this age range, we will continue with the children during all their pre-school years (until they are 5 or 6) In this way they can really grasp and own the language.

Mother's Day Out - Open enrollment

There are still seats on the Spanish Train!

It's not too late to tell your friends about our Mother's Day Out program. We're proud to say that we have a maximum 1 to 8 teacher/student ratio. This means that your child will get optimum personalized attention and training. Although we've just begun a new session, we will accept new students at any time until we are maxed-out. So, as soon your child turn 18 months old, she can be part of our program. Take advantage of this sensitive period for language acquisition and immerse your child in Spanish. For more information, please see our Programs page.

2008 Fall sessions have begun

What happened to el verano (summer)? Labor Day has passed and we've begun our fall sessions already! (We hope y'all had a nice summer break!)

There is still room in the Mother and Child workshop on Mondays at 10:30. For more info, please see our Programs page.

Meet Mate and Tati!

Spanish Train is proud to present our two excellent new "trainers" on board. Mate (Maria Teresa) Hudson and Tatiana Moreno, both native Spanish speakers from Colombia. They are fantastic and have embraced the Spanish Train mission with much enthusiasm. To read more about Mate and Tatiana, please see our About Us page.

Get your ST T-Shirts!

We've just received our first shipment of our beautiful Spanish Train T-shirts and we know you'll want to purchase one for your child. The shirts come in yellow and feature a large version of the Spanish Train logo. Show your Spanish Train orgullo (pride) with one of these beauties! Child's sizes are 2T and 3T and they are only $12.

Your kids will love these! (The t-shirt has become Carolina's son's favorite.)

In addition to looking great, we thought it would make for a fun "team spirit" mood for the kids. If parents would like to order some, please let us know and we'll put in an order for more to be printed. Please let us know what T-shirt sizes you'll want. Adult T's will be $15.

Your "2 cents" requested

We're not sure where the expression came from, but we're sure that your opinions are actually very valuable. We'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a comment or suggestion for us here at Spanish Train. Please write to us at suggestions@spanishtrain.org. We'd be more than happy to incorporate ideas we like, and we'll be sure to give you the proper credit here on the blog, too--if you're not shy about about receiving some world-wide kudos.

Summer Camp Fun

We had a lot of fun at our first Spanish Train Summer Camp. Needless to say, it was a learning experience for all. The kids had a blast making Spanish treats like empanadas, maduro con queso (cheesie sweet plantains) and more. We had outdoor activities, did a little salsa dancing and all in Spanish! Some children are initially thrown by the exclusive use of Spanish, but we always do our best to get the point across, resorting to English only if absolutely necessary. Soon, the kids are realizing: "Wow! I actually understand Spanish!"

An update on my summer training

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to cancel my Montessori training with the Montessori Institute of North Texas that I've mentioned previously. This was a very difficult decision to make, but I came to the realization that right now--with my children being so young and dependent--it will be very hard for our family to commit to such an intense schedule. So, I'll just have to wait on this. In the meantime, I will continue my own personal study of Maria Montessori's writings as well as receive one-on-one training from my dear friend Vicki, who is an AMI certified teacher. God bless her!

End of Spring Session

What a great time I had with this awesome group of moms and children.

It was very rewarding for me to see their enthusiasm in every class. They made me enjoy every second of it! I am very grateful for each of them. Their appreciation for my work keeps me passionate about Spanish Train and I just want to give more.

I am so looking forward to see you moms and children again. Until then!

A very memorable Memorial Day Weekend!

Yesterday I became an American citizen!!! It was a very nice ceremony at the Delco Activity Center (East Austin). Around 1100 people representing 85 different countries were sworn in. This was the largest-ever naturalization ceremony in Austin, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Of course, my picture made it on the front page. ;-)

One of the speakers asked the question: "What does an American look like?" His answer: "Like all of us gathered here." Different skin colors, different backgrounds, beliefs, etc. He reminded us that the US was a country of immigrants and that it's our responsibility to keep it that way.

I have so much for which to thank this beautiful country. This important event came at the perfect time as I am definitively living the American Dream! God Bless America, My home sweet home!

Summer Camp...Preparing the Environment

Wow!!! It's been a very busy couple of weeks. But we are almost there. The first Spanish Immersion Summer Camp is the 2nd week of June. We have worked hard preparing the environment for the children to enjoy the experience but most importantly to maximize their learning opportunities.

Montessori Training

2 weekends ago, I was accepted in the Montessori Primary training Program, which will start this Summer. I am very excited and full of joy and gratitude. The Montessori training is very important to me as I want to incorporate Maria Montessori's pedagogy and methodology to my Mothers' Day Out immersion program. The use of practical life and sensorial materials will add another dimension to the children's learning process so they will have more opportunities to learn Spanish.

I am amazed at how things are developing in front of my eyes. Since I started Spanish Train, everything has been working so perfectly. To me this is a confirmation that I am on the right path.

My sister just mentioned to me that even when each of us (referring to my siblings and I) chose different professions, most of us have somehow ended up in the education field. She says it's in our blood. My mom and her sister, both were teachers and my aunt a very respected one. In Guayaquil there is a school named after her. Anyway, the more I learn about Montessori pedagogy, the more I fall in love with it.

The first time I entered a US public school classroom was in California. I was overwhelmed by all the clutter, the hundreds of materials there, the little rabbit in the cage. Every single square inch of the wall had something on it. My only question was: How can a child focus with so much going on in here?

I don't think every classroom in our public school system is like that. Hopefully not. But now learning more about Montessori—the sense of order, the sense of respect and appreciation for creation, the quality of the materials and the clean-ness of the environment—it makes a lot of sense to me, and it's a real validation to have found my views reflected in the Montessori system.

I've had the privilege of making good friends with Vicki, a long-life Montessori apostle. She was the one who introduced me "consciously" to Maria Montessori when I was expecting my first child. (My sister studied her too. I found out that when I saw the pictures of the Montessori materials in a book. I remember those wooden materials at home. My sister is a Doctor in Psychology). I consider Vicki my mentor, she has been helping me to understand more and more, the formative orientation that Montessori pedagogy has. I love it! My family cannot be more grateful for Vicki's presence in our lives. She has been training me in the use of the materials, so the Summer Camp will also have the Montessori touch (no pun intended).

Cinco de Mayo Pinata Party @ Cups and Cones!

Cups and Cones had a nice Piñata party on the occasion of the Cinco de Mayo. Children and parents gathered to enjoy story time in Spanish and songs. Thank you Cups and Cones for making Spanish Train part of this celebration!