- Estrellita maps "pictures to beginning sounds" to assist children in making the connection from the known (picture) to the unknown (grapheme).
- Estrellita introduces vowels before consonants. The program also provides a built-in review process to ensure that students retain previously learned sounds.
- Estrellita is based on the core structure of the Spanish language and is not a direct translation.
- Estrellita writing component is aligned with and occurs concurrently with the reading process
- Estrellita's philosophy and methodology have always been to teach the letter sounds first and to prolong the teaching of letter names until children have "broken the code."
- Estrellita utilizes a syllabic approach to blending and segmentation which systematically builds upon itself.
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What is Estrellita?
Estrellita is a supplementary, accelerated, beginning Spanish reading program for Pre-K through 1st grade students in Bilingual and Dual Language classrooms. Based on scientific learning and reading principles, Estrellita provides multisensory, in depth instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency. Because it was designed to meet the needs of children at all skill levels, layers of differentiated instruction are built into the program.
For over 20 years, and in over 2500 schools nationwide, Estrellita has been utilized in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classrooms successfully. Included in this number are over 850 school districts and 23 states (including Puerto Rico and Canada). Some of these schools have been using Estrellita since the early 90's. Estrellita has been adopted by theTexas and the New York Department of Education.
Who utilizes Estrellita?
- Estrellita is utilized effectively in many "varied level" bilingual, Early Childhood classroom.
- Estrellita provides the in depth structural scaffolding necessary to assist children in dual-language programs break the code.
- Estrellita serves as an RTI program for at risk children.
- Estrellita provides built in acceleration to reading for the gifted child.
- Estrellita provides a jumpstart into reading for recent arrivals with little or no formal schooling.
About the Author
Karen Myer, author of Estrellita, began her teaching career as a Migrant Teacher in California. She taught for 17 years as a 1st and 2nd grade bilingual teacher during which time she developed the Estrellita Accelerated Beginning Spanish Reading Program for kindergarten and 1st grades. Karen has her M.A. in Education along with a Reading Specialist Credential.
Read the article Supporting Early Spanish Literacy in Dual Language Classroom by Karen Myer, M.A.
Estrellita Research Articles
Texas Successful Schools Study: Quality Education For Limited English Proficient Students
"Washington Reads (Reading Excellence Act) Expert Panel" (2001)
"Reading First Review Panel" (2003)
Comparing Estrellita-trained Students with Non-Estrellita-trained Students
Texas A&M Early Childhood Development Center
The Promise Initiative (California)
Nestor Elementary, South Bay USD, CA