Spanish Phonics...more than AEIOU

The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District is currently implementing a new Spanish Phonics program in Kinder and First grade. Beginning with the 96-97 school year the Estrellita Accelerated Spanish Phonics program was implemented in First grade. Estrellita is an accelerated Spanish phonics program out of Oxnard, California. It was developed by a classroom teacher who was trying to promote Spanish Reading but the traditional method of teaching a letter a week, was taking anywhere from 26 to 29 weeks. The Estrellita program promotes the introduction of the sound system, along with a formation of syllables, and beginning reading in six weeks. The program also provides a parental involvement component with interactive activities for parents and students to do at home. First grade teachers across the district have noticed a definite change in those students acquiring the Spanish sound system during the 1st semester of implementation. Due to the level of success in first grade, the district decided to implement the initial sound component in kindergarten during the second semester. The district has also acquired site licenses for the Estrellita initial sound computer program. The computer program was installed in the early childhood computer labs as well as in classroom computers.

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