Materials Description and Content
Spanish for Child Care Facilities (SCCF) is published by Command Spanish®, Inc. and consists of a 95-page manual bound in a 3-ring binder with 4 accompanying audio Cassette tapes. It was co-authored by Dr. Sam L. Slick and Dr. Maryjane Dunn in consultation with nationally known instructors of early childhood education. In addition to a special section devoted to pronunciation, SCCF contains the following work-specific language sections: Meeting Parents; Registering New Students; Health Issues; Reporting Child's Behavior; Teacher Talk; In the Baby Room; Snack and Lunch Time; Emergency Commands; and Numbers. SCCF also contains the following appendices: Infant/Toddler Glossaries; Cultural Notes; Months and Days; Nicknames; The Spanish Alphabet; Shapes; Numbers; Parts of the Body; Basic Emotions; and Reproducible Take-home Notices, Take-home Certificates, and Signs.

Program Description

This is a comprehensive program designed to provide functional Spanish language skills for child care facility personnel who have contact with Spanish-speaking parents and children. The program utilizes phonetic encoding to address the most important Spanish commands, questions, and phrases critical to child care facilities. No prior knowledge of Spanish necessary.

Goal

To prepare non-Spanish-speaking child care facility personnel to utilize Spanish commands and questions that allow them to more effectively interact with Spanish-speaking parents and children.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants will be able to use Spanish to: register new students; report on a child's behavior; greet, instruct, and compliment a child; manage various activities; direct children in hallways, restrooms, and on the playground; deal with illness and health issues; facilitate snack and lunch time; comfort children; and give emergency directions.

Methods of Instruction

Modeling, intensive drill, choral response, alpha-beta line, learning pairs and triads, Total Physical Response, role-playing, simulations, and situation cards.

Cross-Cultural Component

Not included in manual. Suggestion: 1 to 2 hours with emphasis on national identity, folk remedies, common customs when dealing with children, extended family relationships, nicknames and endearing terms, the Spanish surname system, and holidays.

Intended Audience

This program is intended for any child care facility employee who may come into contact with Spanish-speaking parents or children.

Length of Instruction

8 to 45 hours, depending on client's needs and interests.

Special Considerations

This manual contains many reproducible pages for use in the child care facility. Appendices F-J serve three purposes: 1) to help adults communicate more effectively with Spanish-speaking children; 2) to help teach Spanish-speaking children a little English; and 3) to help teach English-speaking children a little Spanish.

For more information, please contact Felicia Blakeney at (703) 323-3102 or e-mail fblakeney@nvcc.edu.