[EDLING:1395] Overcoming obstacles

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Overcoming obstacles 
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Bilingual Parent Institute helps moms, dads help their children.

By Cynthia Wine
Special Correspondent

March 29, 2006

Even for parents, homework can be daunting. Especially when it's not in their first language.

That's why Broward County Schools has an annual Bilingual Parent Institute for parents of elementary school students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program.

"Parents need to feel part of the education of their children," said Sayra Hughes, executive director of the Bilingual/Foreign Language/ESOL Education Department, which hosts the event. 

"They are the first teachers their children have, and we need to make sure they have the tools necessary to help these students."

Hughes said 220 parents turned out for the recent sixth annual event.

"Because we are an international community, a lot of the attendees are not familiar with our school system. They come from countries that have completely different school systems," Hughes said. "We hope they become more familiar with our system and are not intimidated. Knowledge is power, and we're trying to give them the power to make educated, informed decisions, and know how to get the tools and assistance they need."

The theme this year was "The Magic of ESOL."

"ESOL is the magic -- the methodology that gives the children another language, not only to succeed socially, but academically," said Yvette Fernandez, of Coral Springs, a bilingual parent outreach specialist. 

The Parent Institute focuses on three languages. This year, the Spanish-language sessions drew 100 parents, while the Portuguese and Creole sessions each had 60 parents participating. During the workshops, parents learned study activities for math and reading, and received an overview of the areas tested by the FCAT.

They received activity guides to take home, and a variety of educational games and videos were given away. After lunch, the parents participated in Jim Seidel's "Roots of Rhythm" percussion and drum program to bring the institute to a close. Reviewing the day's activities, parents felt the experience was worthwhile for them and would help them help their children.

"I come every year," said institute veteran Cristian Hauser of Hollywood. Hauser was born in Peru and has three children. Cristian is a freshman at a magnet school in Sunrise, while fourth-grader Frank and second-grader Kristen attend Hollywood Elementary. "I like the way they talk to us," he said of the institute staff. "It's very professional and you learn a lot of things."

The institute's teachers were also enthusiastic.

Mimosa Louinis, a reading teacher at Tedder Elementary in Deerfield Beach, has been conducting the Haitian-Creole workshops for several years.

Louinis was born in Haiti and said her own family's experience motivates her to give up a Saturday to help at the institute. 

"When you're dealing with foreign parents, they don't know the school system at all -- what's expected of them, what's expected of their children," Louinis said. "When you bring it to them it's a big relief, especially when you present it in their own language and they can really understand it. It's like a gift from heaven." 

Bilingual/ESOL Director Tania Mena conducted the math workshop for Spanish-speaking parents. She suggested such activities as puzzles and games, adding up prices at the grocery store, or even helping to measure a room when buying carpet.

"Many people are afraid of math, so we help to diffuse that," Mena said. "We look at ways to start instilling a love for math and show them math is in everything you do."

Luciana Gentile, who teaches third grade at Winston Park Elementary and lives in Coconut Creek, led the math and reading workshops in Portuguese.

"We explained what the child is learning and this is what you can do at home to help," she said. "They were so receptive and so happy they welcomed the information. There's so much help available at libraries and schools, we're just getting the word out." 

It was her first time at the institute and she's looking forward to returning next year. "I was impressed with the event," she said. "All you saw were smiling faces." 

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