Learn more about the Excellence in Education Awards Additional profiles: Carthay Center Elementary Wonderland Avenue Elementary Irving Middle School White House Place Primary Center Community Magnet School Lowman Special Education Center Magnolia Avenue School Elizabeth Learning Center Park Western Place Elementary Coeur d'Alene Elementary Welby Way Gifted Magnet Haddon Elementary

Excellence in Education Awards Sherry Kuhn and Francisca Martinez Hobart Boulevard Elementary School 980 South Hobart Boulevard, Los Angeles James N. Messrah, Principal Belmont Cluster-Marta Bin, Cluster Administrator RESULTS: Little more than halfway through the current school year, 27 out of the 40 Limited English Proficient (LEP) students in two kindergarten classrooms were able to read complete sentences in English. At the start of the school year in August, Francisca Martinez and Sherry Kuhn faced the task of teaching 40 Spanish-speaking kindergarten students to read and write in English. Many of the children arrived at school unable to name colors, count or read in either language. Most had never held a pencil. From the first day, teachers told students they were going to learn how to read in kindergarten. After establishing goals, the team developed its own instructional activities and materials for the students and their specific needs. First, the students had to understand enough of the English language to get started, so teachers started with sheltered English, body language, lots of oral activities, games, songs, skits and puppet shows. Teachers developed their own methods for teaching phonics and phonemic awareness. Students began by studying one letter at a time, making for each a gigantic colorful wall chart that included the letter as well as objects and animals whose names start with the letter. The letter "B" was a "Big Blue Bear" on which pictures were glued of a box, ball, bee, book and bug, all labeled with big, clear printed letters. The letters created a "wall alphabet-dictionary." Daily reading and writing is an important element of the program. Students move from reading short, simple words they sound out to reading by themselves. The simple realization that words are constructed from letters and sounds and the ability to read them leaves students poised to "download" knowledge through reading.