Migrant summer school in Centralia aims to give head start

Migrant summer school in Centralia aims to give head start

The children make moves at least every three years to accompany their parents or guardians who are migratory workers, reported The Chronicle (http://bit.ly/2bh4y0a).

The large number of moves and other responsibilities at home make it difficult for the students to graduate, said Shelley Habenicht, the school district's director of special programs and assistance.

The students in the STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — focused program, are all English language learners, most of whom come from Spanish speaking countries like Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.

"When they came in here, I didn't have any familiarity with the scientific process," Kate Steward, a teacher in the migrant school program, said of her sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.

Steward, who typically teaches fourth grade at Washington Elementary, is the only teacher in the summer school familiar with the Engineering is Elementary program.

The goal is to find the right combination to hold 2 pounds of weight with the plastic they created.

Using a variety of equipment like nylon, cotton balls and rubber bands, the students had to figure out what would absorb the vegetable oil most effectively from a cup of water.

To help the students during the regular school year, Habenicht said, the district has been working to expand its EL program, especially at the middle school and high school levels.

The checklist, which includes steps like repeating the information multiple times, and gives students time to discuss lessons, benefits other students as well.

The academic language plays an especially important part since neither English language learners or other students typically use the jargon at home.