Crossing the Border to Kindergarten
By Annalisa Nash Fernandez
Ed Week

English-language learners represent nearly one in 10 public school students nationwide. There is no question that ELL programs can strain limited school resources, but these children do learn English. And as early language learners, they also enjoy a wide range of cognitive benefits. Benefits that I wanted my own children to take advantage of because they do not live in a Spanish-speaking household.

So each morning, I cross the "border" into a foreign country to take my daughter to kindergarten. At least, that's how I describe it. Passing by a vendor's colorful cart of Mexican pastries, I say hola to the other mothers and make it to the classroom in time for a quick buenos días to the teacher. Elsa drops her homework into the basket. This week, it's the letter "d," so she has colored in a dinosaurio and dedo. I kiss her goodbye, and she joins the circle on the carpet to sing, "Hola, amigos ... " No English is used in the classroom, even for teaching academic subjects.

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