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As an approved vendor for Horizon, Visions and South Sutter charter schools, Sombrero Time specializes in Immersive Language instruction for K-8 grade students. Our education center in Granite Bay is currently forming groups for HomeSchool Spanish this fall starting in September.
What you can expect by attending a Workshop:
In order to attend you must reserve tickets via Eventbrite(see links below), print them and bring them to the workshop. It is only necessary to reserve tickets for the number of students attending. Parents do not need to reserve a ticket. Please select the appropriate grade level ticket for your student. The workshops are divided by grade level, K-4 and 5-8. HomeSchoolers not associated with a Charter are welcome to attend as well!
Workshop #1
April 23, 2013
Click HERE to RSVP and print your tickets
Workshop #2
May 14, 2013
Click HERE to RSVP and print your tickets
Want more information about our Spanish Immersion classes for HomeSchool students and families? Click HERE!
¡Hasta pronto!
Sombrero Time is seeking qualified candidates for part time Spanish language instruction positions. We have immediate openings at our education facility in Granite Bay and Sacramento region school sites for substitute teachers and tutoring positions. Substitute positions typically grow into part or full time employment. All positions offer the opportunity to work with great schools teaching K-8 grade students Spanish using our immersive curriculum, methodology and support material. We offer an exciting and fun work environment and competitive wages and extensive training. If you meet the minimum applicant requirements listed below please submit your resume and cover letter.
All candidates must meet these minimum requirements:
Additional Skills/Experience Desired:
Application process. Follow these instructions Please!
Step 1-Submit resume with cover letter to the address below for review. We will confirm receipt of your email
Step 2- If you meet the minimum requirements, as stated above, we will contact you via phone for an initial conversation
Step 3-Phone interview with hiring manager
Step 4-Face to face interview
Step 5-Teaching Observation
To learn more about us please visit our website:
www.sombrerotime.com
info@sombrerotime.com
We look forward to speaking with you!
SOMBRERO TIME IS DEVELOPING BILINGUAL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
IN THE SACRAMENTO REGION
– Community Event Enhances Spanish Learning with Cultural Appreciation –
– Is Your Elementary-School Student Already Behind in Today’s Global Marketplace? –
GRANITE BAY, CA — October 24, 2011 – Elementary-school students who study Spanish with Sombrero Time, a leading provider of Spanish instruction and curriculum, will be taking their Spanish out of the classroom and into the real-world at a dinner tonight at Más, a Mexican restaurant in Roseville, where approximately 100 children, whose first language is English, will converse with Sombrero Time instructors and restaurant staff in Spanish.
The event, from 5:30-6:45 p.m., is designed to give students an authentic, fun experience where they can see value in their Spanish and enhance their learning through the culture of food and dance. The young students will order for themselves and their families in Spanish and converse with the native Spanish speakers on the Más staff about a variety of topics, such as Jamie Garcia, the Mexican native who was the starter for the St. Louise Cardinals in Game Two of this year’s World Series. To extend the cultural learning, Zulema Balderas, a folkloric dance instructor, will be teaching the students and their families traditional Mexican dance steps.
“Foreign language is becoming increasingly critical to a successful education. It’s moving from ‘nice to have’ to ‘must have’,” said Ruth Finsthwait, cofounder and president of Sombrero Time, which has 1,100 students in the area. “Studies have shown the earlier a child begins to learn a second language, the greater the chance for proficiency, and the brains of elementary age children are especially well-suited for second language acquisition.”
In addition to the fact that Sombrero Time starts students while they are young and open to a new language, its approach differs from the norm because it stresses immersion and frequency. The children learn Spanish in Spanish, just as they learned English in English. Sombrero Time has students use Spanish in authentic ways, as they will at Más, rather than just having students memorize vocabulary and learn to conjugate verbs.
Studies have shown that to achieve fluency and literacy, students need 30-50 minutes of instruction 3-5 times per week. Sombrero Time was built on this conviction.
“Sombrero Time has become integral to our school,” said Erika Sloane, principal of Loomis Basin Charter School. “Our students and parents value it tremendously. The instructors and curriculum go way beyond teaching simply content; they teach human interaction. Providing these opportunities for students to apply what they are learning in a real setting is a great extension of the classroom and an enriching experience.”
Studies show that learning a foreign language is greatly enhanced by worthwhile activities that give them a chance to utilize the language and cultural appreciation.
“We have two students in the Sombrero Time program,” said Lisa Bader of Granite Bay. “It’s really cool to see all the kids speaking Spanish in a real-world setting. The magic of Sombrero Time is that the children not only learn Spanish—they learn how to apply their language skills in a real-world setting. The evening at Más provides a great opportunity for the kids to test-drive what they’ve learned in a supportive, stress-free environment and it’s fun for the entire family.”
ABOUT SOMBRERO TIME
Today Sombrero Time (sombrerotime.com) delivers Spanish immersion instruction and curriculum to more than 1,100 elementary school students in Placer and Sacramento Counties. Cofounder Ruth Finsthwait, an expert in language acquisition in children, developed the Sombrero Time curriculum based on her knowledge of how elementary age students learn a foreign language. The company uses only native speakers and 100% of the instruction and student interaction is in Spanish. Classes are held at local elementary schools and at the company’s Learning Center in Granite Bay, where the company is headquartered.
CONTACT
Kim Carroll at 916-960-9202 or kimcarroll2000@yahoo.com
Ruth and I are routinely asked by parents with toddlers, Pre-K & Kinder students, who are concerned about the “negative” impacts of their children being exposed to multiple languages too early. While these concerns are valid current research actually supports very early exposure to multiple languages and shows positive impact on neurological development. Babies actually seem to have an amazing capacity to adapt and recognize pattern and show accelerated cognitive skills very early on.
Today I read an article from the Seattle Times that underscores this point.
What I found even more intriguing is that research is supporting the idea that language learning happens in a social setting, ie, a class room or between groups of people. Put babies in front of TV or even recorded langauge and they learn nothing. Dr. Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, a leading researcher on the formation of language in babies was referenced in the Seattle Times article:
“Previous research by her group showed that exposing English-language infants in Seattle to someone speaking to them in Mandarin helped those babies preserve the ability to discriminate Chinese language sounds, but when the same “dose” of Mandarin was delivered by a television program or an audiotape, the babies learned nothing.
“This special mapping that babies seem to do with language happens in a social setting,” Kuhl said. “They need to be face to face, interacting with other people. The brain is turned on in a unique way.”
If you are a parent and have concerns about multiple language exposure with your child please consider what current research is showing. You may be providing them a great opportunity to advance their cognitive and language development skills during a very short window of time.
To read the full Seattle Times article click HERE.
During this summer we ventured with our 3 kids south of the boarder for a little immersive Spanish experience “R&D”. Since our learning philosophy requires a native speaking environment why not get into the culture in Baja California and seek out some great, family friendly activities that would provide rich language opportunities. Well, we weren’t dissapointed! We spent a week in San Jose Del Cabo enjoying a very authentic experience attending a local school, playing soccer and surfing. Check out the information below and let us know if you are interested in learning more. We plan to go back next year and would love to take some families with us!
SUMMER SCHOOL EN ESPAÑOL – Believe it or not all three of our kids went back to school for a week! The Mission Colegio is a wonderful Dual Immersion private school in San Jose Del Cabo. All students take classes split half the day in Spanish and the other half in English. During our visit we had the opportunity to meet students & teachers and were pleasantly surprised to find that many Americans and Canadians, in addition to Mexican nationals, are attending the school. Our kids made new friends and practiced their Spanish A TON! Check out the Mission Colegio web site and our photos on Facebook.
SOCCER – After school each day we took our kids to a great local soccer camp run by an organization called Pachuca Tuzos los Cabos. The camp director is an ex Mexican Professional Futbol player turned coach. Jesus Romero coaches and grooms players for professional Mexican teams. He also happens to be the PE teacher at Mission Colegio. The camps are run at “La Huerta” a local sports club in San Jose. If you want your kids to learn Spanish, the native soccer Futbol field is one of the best ways to immerse them. Naturally, kids want to play and interact with their peers. Combine English speakers with Spanish speakers on a soccer field and you have a powerful and fun formula to acquire language.
SURF – We ended our week with some more adventure learning to surf. The Cabo Surf Hotel is a well kept secret on the beach as you come into San Jose Del Cabo. The area along the shore is called Costa Azul which is known for some of the best surf breaks in Baja. The hotel has comfortable amenities, quiet rooms, a great restaurant called the 7 Seas Grille and surf lessons provided by our new friend Miguel Rojas at the onsite, beach front, surf shop. The Cabo Surf Shop features one of the only professionally certified “Mike Doyle” surf schools in Baja. We had a great time learning from the friendly, knowledgeable staff and everyone caught waves! If you are ready for a great warm water surfing adventure Miguel and his staff are prepared to coach you in Spanish or English!
Link to photos of Cabo Surf
Below is a video we recorded with Miguel. Check it out and let us know if you want to go with us next summer:
¡Hola amigos!
One of the greatest benefits to learning a second language is what it can do for your travel experience. Many of us have traveled to Mexico, stayed in a resort and enjoyed some good food, beautiful beaches and warm water. But, how many of us have really experienced the local culture up close and personal? How cool would it be to play soccer in Mexico, with people who live and breath the sport, all while practicing the language? How fun would it be to take surf lessons at a surf camp and get some hands on language experience at the same time? You see, when we engage anyone in their language, on their home turf not only does it honor them and create relationship, it also allows us to gain perspective and appreciation for how other people live. All this comes together to enhance your travel experience.
So, starting tomorrow Ruth & I are taking the family south of the boarder to plug into the culture and do exactly what I have described. We will be visiting Cabo San Lucas and Cabo San Jose over the two next weeks. During our time we will be playing fútbol at a soccer camp with Mexican nationals and taking surf lessons at a local beach. As part of our experience we will be seeking authentic, fun & family friendly activities that YOU can do in the near future. Sound exciting? Stay tuned by visiting our Facebook page and Twitter feed.
So, who is in for next year?
For the past two year we have had the privilege of working with Sierra Elementary School to develop some creative language solutions. Sierra Elementary is progressive K-6 school in Rocklin, CA with International Baccalaureate World school focus. The school provides Spanish instruction to all students as part of the core curriculum two days/week. In addition, private after school Spanish classes are offered four days/week. Both programs use Sombrero Time curriculum, methods and instructors.
Starting this fall, we are excited to announce a new class at Sierra Elementary. Sombrero Time has been asked to offer Spanish for Kinder students! Similar to our after school program, Kinder Spanish will run shortly after the normal Kindergarten class from 11:30-12:15pm, 4 days/week, Tuesday-Friday. Each session is 45 minutes and will be conducted by one of our trained native speaking instructors and is filled with traditional Spanish dance, Song and Music activities. The class is intended to introduce new Spanish speakers to the language and prepare them for entry into the Spanish program starting in 1st grade at Sierra Elementary. Kinder Spanish will offer a great transition for students enrolled in Kids Junction as well.
Full details are available on our Registration page.
Sombrero Time has been working w ith the Loomis Union School District as their preferred provider for Spanish language instruction for the past two years. In alignment with the district’s vision to develop high quality second language education, Sombrero Time will be offering two different programs at Loomis elementary schools during the 2011/12 school year.
Spanish for kids at the Loomis Basin Charter School – The 2011/12 school year will mark the third year Sombrero Time will be providing Spanish instruction for this successful elementary charter school. Recently certified as an International Baccalaureate school, Loomis Basin Charter school has a mandate to provide high quality language instruction for all students internal to the instructional day. Sombrero Time will be providing instruction again next fall. Two of our highly trained native speaking instructors will be on campus 4 days per week providing instruction at each grade level. Three levels of Sombrero Time curriculum will be used to direct instruction for grades K-7.
Before School Spanish for kids at all Loomis Union Elementary Schools - Classes will be provided at LUSD elementary schools starting this fall. Similar to this past year we will continue providing instruction following our immersive, no English spoken, model. Our trained, native speaking instructors will be available Monday-Thursday delivering instruction for 45 minutes at each session. Spanish class will follow the LUSD calendar staring on September 1, 2011 – May 31, 2012. Class times and locations will be announced after registration is completed. If you are interested in finding out more click the link below for details.
Full details can be found by clicking HERE
Education Entrepreneur Ron Fairchild of Smarter Learning Group recently published an article in the Huffington Post about Sombrero Time. Smarter Learning Group helps nonprofits, foundations, and school districts develop, grow, and sustain quality education programs and policies.
Ron Fairchild is the founder of the Smarter Learning Group. Prior to starting the firm, Ron served as CEO of the National Summer Learning Association. The Association’s work built on over 15 years of experience and success as the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, where Fairchild was executive director from 2002 through 2009. He is widely recognized as a national authority on how to expand learning opportunities for young people. His frequent appearances in the media include segments on NPR, CNN, C-SPAN, NBC Nightly News, and the CBS Early Show.
Sombrero Time is passionate about helping kids do the extraordinary. Language instruction develops a child’s ability to share ideas and communicate across cultural boundaries. Sombrero Time Curriculum coupled with our Professional Development for instructors creates a powerful solution for schools.
Article Excerpt – “Last week Education Week ran a story about huge cuts to foreign language programs across the country. When I was in California recently, I learned about a creative solution to this problem involving two parents, Dave and Ruth Finsthwait, who created an inexpensive Spanish language immersion program for schools, called Sombrero Time.”
Click HERE to continue reading the article and please leave your comments!