The Enrichment Programs

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**All of the Enrichment Programs are part of our diverse International curriculum and included in the tuition.** 


SPANISH

We have enjoyed the wonders of Ms. Elba's interactive hands-on Spanish classes for 12 years now! She never ceases to surprise the children with a new song, dance, story or game. Ms. Elba's classes are always abundant with laughter and joy!

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Ms. Elba has twenty years of teaching Spanish in a Montessori setting and has experienced first hand that: "Every child has a natural gift for learning languages. Introducing your child to a second language in the early years allows them to retain this language learning ability throughout their life while helping to develop confidence and self-esteem. The Spanish language is introduced in a fun, natural and conversational way. Each child is on a different level, depending on their own pace, interest and comfort with the language, aptitude and the group dynamics. The children do not translate. They learn vocabulary and conversational skills guided by their own curiosity and through the use on interesting visuals and materials such as puppets, toys, posters, flash cards, story books, songs, art, cultural associations, games, mimics and anything that the imagination supplies."


MANDARIN

We are thrilled that the children will be touched by the magic of Ms. Haihai again during the 2013-2014 school year! Ms. Haihai has a contagious passion for teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture. The children look forward to seeing Ms. Haihai and surround her with love, cheer and hugs.

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Ms. Haihai's believes that:
"Mandarin language is fast being recognized as the most important second language for children to learn across America. With China now America's second leading trading partner, Mandarin has superseded Japanese to become the language of choice for people of all ages to master for business, cultural and social aspirations. Learning an additional language before the age of ten ensures that the linguistic part of the brain develops well. Knowledge or skills are more easily acquired at this early age and is better retained for later in life. The brain is also challenged in a different which may improve aptitude and intellectual development in support of other disciplines."

The Bluebonnet Montessori's Mandarin curriculum focuses on building a solid foundation for new students as well as students that already have had exposure to the language. We believe that learning Mandarin should be a fun experience for the children. Since Mandarin is a character based language, last year we integrated a lot of different teaching methods through dancing and singing, role playing, drawing, games, arts and crafts and other visual learning to get the children interested and enthused to learn the language and the Chinese culture behind it."


MUSIC

Each Friday, the school is filled with the excitement of music with our Music Together curriculum.

Since the 1980's, Music Together has been a developmental, non-performance-oriented approach to music learning that honors children's learning styles and allows all children to participate at their own level.

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Not only do the children and teachers play with the music in school, but through Music Together's CDs and songbooks, children "bring the music home" to the whole family, thereby creating a tangible connection between home and school and reinforcing the child's musical development. The basic principle of the Music Together Philosophy is that all children are musical. Therefore, all children can achieve basic music competence. This means that all children can learn to sing in tune with accurate rhythm.

PRIMARY COMMUNITY
Each week the children, the teachers and I will play musically! Through the Music Together curriculum, the children will learn to move rhythmically and sing, while acquiring listening and improvisation skills through playful, developmentally appropriate activities. Throughout the year we will play with a carefully balanced mix of songs, rhythmic rhymes, tonal and rhythm patterns, and instrumental play alongs in a wide variety of tonalities, meters, and musical styles. Children gain a repertoire of up to 50 songs a year, along with the rich music experience necessary for achieving Basic Music Competence (BMC).
ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY
In 2011, Bluebonnet was one of 16 locations selected from 66 applicants to pilot the Big Kids Music Together program. This program prepares the child for music literacy. Exercises are performed that help the child gain a better understanding of how rhythm and tonalities work in music. The children are also guided through movement "games" that are fun and help further translate the beat of the music into their bodies.
As a class, the children explore "ensemble" and "solo" work with the different instruments. "Home Pages" are work that is done outside of music class. This work helps the children start thinking about creating music for themselves, if they haven't already. All of the exercises and props that are used are intended to give the child the tools to become music makers, not just music imitators.