EYE ON EDUCATION A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
JULY 2011
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
Making a Difference When the students in Ms. Tanimoto’s Child Learning Lab class take a small walk across the street to Wirtz Elementary School, they take a giant stride towards their future. The Child Learning Lab class is an elective class offered at Paramount High School that serves the community while offering the students a unique vocational environment. This innovative program is designed to provide high school students with the skills needed to successfully pursue a variety of careers in education. After Ms. T’s classroom training in education theory and best educational practices, the students report to Wirtz Elementary School to apply their newly acquired knowledge to assist in the kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms. When these newly trained high school students enter the elementary school setting, they apply their knowledge and test themselves in a real-life vocational environment. These motivated and caring students become an important teaching resource for both elementary students and teachers. Consequently, these high school students become positive role models for their smaller, younger pupils. Mr. Cervantes
a kindergarten teacher said, “I always enjoy and appreciate the great assistance that our high school helpers bring to my kindergarten class. It is great to see how my students get to interact with the teenagers. They lookup to the high school helpers and learn to respect them as teachers. The High School students help prepare materials for my lessons. I feel confident giving them a small group of students to review and to practice simple concepts already taught. I value the creativity that the students contribute to my class by making bulletin boards, flyers, and art projects. Without Ms Tanimoto’s students and her support kindergarten would not be as fun. Thank you Ms. T” In the six year history of this program, it has dramatically changed the lives of many Paramount High School students. Many students became interested in continuing their education after high school and many chose to study early childhood education; others wanted to become teachers, instructional aids and became interested in working with the special needs. Jose Ramirez, a PHS graduate and former Child Learning Lab student is currently at Cerritos College working on
a degree in child development. He currently works for the City of Paramount in their STAR (Success Through Academic and Recreation) program tutoring elementary students after school. Ms. Tanimoto envisioned this vocational educational class to fulfill a growing need for wellqualified educators to teach and mentor our community’s youngest learners. Since the students are placed in an active learning they immediately apply their new skills to teaching, which reinforces their classroom training
and prepares for a new future. Fernanda Soria, PHS senior, is a student assistant in Mr. Caruso’s 5th grade class, and Mr. Caruso states “Having teaching assistants from the high school is powerful in so many ways. Their ability to function as educators and role models for my students are just two of the ways these students are essential to my classes.” Fernanda’s participation in this class has given her a valuable opportunity to work with 5th graders on a daily basis. She typically works one-on-one with the students
reinforcing reading skills. She further comments, that being in Ms. Tanimoto’s class has helped her to learn patience when working with younger students. She states she enjoys working with her students and hopes one day to be an elementary teacher. PHS Senior, Andreana Fager notes that she learned important job skills while creating and implementing class lesson plans. She has created age appropriate lessons for activities in arts and crafts, nutrition and health, language arts, science, and a variety of recreational activities. She graduated this June and will be majoring in early childhood with an emphasis on education. Andreana states, “I would not have made this decision without taking Ms. T’s class. She has been my mentor and a positive influence on my life.” The Child Learning Lab class has proven to be a valuable asset to both the teachers and students at Wirtz Elementary School and the Child Learning Lab Class students. Through this vocational educational class, students have a brighter future as teachers, parents, and community leaders. Aileen Tanimoto, PHS Teacher
Chivas Come to Mokler A few months ago, representatives from the Chivas USA Soccer Organization came to Major Lynn Mokler School to help challenge students to read for 100 days. The event was organized to help motivate the students and included the arrival of the charismatic Chivas’ mascot “ChivaFighter”. The rally was held on the basketball courts of Mokler School and every student cheered as the Chivas’ mascot, ChivaFighter, pumped up the students and staff by chanting songs and challenging them to soccer competitions. Several students and teachers were pulled from the excited audience to participate in the games. Fifth grader Rosemelly Jimenez said, “They had kids come out of the audience and play soccer with the Chivas ram. It was very exciting!” Over 100 students met the challenge to read for over 100 days. Denise Garcia, 3rd grader, said, “We had to read a lot of books. We colored in the days that we read on a calendar. We needed to read for 100 days (at least 20 days a month).” For meeting their goals, students received a free ticket to a local Chivas soc-
cer game, would get to run with the players at the game and get a free jersey. Parents/guardians were able to purchase tickets at a reduced price. The Chivas event is yet another example of how Mokler School involves the community in participating with staff to motivate students to achieve. Mokler is
proud of all of their students that took on the challenge, especially those students who read for over 100 days between February and May of 2011. Congratulations on your achievement! Theresa M. Diaz, K-5 Instructional Coach Mokler School
School Starts August 24, 2011 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES July 6, 2011 - August 24, 2011 Board of Education meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at the District Office, 15110 California Avenue, Paramount, and are open to the public