Carpinteria children’s project offering dual language education | School zone

The Carpinteria Children’s Project (CCP) has expanded its services to the community, now offering childcare from the age of 18 months, and has implemented a bilingual curriculum for all classrooms.

CCP offers early childhood education delivered by trained and experienced bilingual teachers and assistants.

Community needs assessments have shown the need for additional childcare options for young children in Carpinteria, and the new toddler class provides that for local families, CCP said.

“At CCP, we are committed to ensuring that young children experience activities and play that will prepare them to be ready for school,” said Teresa Alvarez, Executive Director. mother tongue of the family.

“As a team, we trained and prepared to launch dual English-Spanish instruction, honoring the demands of our community and to best align with our partners in the Carpinteria Unified School District and the existing initiative of bilingual immersion in elementary school.”

Although dual language immersion (DLI) has benefits at any age, it is particularly influential for young children, the CCP said. Children’s brains are particularly suited to language development and developing contextual skills, while engaging in play, conversation and other useful activities.

For children whose native language is Spanish, the DLI is effective because it encourages students to master English, but not at the cost of losing their native language. It also encourages true bilingualism – learning to speak, read and write in more than one language.

The understanding of all students is enhanced when children and families from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds learn from each other in the same classroom. Regardless of language spoken at home, DLI has been shown to increase executive function, improve memory and problem solving, and increase brain flexibility to improve reading skills and language acquisition throughout life. life-long, the CCP said.

Child care spaces are still available for children aged 18 to 24 months and in the two-year-old class. Call 805-566-1600 or visit carpchildren.org for more information or to register.

CCP began in 2009 as part of the Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) to increase the number of children ready for kindergarten. Since 2016, CCP has become an independent non-profit organization.

CCP offers preschool education to families in Carpinteria, from 18 months to 5 years old. CCP also offers programs and services for the entire family and community through the Family Resource Center.