Jim: Coming up on Inside California Education:
(Singing in Spanish)
Discover why mariachi music programs are
a big draw in the San Diego area,
engaging kids in school and instilling a sense of
cultural pride.
JiM: Meet a national spelling champ,
now inspiring kids in her Clovis school district to
learn the art of spelling.
Melissa: Alright, good morning you guys!
Class: Good morning!
Jim: See what's involved in the day in the life of an
activities director.
Danielle: Give it a little bit more dimensions.
And a program gives students as young as fourth grade a
glimpse of college life right on campus.
It's all next on Inside California Education!
Annc: Funding for Inside California Education
is made possible by:
Since 1985, the California Lottery has
raised more than $32 billion dollars in supplemental
funding for California's 11-hundred public school
districts from kindergarten through college.
That's approximately $191 for each full-time student
based on $1.5 billion contributed in fiscal year
2016-17.
With caring teachers, committed administrators,
and active parents, every public school student can
realize their dreams.
The California Lottery: Imagine the Possibilities.
The Stuart Foundation: Improving life outcomes for
young people through education
♪♪
Thanks for joining us
on Inside California Education.
I'm Jim Finnerty.
Music is an important part of the educational
experience for many young people.
It's especially true for a generation of students in
the San Diego region who grew up listening to their
parents' mariachi music.
Well now, those same students are getting the
opportunity to play mariachi on their school stage.
(Mariachi Music)
(Elioenai singing on stage in Spanish)
Jim: High school senior Elioenai was always musical.
Rock music was his first love when he began playing
guitar in the 6th grade.
But it was a mariachi music class at San Ysidro High in
Chula Vista's Sweetwater Union School district that
gave him a chance to try...
something different.
Elioenai: You can be anything,
you can interpret the song any way you want.
You can play with the music and that's just like the
really fun part about mariachi because there's so
many styles, there's so many genres,
there's so many backgrounds that you can do whatever you
want with it.
♪♪
(vocal exercises) Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.
Actually, let's do Oh, Oh, Oh, Low.
Wendy: OK Ready?
OK go.
(Class vocalizes)
Good job.
Jim: San Ysidro music teacher Wendy Charines
begins her early morning advanced mariachi
class with vocal exercises
even before her students pick up their instruments.
All of these youngsters are here because of their
interest in mariachi music.
Wendy: Mariachi Music is folk music from Mexico
Through the music, we teach them pride about their
culture and they also at the same time are learning how
to play music.
To be able to read notes, to understand music notation,
to understand the background and the history of music.
And pertaining to mariachi music because that's the
nature of the class.
Now Play...one and two and ready go.....
♪♪
Jim: Many of the students here...
and in other mariachi classes...
begin with no previous musical training.
The class will practice musical scales
together, then break into separate instrument groups
to focus on particular sections and sounds.
The mariachi music tradition began in rural areas of
western Mexico in the early part of the 19th century.
Often featured at local festivals,
the songs speak about human emotions: love,
betrayal ...even death.
Some of these students have family members who
were musicians themselves or encouraged
the young people to play.
For Evelynn, it was her aunt.
Evelynn: She would always blast mariachi music at the
house no matter what party we would go to or just to
clean the house in general and she would be like
'oh mija you should try this you know.'
And I'm like, I don't know Tia.
Like I don't know if I could learn this.
Frida: I always liked this music.
My family they play it.
My dad used to play it.
My mom used to play it so when I was little
I started listening to it.
So yeah, I like it a lot.
Jeff: It's a music that is culturally important to a
lot of our students.
The Mariachi tradition is very big in Mexico.
And for a lot of our Hispanic students,
they want music that they can relate to,
that they can enjoy, that their parents can
come out and see.
But it's also important because this is,
this is a medium that reaches those students,
that gets them involved in music.
(Singing)
Jim: As the students' musical skills evolve,
they take part in school and
community performances.
Taking the stage in traditional costumes,
they deliver a colorful presentation of high energy
emotional music.
Wendy: You have the violins and the trumpets
that are the melodies.
They give the melodies and the harmonies of the,
you know, specific notes.
And of course, mariachi music,
you have to have vocalists.
You have to have singers in the group.
(Girl Singing in Spanish)
Jim: The mariachi music program in the
Sweetwater Union High School district began with a
single after-school class at Southwest High in 1998.
It's popularity exploded.
♪♪
Jeff: We hired new teachers, and so we developed programs
in each of the schools from that point on to this point
where we now have seven schools that have Mariachi
programs, over 992 kids.
Fredd: Tempo, Boom, Boom Boom
Jim: Sweetwater High School teacher Fredd Sanchez takes
his performing group through its paces with
class sessions and after school practice.
He points out that playing provides benefits
beyond the music.
Fredd: There are kids that this is a class that keeps
them in school.
Going to drama, going to art,
going to music, mariachi, band,
orchestra, they might not want to come because they
have a test, but they don't want to miss the class
that they really like.
So it really helps them to stay in school.
Jim: The Sweetwater school district provides
instruments for students in the program and Fredd says
part of the attraction to the music comes from
its distinctive sound.
Violins, trumpets, and guitars make up a large
part of that sound, but two less familiar
instruments are essential.
The guitarron -a wide backed Mexican bass...
and the smaller stringed vihuela that "looks"
like a guitar.
Fredd: And unlike the guitar,
it is non-chromatic which means that it does not go
from the lowest pitch to the highest pitch.
It actually jumps around very much like the ukulele
and we play it by strumming.
We have a finger pick and we play it by strumming.
(plays)
Jim: The mariachi groups here have been
recognized for their performances in local
and regional competitions.
Their teachers say those experiences allow them to
take away the applause of the audience and something
equally important.
Jeff: We find that students with an arts background are
more successful because of the lessons they've learned.
So they may not realize it yet,
but they will know in their future that this has helped
prepare them for a great life.
♪♪
Narr: Did you know?
Mariachi bands do not have lead singers.
Members are assigned songs that best match
their personalities.
With more than 500 schools nationwide offering mariachi
programs, many young singers have new opportunities to
express their personalities through song.
Jim: So many of us have come to rely on auto-correct
on our phones or computers that some fear
spelling may be a dying art.
But that's not what we found in the town of Clovis!
These students are among thousands dedicated to
honing their spelling skills and competing in spelling
bees across California and the U.S.
It turns out, it may actually help kids do better
in all kinds of other subjects.
♪♪
Ananya: The e sound in Italian is spelled with an I ...
Tim: 6 o'clock on a Friday evening,
school is finished for the week.
Most kids are heading into a leisurely weekend with
friends and family.
Ananya: And in staccato, we switch from note to note
very quickly ...
Tim: But at Fugman Elementary in Clovis,
just north of Fresno, the weekend can wait.
The dozen members of the schools spelling team are
still here, soaking up tips from their coach on how to
prepare for, and maybe even win,
a spelling bee.
"...( spelling word ) ..."
Tim: She may seem too young to be a coach ━
she's just 13.
But what she lacks in coaching experience,
Ananya Vinay more than makes up with as
a spelling bee veteran.
"...( spelling word California bee )..."
"...( spelling word National bee )..."
Tim: Ananya is a three time California spelling champion
━ which led to a national victory in a competition now
so popular, it's broadcast on ESPN.
"...( woman spells at booth, Ananya corrects ) ..."
Tim: We caught up with Ananya at an event called
the Great Valley Bookfest, in Manteca,
where she hosted a booth ━ offering t shirts to people
who spelled words correctly, and candy to people
who didn't.
"... you can have a candy"
Ananya: I always liked to read when
I was younger, and then I competed in my first
spelling bee in the 1st grade,
and I really liked it.
I wasn't really that nervous,
because I knew the words I got,
and I could spell them.
Pam: Ananya spends incredible amounts of time
as well as others like her, in reading widely and
becoming broadly literate, in understanding other
languages than English.
It's a very intense preparation for an
event like this.
Tim: Ananya's spelling bee success hasn't just made her
a local celebrity.
It's also brought other kids to the team ━ more than 30
tried out for this squad ━ for just 12 spots.
Ken: I've noticed that more enthusiasm since Ananya has
had her success, with kids talking about 'Oh I'm going
to be the next Ananya and I want to be involved,
I'm going to study and I'm going to do well.' It's very
intellectually stimulating for the kids
Tim: But is knowing how to spell thousands
of words, when you're in elementary
school, a useful skill?
Is it more more than just a simple talent
for memorization?
Ananya and her spelling team advisor say it actually goes
way beyond that.
Ananya: When you study spelling,
you learn a lot of science terms,
so when you're asked what a science term means,
you can say the meaning, you can say the roots,
and then you can understand what the science term really
is because it increases your vocabulary,
and your confidence and your public speaking skills.
Ken: Spelling definitely improves reading fluency,
it improves vocabulary, and comprehension.
(Kid misses word)
Paul: For the past 12 years I've had
the privilege of announcing the national spelling bee,
the Scripps national spelling bee on television.
It's as intense as any event I've ever
announced anywhere.
Tim: Paul Loeffler is the play by play announcer
for Fresno State's basketball and football teams.
He too was a competitive speller,
winning on the local level as an 8th grader,
then finishing 13th on the national stage.
He was the announcer on ESPN that night when
Ananya finished 1st.
Paul: People think this is just rote memorization,
and you're just a robot, who's spitting stuff out.
Really I think it's so inter disciplinary.
It builds vocabulary, it builds study habits,
you have to be able to think critically.
And to win that Scripps national spelling bee,
you have to be able to do all those things and
perform under pressure.
It's a pretty impressive skill set you develop if
you're at this for a while.
Tim: It's been a few years since Paul's national
competition, but he remembers instantly the
word that did him in..
Paul: Everybody remembers every word they miss
in a spelling bee.
I have yet to meet a speller who has forgotten the word
that took them out.
So I got, this was the 6th round I think ━ I got
stachyose, it's a sugar derived from
a Chinese artichoke.
S-t-a-c-h-y-o-s-e.
Tim: Fresno educators don't apologize for putting an
emphasis on correct spelling when those words are so
easily found on a phone or laptop.
That's because incorrect spelling can say a lot
about a person.
Pam: We live in a time of instant communication,
and that first impression we make with an email,
a text or a tweet is all important.
There's a lot of research that supports that
when a piece of communication is misspelled,
the receiver automatically changes their view of the
person sending that message.
Ken: I've spoken to some administrators in Clovis
Unified, and if they have 50 or 100 applicants for one
job and they see a spelling error,
it goes in the trash.
Tim: These Clovis kids probably aren't thinking
that far ahead about correct versus incorrect spelling.
They do know that being a whiz with words can bring
just as much enjoyment as being on other school teams.
The coach ought to know ━ she's been there.
Narr: The stakes are high for spellers who make it to
the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
All contestants receive small prizes from donors
such as Kindle, Merriam-Webster,
and Encyclopedia Britannica.
The winner takes away a $40,000 cash prize,
a $2,500 savings bond, plus trips to New York City
and Hollywood.
Jim: Still ahead on Inside California Education,
fourth through ninth grade students get a chance to
sample college classes at Sacramento State.
But first, a day in the life of an activities director.
♪♪
Melissa: Modesto is Central Valley.
Our valley thrives in what the farm industry
has done for our families.
We're very community based here in Modesto
and we appreciate what high schools do for our communities.
I'm Melissa Maher.
This is my first year as activities director of Beyer
High School in Modesto, California.
Beyer High School's actually a very interesting high
school, simply because we take pride in everything
that we do.
Alright, good morning you guys!
Good morning!
It's finally here.
Ugly sweater day.
I really appreciate everyone who showed up in their ugly,
ugly sweaters.
Essentially as an activities director,
I, I am planning and managing these activities,
but they're really carried out by the students
in my classroom.
I have a vision and I plan the vision,
but it really comes up to the students to then take
that vision and make it a reality,
and that's fun.
So for all of you who helped,
thank you, they look amazing.
It's different than I've ever experienced before
because I'm working with some really excellent kids
that want to make our school a better campus.
This is a big deal, this is a big event.
We do it every year.
S o just make sure to bring it your all.
Today we hosted our ASB meeting,
that's where we discuss school events.
We go over old business, we go over new business
and we also look at all the financials of the school.
School culture means a lot to me.
It's not just about me and the 40 students in my class,
it's about every individual and how they play a unique
role in the puzzle of Bayer High School.
Winterfest is a combination of my leadership students
and other clubs here at Beyer High School putting
together holiday crafts and games and fun for not only
the families of Beyer High School and the teachers,
but we've also opened up to the community.
My ultimate goal is, is making this school not just
a school but a family and a place where kids feel safe
and they feel loved and they feel encouraged and they
feel supported.
I love kids. I love students.
It keeps me naturally young and I couldn't see myself
doing anything else and being in any other capacity.
♪♪
Jim: Exposing students to college at a young age
has many benefits.
For elementary and middle school students enrolled in
the Academic Talent Search program at Sacramento State,
it's a chance to experience real college coursework
and get a glimpse into their possible futures.
♪♪
"Ok, everyone repeat after me! (speaking latin)
(teacher and students speaking Latin)
Christina: This is a college-level Latin class
being taught on a college campus.
(Latin speaking)
Christina: But the students here are
not college students.
They're highly motivated fourth through ninth
graders, eager for a challenge.
Brian: Donuts. . . .
(laughter)
Jack: It's a very complex and interesting language
that we're learning.
Sometimes it's a little hard,
because you're at college material,
even though I'm in 8th grade.
It's also, I feel proud, because I'm able to handle
this information even though it's really five years
ahead of me.
Christina: Jack is one of about sixteen hundred
students spending the summer with Academic Talent Search.
Located on the Sacramento State campus,
the program gives youngsters a glimpse
of the college life.
Scarlet: It's set up just like college where they get
to pick and choose classes based on their interest,
or if they're just curious about a class,
or if they want to delve deeper into
a subject matter.
Some of the more unique classes that we have
are a 'saving lives' class.
Those kids can learn on these mannequins that
simulate maybe a heart attack,
or a broken limb.
Nurse: gonna put his thumb right through. . .
If they're really into math they can take a five week
math class and earn a year's worth of credit.
Or they can learn a foreign language,
like Japanese for five weeks.
That's a whole year's worth.
Brian: A lot of the classes we teach aren't classes
that students can really get elsewhere,
and so the students that I get are students that really
want to learn.
The junior high students that we have,
the sixth to ninth graders, exceed your typical high
school student and probably even a lot of the college
students, I would imagine, in their ability to take in
the information, to learn the information at a very
rapid pace.
(Brayden acting on stage) (Stuttering)
Christina: Brayden attends a middle school
without a drama department.
So for him, an acting class offered by
Academic Talent Search lets him explore his passion.
Um, miss Grant, excuse me, I just have to interrupt.
Brayden: I've always been really interested in,
um, acting and theater and drama.
I thought this would just advance my skills.
It's so much different in a college atmosphere because
the classes are a lot bigger,
um, obviously a lot longer.
(laughs)
I see other college students, actual college students,
and it makes me feel like I'm one of them,
I fit in with them.
I feel a lot cooler (laughs).
Terry: The students are treated pretty much like
college students so they get a sense of freedom and
independence and that, uh, is kind of hard to duplicate
in any regular school setting.
Christina: Sacramento State professor Terry Thomas
founded the Academic Talent Search program in 1982 with
a group of kids who wanted to learn advanced math.
In the three decades since then,
more than 44,000 students have given the college
experience a try.
Terry: They have fun with it.
They, they like, uh, going up the escalator,
getting a mocha at the snack shop and
being treated pretty much like a kid.
Student: ah chew
They might forget the class but they'll remember the
experience of being on a college campus.
Christina: Sacramento State's College of Education
donates the classroom space for the program,
which is otherwise self-supported by tuition.
The college's dean, Alexander Sidorkin,
says the university benefits on several levels.
Alexander: First it's uh, exposure,
early exposure for many kids to the campus space
and environment and they get a taste
of how college looks like.
So uh, hopefully they'll keep us in mind when they
grow up and become applying to colleges.
And we also love to have kids around
in our buildings.
Nurse: Let's move some of that
into the middle and add bbq - or is that all bbq?
-There's some bbq in there at the bottom.
-Darken it at the middle because usually the middle
is darker and you get the red around the edges.
Christina: Students in this class are busy creating fake
wounds that they will then learn to how to bandage.
This hands-on experience...
already has 12-year-old Brooke thinking about a
potential career.
Brooke: At this point, I'm trying to just try a lot of
new things, so that I can understand where
I want to specialize, and just experiencing
everything that I can.
If decide to go into healthcare,
um, this class, the Science of Saving Lives,
will definitely be really helpful.
Terry: We've had a lot of feedback from parents
and kids themselves after they've been with us that
it's made a difference to them individually.
That, uh, in terms of their career,
many times they choose their college majors based on the
experiences they had at Sac State.
Danielle: I mean, just give it a little more dimensions.
Christina: Danielle Villaluna is one alumna
whose life was shaped by the experience.
The college junior returned to Academic Talent Search
to work as a teaching assistant for the same
art class she took as a seventh grader.
Danielle: I used to sit in these same chairs,
maybe the same classroom too.
I used to sit here and create art and that's how
I started getting into art, so it's really kind of exciting
to see that same excitement coming back into those kid's
eyes because I used to feel that when I was sitting in
their place.
Brayden: What I would tell everybody else about this
program is it's a great experience,
it's a lot of fun, um, you get to meet a lot of new
people, um, you're in a totally different
atmosphere, um, it's, it's just completely
life changing.
♪♪
Jim: That's it for this edition of
Inside California Education.
Now if you'd like more information about the
program, just log on to our website insidecaled.org.
We have video from all of our shows,
and you can connect with us on social media as well.
Thanks for joining us.
We'll see you next time on Inside California Education.
♪♪
♪♪
Annc: Funding for Inside California Education
is made possible by.....
Since 1985, the California Lottery has raised more than
$32 billion dollars in supplemental funding for
California's 11-hundred public school districts from
kindergarten through college.
That's approximately $191 for each full-time student
based on $1.5 billion contributed in fiscal year
2016-17.
With caring teachers, committed administrators,
and active parents, every public school student
can realize their dreams.
The California Lottery: Imagine the Possibilities.
Dr. Pascal: So, Greg, it's a lot to take in.
And I know that's hard to hear.
But the doctors caught it early.
Hi, Blake.
My dad has cancer.
And I know how hard that is to hear.
But you are in the right place.
Dr. Pascal and her team, they know what to do.
They know what to do.
The doctors know what to do.
So here's the plan.
First off, we're going to give you (fades out).
The Stuart Foundation: Improving Life Outcomes for
Young People through Education
Additional funding for Inside California Education
is made possible by these organizations
supporting public education:
♪♪
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