Tue, Oct 07 2008
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Published May 13, 2008 10:46 pm - Twenty-four elementary students for whom English is a new language combined to read almost 3,000 books. Book-reading English learners get lunch Two dozen kids, 3,000 books by Tanner Kent Free Press Staff Writer MANKATO — The picture truly shows it all.
Two dozen elementary students celebrating at Applebee’s, pieces of American nostalgia covering every possible inch of wall space. There are cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese and Mountain Dew by the pitcher. Headscarves and hubcaps. Immigrants and Elvis. An American restaurant welcoming the next generation of Americans. “Kids work all year for this,” said teacher Diane Dobitz. “This is a big motivation.” On the surface, the event seemed ordinary: 24 Jefferson Elementary students celebrating their reading accomplishments. There was, of course, the ordinary excitement about spending an afternoon outside class and the ordinary chatter between friends and classmates. But there was something extraordinary about Tuesday’s celebration, something beyond literacy goals and free lunch. The students in attendance are learning English as an additional language. In some cases, parents are learning right along with them. And in others, the parents don’t speak English at all. For such students, learning to read and write English is a real achievement, not to mention a monumental challenge. For complete story, see the Wednesday, May 14, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition. Click here to access Free Press e-edition 
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