Program Name: La Clase Mágica at Casa Familiar

Principal Investigator(s): Professor Olga Vasquez, Department of Communication, UC San Diego

Program Website: http://lcm.ucsd.edu/LaClaseMagica/Home.html

Contact: Marisol Acosta, Program Director

Site Description:

• Located in San Ysidro, the La Clase Mágica Sur program is situated at Casa Familiar, a non-profit community service agency. Adapted from the original La Clase Mágica program in Solana Beach, the goal of Casa Familiar is to work collaboratively on computer-based and hands-on literacy and skill building activities to help children and their parents prepare socially and academically for engaging in the schooling process and to provide a continuity of experience between children and their parents. Two activities are offered for children and their parents one day a week. These activities serve the families of the local community who are predominantly Mexican immigrants. Undergraduates participate by enrolling in the Communication 115 and 116, and/or Human Development 115 and 135, a series of theory and practicum courses in the Department of Communication and the Human Development Program.

Courses:

• Communication 116 and Human Development 135: Practicum in Child Development

Participants (based on 2005-06 data):

• Approximately 30 K-4th grade students per academic year
• 100% Latino
• 55% male, 45% female
• 65% ELLs
• Approximately 10 undergraduates per academic year

Collaborators:

• Casa Familiar Community Service Agency
• San Ysidro Elementary School District
• Center for Academic and Social Advancement (CASA)
• UC San Diego Department of Communication and Human Development Program
• UC San Diego Center for Research in Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence (CREATE)

Goals:

• Increase participants’ basic English and Spanish language literacy and critical thinking
• Increase technology literacy through computer-based multi-media storytelling
• Increase participants’ knowledge and improve attitudes and aspirations toward higher learning for participating youth
• Increase participants' love for learning and ability to communicate in educational and professional settings
• Improve the quality of graduate and undergraduate education by connecting academic coursework to practicum field experience
• Encourage undergraduates to explore the possibility of a teaching career in urban, low-income communities

Activities:

• Collaborative learning activities using a wide array of educational software, hands-on materials, and board games which promote the development of literacy knowledge and skills
• Daily online (email) communication and letter-writing activities
• Homework assistance and mentoring from undergraduate participants

Evaluation:

• University of California Student Academic Preparation and Educational Partnerships (SAPEP) Annual Performance Report
• UC Links Reading Assessment
• Survey of undergraduate interest in pursuing graduate or professional school studies
• Analysis of participants' activity records, and staff and undergraduate field notes to examine educational progress over time

Research Focus:

• Sociocultural approach to language issues and English language learning.
• Mediation of learning by material culture
• Impact of the social framing of program activities on literacy (specifically vocabulary) development