Mosaicos started pilot program at Truman Elementary

MOSAICOS is a 2-hour per week afterschool program for K-5 Hispanic children attending Truman Primary and Truman Elementary in Norman, OK.

The goal of MOSAICOS is to improve the academic performance and to strengthen the socio/emotional aspects of the children. MOSAICOS started as a pilot program in the spring, 2015 at Truman due to the fact that Ellen Kraft, Truman’s ELL Teacher, is the academic volunteer of MOSAICOS. Marisol Faro-Suárez from the Center for Children and Families (CCFI) carries out the administration of the program.

Likewise, volunteers from CCFI, the University of Oklahoma - Modern Languages Department, and Smile Education Foundation-SEF implement the weekly activities. An innovative aspect of the program is involvement of student’s families through informative workshops in Spanish, and this is where LatinasWIN have played a role by connecting with families, reminding t hem of the program, and asking about their children, as well as conducting some of the workshops. The program involves a range of activities, such as tutoring, homework time, academic classes, and more.

The topics of the workshops for parents offered during the spring were selected via a survey of the parents. They were: How to open an account for the Norman Public Schools-NPS Parent Portal; the importance of mental health in children’s development; the role of reading to children and play with children in their intellectual and cognitive development; and qualifications for immigration relief through DACA - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

According to Marisol, parents “felt respected and safe,” and “their voices were heard,” according to Ellen. One volunteer remarked that MOSAICOS “taught me that many immigrant families have difficulties understanding American life and local customs.” For others, it was a way to practice their Spanish while earning college credit and serving the community. Families’ feedback has been very positive.

Findings from MOSAICOS Spring, 2015

➢ 37 children (18 girls & 19 boys) from 21 families were enrolled and attended consistently

➢ At least one parent per family attended all family workshops

➢ Truman teacher’s reports suggest that children’s English language acquisition improved, as well as their math abilities.

➢ No children from MOSAICOS received an "office referral for bad behavior"

➢ 20 of the 37 children attended CCFI’s summer program

➢ Pilot program was so successful that it is now implemented during 2015-2016 academic year ➢ If resources are available, the program could be implemented at Adams Elementary School for 2016. Adams has the highest percentage of Hispanic children in NPS.

Ellen Kraft & Marisol Faro-Suarez, founders Mosaico program.