WEBVTT

00:00:17.036 --> 00:00:20.276
BENING: The Mark Hopkins School is located at the center

00:00:20.876 --> 00:00:23.126
of Sacramento's large Hmong community.

00:00:25.086 --> 00:00:28.366
Kabee Lee has been teaching here since 1996.

00:00:28.496 --> 00:00:33.026
LEE, VOICE-OVER: One of the reasons I chose Mark Hopkins to come and work at is

00:00:33.026 --> 00:00:35.296
because of the diversity in the community.

00:00:35.916 --> 00:00:39.956
We have English-speaking students.

00:00:39.956 --> 00:00:41.206
We have Hmong students.

00:00:41.206 --> 00:00:42.396
We have Spanish students.

00:00:42.396 --> 00:00:43.916
We have Hindi students, Tongan.

00:00:43.916 --> 00:00:47.516
It's like, just like a bowl of salad, you know.

00:00:47.516 --> 00:00:49.366
We have everything mixed together.

00:00:51.586 --> 00:00:55.566
BENING: With so many of his kindergartners speaking foreign languages at home,

00:00:55.606 --> 00:00:59.336
Mr. Lee must work extra hard to teach reading in English.

00:00:59.516 --> 00:01:00.806
LEE: We need Leo to help us.

00:01:01.676 --> 00:01:02.626
Good job. You ready?

00:01:02.626 --> 00:01:03.206
Leo's coming.

00:01:03.206 --> 00:01:04.666
Leo's looking to see who's ready.

00:01:06.666 --> 00:01:09.906
Now, Leo has a problem.

00:01:10.666 --> 00:01:15.176
He wants to say a word, but he keeps forgetting a sound -- a sound at the end.

00:01:15.406 --> 00:01:20.846
Now, Leo wants some ice cream, but Leo cannot say the word ice cream.

00:01:20.846 --> 00:01:22.316
He forgets a sound.

00:01:22.446 --> 00:01:26.456
What? BENING: Experts say that kindergarten teachers should help their students achieve

00:01:26.456 --> 00:01:29.276
phonemic awareness -- the realization

00:01:29.276 --> 00:01:32.736
that within a word are individual sounds, or phonemes.

00:01:33.376 --> 00:01:36.626
LEE: I want to sing about ice crea...

00:01:37.706 --> 00:01:38.696
What sound did he forget?

00:01:38.696 --> 00:01:39.716
KIDS: Mmm.

00:01:39.886 --> 00:01:41.416
LEE: Very good.

00:01:41.416 --> 00:01:42.886
Let's try the next one.

00:01:43.226 --> 00:01:43.826
Another word.

00:01:44.926 --> 00:01:46.646
"The star's so bright."

00:01:48.436 --> 00:01:50.716
The star's so brigh...

00:01:50.916 --> 00:01:53.286
KIDS: The star's so bright.

00:01:53.286 --> 00:01:58.476
BENING: Being able to hear the sounds inside a word is just one step down the path to reading.

00:01:58.696 --> 00:02:00.766
LEE: A big glass of mil...

00:02:01.966 --> 00:02:02.696
What's the sound?

00:02:02.697 --> 00:02:08.000
BENING: A child must also learn which letters go with which sounds -- phonics, in other words.

00:02:08.001 --> 00:02:15.000
LEE: Ok, let's see who's ready. We're gonna do our letters, pictures, and sound. Ready?

00:02:15.001 --> 00:02:24.000
LEE: Letter. STUDENTS: T.  LEE: Picture.  STUDENTS: Tiger!  LEE: Sound.  (Students making "t" noises)