By Richard Bammer

In an aging beige portable, Room 18, at Vacaville’s Markham Elementary, Laura Contreras used small paper flash cards, on which were printed frequently used English words, as a way to teach a new language to Antonio, 14, who arrived from Mexico a few weeks ago.

Among Vacaville Unified’s newest students, the teenage boy — with sister Daniela, 15, offering occasional translations in Spanish — spoke the words: we, them, what, toward, also, with, and old.

Antonio paused, mildly stumped as he looked at the last English word.

“Viejo,” Daniela told her brother.

via Vacaville Unified School District’s migrant ed program bridges gaps.