Schools adapt to rising Hispanic population in Muskogee, Oklahoma

“Irving Elementary School kindergartners Brian Gallegos and Jailene Ramierez have no problem pronouncing fruits such as bananas or mangoes, but they stumble on identifying grapes.

Long A sounds are difficult for Spanish-speaking children, said the school’s parent-teacher liaison Tina Iven. “In Spanish, it’s ah-h.”

Speaking unfamiliar vowel sounds is one of many obstacles Hispanic children such as Brian and Jailene face at Muskogee Public Schools. And Muskogee schools ”” especially Irving Elementary ”” must help a rising number of Hispanic children meet such obstacles.”

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