Duration of Program
Program participants and their families are expected to make a minimum six year commitment to the two way bilingual immersion program. This duration of enrollment ensures full development of both Spanish and English language skills. English speakers may enter at the TK, Kindergarten or first grade levels. Spanish speakers may enter at TK, kinder, first or second grade. Bilingual students may be admitted at any grade level depending on their level of literacy in Spanish and their oral English proficiency.
Language Separation
Spanish and English instruction are kept separate, allowing maximized concentration of both languages. Teachers do not use translation for comprehension. Instead, they use a multitude of second language acquisition techniques to make language and content understandable for all students.
Teachers exchange classes with each other at the TK, kindergarten, first- and second-grade levels during the English portion of the day. This enables students to identify one particular teacher with Spanish and one with English. To every extend possible, classroom teachers in the primary grades maintain use of Spanish at all times with their homeroom class.
Language Focus
Teachers establish an environment where students must use the target language to meet real needs. This approach develops language skills through hands-on classroom experiences. Students more readily attach vocabulary to an activity in a hands-on or experiential setting.
Classroom Composition
In TK and Kindergarten, we admit 50% English-speakers and 50% Spanish-speakers into each classroom.
These ratios:
• Maintain an environment of linguistic equity,
• Facilitate cross-learning for both language groups,
• Encourage social interaction among Spanish- and English-speakers,
• Promote cultural understanding among all students.