Spanish Immersion Mendon-Upton Regional School District

1. Spanish Immersion Mendon-Upton Regional School District

2. What is Immersion? • Immersion education in the United States is a dual-language program model that offers students an enriched education by teaching academic content through the medium of a second language

3. What is Immersion (continued)? • Students develop a proficiency in the second language by hearing and using it to learn other school subjects, rather than by studying the second language itself. • Children use language as a tool for understanding and communicating meaning. Language is a medium of communication, not an object of study.

4. The preceding quotes are borrowed from: • Dr. Tara Fortune, CARLA • Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota • Immersion Program Consultant, and world renown Immersion Education Expert

5. Immersion Program Goal: • “For students to become proficient in the second language, and to develop cultural awareness while reaching a high level of academic achievement” • CAL: Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC

6. Instruction in English v. Instruction in Spanish: What and When • In Grades 6 and 7, social studies and science classes will be instructed in Spanish. • This change takes effect on the first day of Term 2, or October 30, 2006.

7. Kindergarten – Grade 2 • Regular classroom teachers instruct using Spanish language ONLY. • 100% Immersion excludes the “specials” (art, PE, music, technology, and library).

8. Grade 3 • Regular classroom teachers instruct using Spanish language only approximately 80% of the regular classroom time. • English Language Arts instruction in English language begins at this level.

9. Grade 4 • Students receive instruction through the use of the Spanish language 60% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas included in that time are math, science, and Spanish Language Arts. • Students receive instruction through the use of the English language 40% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas included in that time are English Language Arts and social studies. • The percentage allocation reflects a cumulative of all instruction, and not a per diem designation.

10. Grade 5 • Students receive instruction through the use of the Spanish language 50% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas include Mathematics and Spanish Language Arts. • Students receive instruction through the use of the English language 50% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas include science, social studies, and English Language Arts. • The percentage allocation reflects a cumulative of all instruction, and not a per diem designation.

11. Grade 6 • Students receive instruction through the use of the Spanish language 40% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas include science and social studies. • Students receive instruction through the use of the English language 60% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas include mathematics, electives, and English Language Arts.

12. Grade 7 • Students receive instruction through the use of the Spanish language 40% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas include science and geography. • Students receive instruction through the use of the English language 60% of the regular classroom time. Subject areas include mathematics, electives, and English Language Arts.

13. Grade 8 • Immersion students enroll in one Spanish language class, which takes place in the course of the regularly scheduled block periods. • The department, in cooperation with the administration, is in the process of researching exchange programs.

14. Point of Comparison Millis Public Schools Spanish Immersion Program • Grades 1 – 2: 100% Spanish language instruction • Grades 3 & 4: 50% – 50% split • Grades 5: 50% of core subjects and Spanish Language Arts in Spanish • Grades 6 – 8: Spanish Language Arts and one Unified Arts ONLY in Spanish • Changes made in response to MCAS testing requirements