What is the Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program? The Dual Immersion Program at Markham School is an enrichment program designed to prepare students for the skills they will need in the global economy of the 21^st century. The Immersion Program is designed to allow both English and Spanish speaking students to develop functional Spanish fluency and literacy at no cost to their academic achievement and English development. What are the specific program goals?

1. Spanish fluency and literacy
2. English development and academic achievement at grade level by the end the the primary grades.
3. Understanding and appreciation of both languages and cultures.

Why are there native Spanish speakers in the program? 

In order for students to learn a new language, they need to have authentic models who speak that language. By having both English and Spanish speakers in the program, English speaking students have the opportunity to practice their Spanish skills and Spanish speakers have the opportunity to practice their English skills. This accelerates language acquisition for both English and Spanish speakers. The mixture of languages and cultural backgrounds in immersion classes contributes to the development of positive social attitudes. What curriculum does this program follow? The curriculum framework in the subject content areas parallels the goals and objectives of the state and district frameworks. The curriculum is presented in a series of units developed with the child’s interests and experiences in mind.
Amount of English Instruction:

• K: 10% of instructional day
• 1^st 2^nd: 20% of instructional day
• 3^rd : 30% of instructional day
• 4^th : 40% of instructional day
• 5^th 6^th: 50% of instructional day

Staffing: All classes are staffed with credentialed bilingual teachers.
Instructional Approaches:

• Natural Approach to second language acquisition
• Reciprocal interaction model: small group instruction, activity based, manipulatives aiding in language acquisition and comprehension
• Cooperative Learning techniques incorporated into daily schedule
• Sheltered instruction, relying on concrete examples (visuals, etc.) for concept development
• Teaching techniques using higher questioning strategies, developing critical thinking skills
• Thematic introductions to concepts using literature as a focus
• Spanish and English instruction always kept separate, allowing for maximized concentration in both languages.

Evaluation: * Oral Language Development: -LAS (Language Assessment Scales) English and Spanish -Teacher observation
*Academic achievement: - SAT9- (STAR Test) All students from third through the sixth grade -SABE (Spanish achievement test) -Teacher observation *Social Development -Teacher observation - Parent observation
How do I help my child at home? Use the language in which you are most comfortable. We encourage you to read to your child in his/her native language every night. Skills that your child learns in this/her first language will readily transfer to his/her second language. What do I do when my child tells me he/she doesn’t understand the teacher? This is more common with Kindergarten and new children in the program. The children might feel uncomfortable for the first month of school. The teacher makes instruction understandable through the use of a social studies and science program which challenges students to use the skills they have learned in math and language arts.