ROYSE CITY BILINGUAL PROGRAMFALL 2011

Marie LowryRoyse City ISD

Transitional Early Exit

What is it?Most common bilingual program

in Texas.Transfers students to an English-

only instruction no earlier than 2 years and no later than 5 years.

What does research tell us about successful programs?

“Programs that provide good instruction in the first language, together with comprehensible input in English, succeed in teaching English.”

(Krashen, )

Key factors for successful English language learning.

Comprehensible Input Low- anxiety environmentThe Royse City Plan

1. Comprehensible Input

Comprehensible input…. What does that look like?

Activity – Read and follow directions.

Would anyone like to share what you learned?

Post comprehensible input

Would you like to share now?

Comprehensible input means ….. creating a bridge that supports and facilitates understanding.

What are some very effective ways of doing that?

Create sticky surfaces for language!

Introduce important concepts in Language 1 on the first day of instruction in Math, Science, and Social Studies/Language Arts/Reading

Use L1 for L2 when needed.(Krashen, 1985; Lightbrown &

Spada, 2006)

Build background knowledgeMake connections to past

learning and lifeExplicitly state what is going to

be learnedThink aloudsDemonstrationsPreteach difficult vocabularyProvide opportunities to

manipulate the information

Provide PLENTY of time for interaction

Provide time to discuss the new concepts

Ask good questions!I wonder….I noticed…..What did you

notice?How can you use this? What does this make you

think of?

2. Create a Low Anxiety Environment

So….how important is supportive communication?

An activity- Can you draw a picture of a yourself? How about if……

Relationship + Connection = Learning

An ELL’s affective filter (protective shield) goes up if he does not feel safe and successful.

How much learning is likely to take place?

An ELL’s affective filter comes down when she feels safe and valued.

How much learning is likely to take place?

“A child must have some version of. “Yes, I imagine I can do this. “ And the teacher must also view the present child as competent and on that basis imagine new possibilities.” (Dyson, 1999)

Take a moment to reflect on the culture of your classroom.

Draw a picture that captures the essence of you classroom.

What do you like?ReflectWhat would you like to change?Share with a friend.

3. The Royse City Plan

Vertical Alignment

Pre- Kindergarten

Language Arts and ReadingChildren learn their letters in Spanish firstAs mastery is achieved in Spanish, it is

beneficial to expose them to letters/sounds in English.

Separate Spanish and English instruction times.

Imagine Learning Spanish/English read-aloudsRhyming can taught in both (easier in

English).

MathIntroduce colors/numbers/shapes in

Spanish/reinforce in English

Science/Social StudiesOnce children learn the concepts in

Spanish, teach the English vocabulary associated with new concepts.

**Songs in English**Instructions in English once children

understand routines

Bilingual Program

Kindergarten- Language Arts and Reading

(English/Spanish)1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

10/90 20/80 30/70 30/70 40/60 50/50

English Language Arts /Reading must be separate from Spanish

Instructionappropriate to explain in Spanish at any

time.While Spanish is being mastered, letters

and sight words are being introduced and learned in English.

Writer’s WorkshopRead-alouds in both languages

everyday. ** Imagine Learning

Math/Science/Social Studies Introduce Concepts in Spanish.Reinforce in English Books in English/Spanish. Clarify in Spanish whenever

necessary.

**Simple instructions in English, ie, classroom instructions, cafeteria, etc. Use hand gestures.

First gradeFirst Grade Language Arts and

Reading(Spanish/English)1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

30/70 30/70 20/80

20/80 10/90 10/90

First Grade Math/Science/Social Studies

Introduce concepts in Spanish. Build and reinforce vocabulary in

English. Plenty of time to manipulate concepts

and practice new vocabulary.Model vocabulary and use it

repeatedly. Applaud effort when student uses

Academic Language. Clarify in Spanish whenever necessary.

Second GradeSecond Grade Language Arts and

Reading

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

90/10 90/10 95/5 95/5 100 100

Primarily in English.Spanish should be used to

introduce complex concepts and whenever clarification is needed.

Spanish readers should be provided in the classroom.

Spanish reading materials provided for home.

What not to do…

***Ineffective programs use concurrent translation, in which a message is conveyed to students in one language and then translated in the other.

Why shouldn’t we do this?

Why is direct translation ineffective?Because it results in there being no

need to negotiate meaning!

The child does not have to listen to the message in the second language since he knows it will be repeated!! (Legarreta, 1979)

Krashen, S. (1989). We Acquire Vocabulary and Spelling by Reading: Additional Evidence for the Input Hypothesis.  Modern Language Journal, 73(4), 440. Retrieved from EBSCOhost

Lightbrown, Patsy M., & Nina Spada  (2006) How Languages are Learned. New York, NY: Oxford Press.