Spanish Immersion Mendon-Upton Regional School District

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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