Wednesday, July 6, 2022

End of Year 6-8 Dual Language

 Middle School

DL Department Meetings

Each building will be bringing your 6-8 DL team together once a month for district and building learning.  One of the goals of the department meeting is to build stronger relationships and cohesion between the teams, a feeling that you really are in it together.  The department meetings will features common learning around ENIL and the continuum of Spanish taxonomy development, as well as provide time for this team to engage in other professional learning related to the implementation of GRR and TDA at your sites through the lens of multilingual, and in specific Bilingual English Learners, and their needs.  If you are interested in cofacilitating these conversations with the coach, please reach out to your coach.  The facilitation will require some additional responsibilities and leadership opportunities to support your growth.

Curriculum Updates

6th Math welcomes Leslie Waltz, instructional coach and support for implementation of Zearn.  Thank you so much for all of the learning and participation this Spring in Preparation.

S/ELA Curriculum Update, we will meet June 15th to determine whether we will choose to pilot Spanish literacy resources, reach out if you want to see what is going on.  The ELA resources are very enticing.  We can expect conversations around language allocation into the future as a result of the work this team does.

6-8 Social Studies, I have communicated that we will be teaching double blocks of content in 6th grade next year, and that Social Studies will for sure be moving to Spanish.  We are very hopeful that the curricular resource will pass full board.  There may be additional decisions to make around language allocation in 7th and 8th-more will come after the board meeting.  Expect that you will not be using any of your current resources, slideshows or tools next year and instead will have amazing access to the critical materials you previous had to search for on your own.

6-8 Science, This summer a team will be lead by Erica Yoss to build a framework for teaching science in the double block to accomplish embedded paired biliteracy (reading, writing, language study).  Science will be in English in 6th grade next year.  Dates for collaboration are August 5 and 12, are are paid.

Language Allocation 6th grade (and 7th and 8th at Les Paul): 

Approximately 280+ minutes of instruction scheduled within the 2 Bilingual Teacher house team

  • 30% DL Literacy-min. 90 min.  (Alternating language by unit)

  • 30% DL Science or DLSocial Studies-90 min (Alternating by unit)

  • 20% Math instruction-60 min

  • 10% Homeroom/Advisory-20 min

There are 30 minutes to be flexibly allocated as determined by the house.

Approximation of 50:50 Language Allocation


Secondary Unit calendar for CLM and Paired Content Literacy is here: Link

* the whole team will be supported to be accountable for following the CLM scope and sequence

(Admin, coaches and teachers)


ENIL

IN 2022-23 there are two goals that we will be achieving as a district wide department.  The first is that all of our students will have a High Leverage Power Goal by the end of unit 1.  This is a very attainable goal and should already be institutionalized practice within this group-unless you are new.

The second goal we will be achieving this year is ensuring each and every one of our learners is provided a conferene around their HLPG every 14-21 day, which includes, by priority:

Listening to students read (books/tools) while taking observational notes and adding points to School Pace

Changing the HLPG


Blackboard Updates:

ENIL will be linked into Literacy Course Shells

8th grade DL Literacy course shell is being finalized 

TDA

Buildings will update the team on the TDA process 2022-23.  The process will include Spanish TDA assessment as well as methods of evaluating English writing for biliteracy.  Our team will earn an additional 2 hours of collaboration with compensation this year to deepen our collaboration around writing.  More details to come!

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

End of Year Dual Language Updates: Kindergarten-5th

 Elementary Dual Language Updates

Elementary Dual Language Minutes:  Model schedules and allocations of time reflect the minimum that you are asked to prioritize instruction with flexibility for you to make decisions based on student need. Linked here.

Elementary Dual Language Arts Unit Shifts:  Due to our new writing program and shifts in monolingual scope and sequence, we will be shifting some Dual Language Units around.  

K: Unit 2 and 3 will be flip flopped

1st: no change

2nd: Units 2, 3, 4 and 6 will be changing order.  The new order will be Community, Investigation, Discovery, Growth, Learning and Lessons Learned.

3rd: New order for third include Community, Inquiry, Lessons Learned*, Identity, Power and Discovery.   * we will be bringing back the old unit with La Cucarachita Martina etc. (I know we love it!)

4th: New order is Community, Investigation, Inquiry, Discovery, Perspective and Power. 

5th: New order is Community, Impact, Imagination, Perspective, Investigation, Relationships.

Revision Elementary Reading Unit DL Assessment:  End of unit assessments will be revised per the feedback you have shared.  Kjersten Hayes will be facilitating summer work on these if there is additional feedback you can direct that to myself or to Kjersten.  The team is working June 22 and 29. K-1 Assessments have been updated for unit 2-6.

K-1 Word Study

First Grade Lessons Units 1-3 have been updated and 4-6 will be updated this summer.

Everything that is in YELLOW has been updated.

Here is the link to the blackboard.

Moving into the 2022-2023 school year, there have been a few changes to

our dual language word study lessons in kinder and first grade. 

To reflect the rigor of our standards in Spanish, we have aligned our

word study to ENIL and the scope and sequence in Turquesa, 1 Azul and 2 Azul. 

We have also incorporated many of the ENIL “Power Words” as our high frequency words,

which are more closely aligned to the standards, for weekly focus and practice. With these changes

in first grade, we know we will prepare our readers for proficiency.


Kindergarten

In this document you will notice that several changes have been made to better align with the CCSS for Spanish Literacy. We want to ensure that children are being taught the skills they need in order to meet end of year ENIL benchmarks which are aligned to Kindergarten CCSS. 

In unit 1, grammar lessons have been taken out in order to devote time to accelerating the pace of the Estrellita segments. The accelerated pace of Estrellita continues in unit 2, while grammar is slowly introduced. This will ensure by the end of unit 2, students move on from letter sounds to syllables.

You will also notice the high frequency words have been adjusted to reflect the rigor of the standards as well as the required fundamental skills in ENIL. The change in format of the word work lessons beginning in unit 6. This will help students become acclimated to the word study routine of first grade. The kindergarten universal instruction meets the benchmarks for on level readers in 1-3A, and V in ENIL. As this aligns to school pace, through universal instruction, more students will have access to grade level achievement in Spanish Literacy.


Bilingual Writing assessment:  Next year students in grades 2-5 will engage in district writing assessment in both English and Spanish with the opportunity for biliteracy assessment analysis using our rubric-this is exciting!

Benchmark Grammar:

Coaches will be working together to create a scope and sequence for the use of Benchmark Grammar by 2023. Next year, use what is already planned.

ENIL:  We will be welcoming our fourth elementary school to ENIL: Banting!    Our department wide goal around ENIL will include:

  • All students have a High Leverage Power Goal assigned by the end of UNIT 1
  • All students have a conference every 14-21 days on average as measured by quarterly school wide review of average days between conferences by end of UNIT 3.
  • One model classroom will be using IRLA and as a model this teacher will not be using other Running Records.  Your principal will communicate which classroom will be using IRLA as the benchmark.

The ENIL expectation for Content Based Paired Biliteracy is that students will have at least 15 minutes to practice their HLPG in a text, reading and applying their HLPG with conferring.  A conference is defined by very specific practices which require these steps every 14-21 days:

  • Listening to students read from their color book box
  • Review student HLPG
  • Adding points to the HLPG or changing the HLPG
  • Taking observational notes in school pace
Language Workshop/LDGs
There is a new process for approving LDGs and LW texts.  If you are planning to or use LDGs/LWs that are not approved by the district and have district approved planners, please contact your literacy coach.  




Friday, April 29, 2022

K-12 Seal of Biliteracy Celebrations!

 Waukesha Global and Multilingual Education Update


Since the early 1970s, the School District of Waukesha has offered services to support the development of Bilingual and Bicultural students.  Over the course of many decades, these services have transitioned to well established programs integrating children from all areas of our city, as well as open-enrolling the largest population of students from neighboring communities. 

In the 2010 school year, the district implemented the first Dual Language Immersion program at Banting Elementary School in one kindergarten.  Today, these students are just weeks from graduation. As a result of their education, these students have achieved full bilingualism, bilingual literacy, and multicultural and global competence.  These students and now the 1,400 other current Dual Language Program students at four elementary, three middle schools and three high schools are all on their way to adding to the proud legacy of 50 years of bilingual education in Waukesha.  

The State of Wisconsin has joined a consortium of 48 other states in the union in recognizing the achievement of students who have obtained a level of bilingualism and biliteracy considered to be a significant asset to the United States economy.  Students are recognized at the elementary level as being on the “Pathway to earning the Seal of Biliteracy”, and in 2022 we honor 131 students whose families have made the long term commitment on the journey towards full bilingualism and biliteracy, amongst other goals.  At the middle level, we honor 128 students on their “Pathway to the Achievement of the Seal of Biliteracy” through Dual Language program participation, as well as 119 students in “Pathway to Participation in the Seal of Biliteracy” through the completion of French and Spanish level 2 World Language courses.  We are excited to announce that since the inception of the award in 2017, Waukesha has prepared over 230 graduates to receive the Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Award. The Senior Award is honored on student’s official transcripts, as well as in an interstate database shared by the 48 state members. The Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy Award communicates to employers and universities the quality and qualities of our Waukesha graduates. Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy awardees must demonstrate Intermediate High, Advanced or Superior Achievement in a language in addition to English, as well as English Proficiency through the Access or ACT exams.  In the Class of 2022, we honor 80 graduates with the Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Award.  Students are being recognized at South High School on Monday May 16 at 5:30, At North High School on Wednesday May 18 at 6:30, and at West on May 18th at 6:00.

Below, you may also notice a recognition for students who have earned the Global Scholars Award from the State of Wisconsin.  This award is a participation award, and recognizes students who have participated in and completed four credits in a single World Language, have completed 20 hours of service learning dedicated to understanding their own and others perspectives, taking action on issues of global/local significance and communicating effectively with diverse audiences. These students have also completed several projects documenting their participation in cultural events, as well as their interaction with texts, media and performances with international, global themes and multilingual themes.  

More information about both awards and the Dual Language Program can be found on the School District of Waukesha Website/Programs/Dual Language.



A break down of student awardees in 2022 are below:


Grade Level

Type of Recognition

Total Number

Total Number by Site

5th Grade

Pathway to the Seal of Biliteracy

131

BA: 33

BE: 39

HW: 24

HY: 35

8th Grade

Pathway to the Seal of Biliteracy/via World Languages

119

BMS:25

HMS:41

LPMS:53

8th Grade

Achievement Pathway to the  Seal of Biliteracy via Dual Language

128

BMS: 34

NMS: 39

LPMS: 25

12th Grade

Seal of Biliteracy

80

NHS: 22

SHS: 42

WHS:16

12th Grade

Global Scholars Award

51

NHS: 9

SHS: 32

WHS: 10


Friday, June 4, 2021

Dual Language Shifts 2021-22

 Hi Team, 

I will send this document with a voice over so you can listen to it on your walk if you wish.  

There is essential information by grade band for Summer Institute, shifts in curriculum, instructional minutes and ENIL.

Enjoy the summer!!!



Friday, May 14, 2021

Looking forward to Dual Language 2021-2022

 Hola Colegas,

This year we are celebrating the graduation of 248 students with the Seal of Biliteracy which is a State of Wisconsin Credential that communicates a student's bilingualism and biliteracy at Intermediate high-Superior levels in Spanish-French-English, Italian and Hindi.

Celebrations are scheduled at South 5/17, West 5/19 and North 5/27!


Shout out to ALL DL Teachers for keeping language development, multicultural learning viable during our unprecedented year.  Your care, concern and investment in each other, your community, individual students and families is unmatched.

Virtual Dual Language Teachers will be appreciated on5/14-If you know one, show them some love!  These staff have provided the ongoing bilingual education to a section of our students 4K-5th grade this year serving more than 200 students.  Teaching language acquisition and bilingual literacy virtually has been an exercise in new learning, community and family collaboration.  As virtual DL students return to school in the fall

Program Updates:

Our DL program is growing and growing.  We will celebrate that all three High Schools will now offer one content and one language course in Spanish or more, in 9th grade (Including West).  We celebrate the offering of Dual Language Integrated Math 1 and 2, Biologia, Quimica, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Spanish Literature and Culture, and AP Dual Language Seminar.  West will grow 10th grade courses 2022-23.

Our DL 4K Virtual will be maintained and moved into a building for face to face instruction for 2021-22.  In 2022-23, Bethesda Elementary will offer full day Dual Language 4K so that each of our schools can serve all of our students.

Evaluacion de lectura independiente (ENIL), our formative assessment tool for planning small group group instruction and conferring will add an additional elementary school to Heyer, Bethesda, Butler, Les Paul and Horning.  ENIL is aligned to our CLM and CPL instructional models and to standards in Spanish Language Development.

Staffing, Summer Institute and DL curriculum updates and shifts will be communicated in a few weeks! 


Thursday, April 8, 2021

New Dual Language Website!

 Come visit and contribute to the New Dual Language Website!



I am looking for your celebratory videos, photos and student work to add to this website.

You will see it is much more expansive and accessible-everything you need is right here.

Please give me feedback if there are additions we can make to the page!

Click HERE to tour the page.  You can also search under the programs tab on the district website.  It is live now!

Friday, November 13, 2020

4th and 5th Grade Language Allocation Plan

This year, 4th and 5th-grade teachers have taken great strides to ensure Bilingual and Biliteracy, and multicultural competency for our Dual Language Learners.  There is a growing commitment at Heyer, Banting, Bethesda, and Hawthorne that bilingualism and biliteracy means “both” Spanish and English in these grades across content areas.    

We know that our program aligns as closely as possible with the research-based outcomes for Dual Language ONLY when we can ensure at least 50% and not less of the instructional day is offered in the partner, minority language-in this case Spanish.  We know, and can confirm from our SDW data, that when we do not offer at least 50:50, our student’s math achievement and their bilingualism dwindles. Teachers are now teaching math in the language of instruction that is the opposite of CLM.  

This means that when teaching ciencias, we are also teaching matemáticas.

Let’s celebrate some of the artifacts from this Trimester One!


Side by Sides

Language Experience Approach

My Thinking 4th Grade:

My Thinking 5th Grade

Keep Teaching the Partner Language

  • WE know that some of the materials available have English Labels.  This is OKAY!  See the sample here.  What would you need to do to ensure students both know how to play the game to interact with the math, and use their minoritized language for social/learning purposes?