Our society is primarily an immigrant society where individuals have brought their native languages and cultures and have engaged in the process of assimilation. As school demographics continue to change toward a more dominant Hispanic population, we have become more and more aware of the importance of a strong enrichment program for students in two languages, both English and Spanish.

Vision of the Spanish Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program

To guide students down the path of the future by providing them with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and values necessary to be successful, productive adults of this multicultural society in the new millennium.

Philosophy of the Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program

All participants in the Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program accept, acknowledge, and respect all languages and cultures.

Curriculum

Cultural awareness and sensitivity is infused throughout the Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program curriculum and structure. Following the scope and sequence guidelines of the Prince George's County curriculum, teachers use the same Houghton Mifflin reading program to provide parallel instruction, Invitations to Literacy in English and Invitaciones in Spanish. This approach helps to increase the student's level of proficiency in both languages. The use of technology in the program is an important part of the learning process that helps to elevate student attitudes toward school and their learning environment. Technology provides a viable tool for learning and teaching. Each classroom has a computer center. With emphasis on relationships, inquiry, invention, collaboration, and problem solving, technology provides the vehicle needed to transform drill and practice into meaningful real-world application of skills.

Program Design

César Chávez Elementary School's Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program will provide instruction in both Spanish and English using a fifty/fifty model for instruction. The classes taught in English are English Language Arts, Math, Physical Education, Music, Computer, and Media. Classes taught in Spanish are Spanish Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Health and Art. The student population will consist of groups from two different language backgrounds integrated for all their content instruction. As a result, peers can serve as language resources and models for each other in an environment that promotes positive attitudes toward both languages and cultures and is supportive of full bilingual proficiency for both native and non-native speakers of English. Furthermore, the Two-Way Spanish Immersion Program Program will create an environment that leaves students with more flexibility in thinking and a greater sensitivity for language and other cultures.

The composition of each classroom will be students from both language backgrounds. This will allow maintenance of an environment of linguistic equity which will allow interaction among native and non-native English speakers. Allowances for cultural balance an diversity enrich the students including those students receiving ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services. The ESOL specialist includes and integrates the services into instruction.