La Escuela Fratney’s Dual Language Immersion Bilingual Program
The Dual Language Program at La Escuela Fratney is an educational approach to promote biliteracy for native English speakers and native Spanish speakers. The goal is to prepare students for the future with abilities to listen, speak, read, and write both English and Spanish, as well as develop an appreciation for different cultures. The Dual Language Program provides children with the opportunity to learn two languages, while maintaining high academic standards.
Research shows that students who participate in well-implemented dual language programs perform at or above-grade level on district and state tests, as well as achieve advanced levels of proficiency in two languages (Collier & Thomas, 1997). In addition, graduates from these programs have a head start on language requirements for college and have enhanced employment opportunities.
Once enrolled at La Escuela Fratney, students are expected to participate in the program for the duration of their elementary education. Students from families of native English speakers will be given the opportunity to enroll at the kindergarten level only, unless transferring from another school district’s bilingual or Spanish immersion program. Students will be interacting with each other academically and socially to develop proficiency in both languages. Certified bilingual classroom teachers deliver instruction in Spanish and English.
La Escuela Fratney has a 90/10 model. Beginning in K3, students will receive 90% of their instruction in Spanish and 10% of their instruction in English. The percentage of instruction in Spanish will gradually decrease while the percentage of instruction in English will increase throughout the grade levels. In 4th and 5th grades, 50% of the students’ instructional time is in Spanish and 50% in English. All students will receive the majority of initial literacy in Spanish. This 90/10 model allows for all students to build a solid foundation in Spanish and English in order to promote bilingualism. Instructional time in either language is content based. When a concept is taught in one language, the exact same lesson is not then taught in the other. Key vocabulary terms and concepts will be bridged into the other language after a unit is over, but it will not be simply retaught and/or translated in the same way it was first presented.
Dual Language Schools in Milwaukee Public Schools
There are many different bilingual schools in MPS. However, La Escuela Fratney is one of only two Dual Language Schools in MPS. Research has found that all students in dual language programs, regardless of their pattern of language dominance, do as well as or better than students in monolingual English programs on standardized tests administered in English (Freeman, Freeman and Mercuri 2005, xiv).
Bilingual Education In Milwaukee Public Schools Video
Commitment in the Dual Language Program: Dual-language is non-negotiable
The dual-language is systematic in nature. The effects of education are cumulative and the full benefits are only evident over the long term of this enriched education experience. (Cloud, Genesee & Hamayan, p. 14). Due to this fact and to ensure achievement and success, it is necessary for families to commit to the program for six years (kindergarten through fifth grade). Active parent support is extremely important to the long-term success of the dual language program at La Escuela Fratney.
The subjects and languages used at La Escuela Fratney align to the MPS Department of Curriculum and Instruction Bilingual Multicultural Education department’s guidelines as much as possible. Please see the chart below for details.
Explanation of Biliteracy Curriculum Chart & Language Allocation Guideline
Fratney’s 90/10 dual language model emphasizes maintaining a solid foundation in Spanish for our Spanish speakers while native English speakers are immersed in Spanish. Students in our classrooms all learn together and are not separated by dominant language. We follow a biliteracy model, where children are taught to read and write in both languages, with a heavier emphasis on Spanish in the earlier years. Periods of English and periods of Spanish are separated by a break and it should always be clear to student which language is being used in the classroom at any given time. It is important to note that students receive different lessons with different content in each language; they are not translated lessons from one language into the other. Given the limited amount of time of language arts instruction, teachers need to integrate literacy into all academic subjects. The following is an explanation of the percentages of Spanish and English used and what subjects will be taught in what language.
3-year-old (half day Early Childhood Education with Wraparound Childcare Program)
The 135/15 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts, science/health, social studies, and math. These subjects will be taught in Spanish for the entire year. The 15 minutes of instruction in English will include English Language Arts, with a focus on oral language. This time can also be used for bridging “big ideas” from Spanish to English to develop vocabulary, as well as other academic language and extension activities.
Optional: Childcare 130 minutes
In addition to the half day Early Childhood K3 Program, families have the option of registering their child for half day Childcare.
4-year-old Kindergarten
Spanish/English percent 90/10
Spanish/English minutes 270/30
The 270 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts, science/health, social studies, and math, as well as any specialists who may deliver instruction in Spanish. These subjects will be taught in Spanish for the entire year. The 30 minutes of instruction in English will include English Language Arts, with a focus on oral language, as well as weekly time with specialists, which may include art, gym, music, and library. This time can also be used for bridging “big ideas” from Spanish to English to develop vocabulary, as well as other academic language and extension activities.
5-year-old Kindergarten
Spanish/English percent 80/20
Spanish/English minutes 240/60
The 240 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts, science/health, social studies, and math as well as any specialists who may deliver instruction in Spanish. These subjects will be taught in Spanish for the entire year. The 60 minutes of instruction in English will include English Language Arts, as well as weekly time with specialists, which may include art, gym, music, and library. This time can also be used for bridging “big ideas” from Spanish to English to develop vocabulary, as well as other academic language and extension activities. Daily rest time is not included in the language allotment.
1st grade
Spanish/English percent 80/20
Spanish/English minutes 265/65
The 265 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts, science/health, social studies, and math as well as any specialists who may deliver instruction in Spanish. The 65 minutes of instruction in English will include English Language Arts, as well as weekly time with specialists, which may include art, gym, music, and library. This time can be used for bridging “big ideas” from Spanish to English to develop vocabulary, as well as other academic language and extension activities.
2nd grade
Spanish/English percent 70/30
Spanish/English minutes 230/100
The 230 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts, science/health, social studies, and math as well as any specialists who may deliver instruction in Spanish. The 100 minutes of instruction in English will include English Language Arts with integration of science and/or social studies concepts, as well as weekly time with specialists, which may include art, gym, music, and library. This time can also be used for bridging content vocabulary and concepts from Spanish into English.
3rd grade
Spanish/English percent 60/40
Spanish/English minutes 200/130
The 200 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts, science/health, and math as well as any specialists who may deliver instruction in Spanish. The 130 minutes of instruction in English will include English Language Arts, Social Studies, and weekly time with specialists, which may include art, gym, music, and library. This time can also be used for bridging content vocabulary and concepts from Spanish into English as well as ESL teachers teaching the lesson in English and the Dual Language teacher doing the bridging and extension lessons.
4th and 5th grade
Spanish/English percent 50/50
Spanish/English minutes 165/165
The 165 minutes of instruction in Spanish will be divided among Spanish Language Arts and social studies. The 165 minutes of instruction in English will be divided between specialists, English Language Arts, math and science. This time can also be used for bridging content vocabulary and concepts from Spanish into English.