Spanish Immersion Information
Grade Level Descriptions for the Spanish Partial Immersion Program in 2011-2012
About the Program: Since its start the Spanish Partial Immersion Program at Burnt Mills has gone through adaptations and has evolved into the program we currently offer. Today the program continues to offer the Burnt Mills community diversity in learning. It challenges anyone willing to enhance the task of learning a second language at a young age. It gives pride and motivation to those who enter the program and remain determined to overcome the challenge. It provides our children an opportunity to demonstrate their ability as thinkers and speakers of two languages, which will become the foundation for their future. The rationale for the program is based on the research showing that the best time for a person to learn a second language is at a young age, when the child is still developing strategies for creating sounds. With this in mind, we hope to provide the parents in the Burnt Mills community with the choice to start their children early on the road to success in learning a second language. To learn more about the Spanish Partial Immersion Program at Burnt Mills call us at (301) 649-8192. You may also call the school’s office and make an appointment to come and visit us during school hours. If you are interested in enrolling your child in the Spanish Immersion Program, follow this hyperlink to access more information on how to enroll your child in the program. We have scheduled open house times on January 5, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. and March 22, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., when anyone interested in the program can come and see us during instruction. Students who wish to enter the program from 2nd through 5th grade are required to pass a Spanish language assessment. This is not required for students entering the program in kindergarten and first grade.
The Educators: The educators in the program are fully fluent in both Spanish and English. Kindergarten is taught by Mrs. Ramos; first grade is taught by Mrs. Canales, a native of El Salvador; kindergarten and first grades are assisted by Mrs. Avella, a paraeducator, a native of Colombia; second grade is taught by Mr. Andrade; third grade is taught by Ms. Hernandez, a native of USA; fourth grade is taught by Ms. Portillo,a native of El Salvador and fifth grade is taught by Mrs. Torres, a native of Puerto Rico. Individually and combined these educators have years of experience as well as the commitment and determination to impart the Spanish language and culture to the children at Burnt Mills. The program is also greatly aided by bilingual personnel, who provide additional opportunities for students to practice conversational Spanish each day.
Kindergarten and First Grade: are independent self-contained classrooms. Students have one homeroom teacher who instructs all day in Spanish (except for the daily special). The purpose for this arrangement is to immerse the children in a second language environment while fulfilling the requirements of the Montgomery County Public School curriculum. Children are permitted to use English, but the teacher uses Spanish in almost all situations. Children are encouraged to respond in Spanish as well. Many visuals such as big books, hands-on materials, and much body language are used to ensure the children’s understanding and comprehension of the second language. During the school year, children are expected to progressively use more Spanish to communicate orally as well as in writing.
Second and Third Grade: are independent self-contained classrooms with 50% instruction in Spanish. Math and science are taught in Spanish. Reading/language arts and social studies are taught in English. By the time students reach second grade, they are expected to have some fluency in the Spanish language. At Burnt Mills, from second grade through fifth grade all standardized testing is done in English, even for the Spanish Partial Immersion students. For this reason, from second grade through fifth grade the students’ comprehension of English is crucial. However, the students’ second language acquisition is still one of the program’s main objectives.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: are independent self-contained classrooms with 50% instruction in Spanish. Students attend special classes (music, art, media, physical education, and computer lab) as a combined group. Math and science are taught in Spanish. Reading/language arts and social studies are taught in English. At Burnt Mills, from second grade through fifth grade all standardized testing is done in English, even for the Spanish Partial Immersion students. For this reason, from second grade through fifth grade the students’ comprehension of English is crucial. However, the student’s second language acquisition is still one of the program’s main objectives.