All Children Can Learn
Bilingual Ed / English as a Second Language

Program Coordinators
Diana Erickson
364 South Park Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 526-4344 (FAX)
(509) 526-6771

Walla Walla Public Schools believe in ensuring that second language learners do not fall behind academically while they learn English. We believe that English should be taught gradually as a second language without sacrificing content knowledge. If students first learn to read in their native language, then transfer skills to English, they will develop stronger literacy skills in the long term. In our increasingly global society, we encourage native language retention as students are taught English.

Blue Ridge Elementary School (Transitional Bilingual w/ ESL Services)
1150 W. Chestnut
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 522-4480 (FAX)
(509) 527-3066
Connie Taylor-Randall, Principal

Sharpstein Elementary School (Two-way language enrichment - Dual Immersion)
410 Howard Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 527-3065 (FAX)
(509) 527-3098
Laure Quaresma, Principal

Green Park Elementary School (Transitional Bilingual w/ ESL Services)
1105 Isaacs Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 522-4487 (FAX)
(509) 527-3077
Mike Lambert, Principal

Prospect Point Elementary School (Transitional Bilingual w/ ESL Services)
55 Reser Road
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 522-4489 (FAX)
(509) 527-3088
Rick Nebeker, Principal

Garrison Middle School (ESL Services)
906 Chase
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-527-3040
Jim Sporleder, Principal

Pioneer Middle School (ESL Services)
450 Bridge Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-27-3050
Dana Jones, Principal

Walla Walla High School (ESL Services)
800 Abbott Road
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-527-3020
Darcy Weisner, Principal

At Sharpstein Elementary, bilingualism is our goal. At all other buildings, English acquisition is our goal. Research studies indicate that students who become proficient readers, writers, and thinkers in their native language, successfully carry over skills and concepts into English. Teaching students in their native language allows for academic and cognitive growth while acquiring English.

Program Models:

• Bilingual Classrooms: Grades kindergarten, 1, 2 and 3
  Students are taught in Spanish during the majority of the day with the amount of English instruction steadily increasing at each grade level. By the end of 3rd grade the majority of instruction is in English. Daily English language instruction may include science and social studies concepts, music, physical education and library.
• Sheltered English Classrooms: Grades 4 and 5
  Most students learning English in these classrooms receive all of their instruction in English. Teachers use strategies specific to students acquiring English. Students who qualify for additional services also receive at least 30 minutes of intensive English language instruction (ESL) outside of their classroom. Some students continue to receive Spanish reading instruction as well.
• Dual Immersion or Two-Way Language Enrichment: K-5
  The Two-Way Language Enrichment Program is a language-oriented program designed to build fluency in both Spanish and English. Native Spanish and English speaking children have an opportunity to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in both language. Spanish and English instruction is always kept separate, allowing for maximizing concentration of both languages. Heterogeneous groupings during the Spanish and English portions of the day provide students with opportunities to assist and learn from one another, allowing second language acquisition to occur naturally. The Two-Way Language Enrichment Program is an "additive bilingual" program meaning that all students learn a second language without compromising their first language.
• ESL Services: K-12
  Any student entering our district at any grade can receive assistance learning English if testing shows the student is a limited speaker of English or a non-speaker. Best instruction is content based meaning English is learned through math, science or social studies. If a student lives in a school area where services are not offered, the district provides transportation to a school with appropriate services.

• Our native Spanish speaking students need to continue their academic learning in Spanish while they learn English.
• Our students need to feel confident and successful
• Students who are able to read, write, and speak fluently in their native language often are more successful at learning English
• English acquisition is our goal for all students.
• Proficiency in both Spanish and English is our goal for two-way language enrichment students.

Program Components
There are four elements to our program:

A. Transitional Bilingual Classrooms (Grades kindergarten, 1, 2 & 3)
B. Sheltered English Classrooms: Grades 4 & 5
C. English as a Second Language (K-12)
D. Dual Immersion or Two-way language enrichment classrooms (K-5)

What is a transitional bilingual classroom?
In a BILINGUAL classroom the students’ first language is used to teach the same concepts in all academic areas as their grade level peers. Teaching students in their native language allows students to grow academically while acquiring English through the intentional teaching of English.
Goals:

1. High quality subject matter teaching in the native language, without translation.
2. Development of literacy in the student’s native language.
3. Comprehensible input in English. Ideally, comprehensible input in English is provided directly by high quality ESL classes, supplemented by comprehensible, or "sheltered” subject matter teaching in English.

What is a sheltered English classroom?
In 4th and 5th grade Sheltered English classrooms many proven strategies are used to teach the district-adopted curricula. English is the language of instruction in a Sheltered English Classroom. Students who qualify for additional assistance in their native language may continue to receive instruction in their first language and intensive English language instruction. (please see graph)

What is Two-Way Language Enrichment?
The Two-Way Language Enrichment Program is a language-oriented program designed to build fluency in both Spanish and English. Native Spanish and English speaking children have an opportunity to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in both languages. Spanish and English instruction is always kept separate, allowing for maximizing concentration of both languages. Heterogeneous groupings during the Spanish and English portions of the day provide students with opportunities to assist and learn from one another, allowing second language acquisition to occur naturally. The Two-Way Language Enrichment Program is an "additive bilingual" program meaning that all students learn a second language without compromising their first language.

What is English as a Second Language?
English as a Second Language is a component that focuses on those students whose native language is not English. The goal of ESL is to promote the fluency of English through the use of oral language, reading, writing, and vocabulary building activities in the target language (English).

Proven Strategies
The following are strategies used in bilingual and sheltered classrooms:

• language development
• teaching students good study skills
• frequent use of visuals and real objects
• cooperative learning ( working in groups)
• guided practice (practicing skills with the teacher prior to independent work)
• hands-on techniques (additional activities beyond reading and writing)
• preteaching new vocabulary
• small group instruction at ability level
• modeling speaking, reading, or writing by teacher
• frequent checking for understanding
• emphasis on gestures and body language used by the teacher
• discussion

School Services
Students enrolled in the Dual Immersion Program, Transitional Bilingual Program and sheltered classrooms have access to all programs operating at individual schools based on need or qualification.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Intervention Specialists
  These individuals can be the link between home and school when an academic or behavioral issue arises.
• Home Visitors
  Kindergarten Home Visitors support parents in the home one-hour per week modeling effective teaching strategies for Title I kindergarten students.
• Interpreters at Conferences
  Parents are encouraged to request this service if needed.
• Bilingual Office Staff
  Bilingual office staff is available at all schools with bilingual classrooms.
• Bilingual Special Education Services
  Special Education services are available in Spanish for students who qualify.

• Question:
  What is the difference between a regular English classroom and a bilingual classroom?
  Answer:
  The main difference is the language of instruction. In a bilingual room, most curricular areas will be taught in Spanish. The bilingual classes have an ESL component as well.
• Question:
  What is the difference between a regular English classroom and a sheltered classroom?
  Answer:
  In a sheltered classroom, second language learners continue to receive additional language support. The classroom teacher utilizes a variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs of the students.
• Question:
  How does a student qualify for placement in a bilingual or sheltered classroom?
  Answer:
  A student will qualify for placement in a bilingual or sheltered classroom based on an evaluation of the student’s reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in both English and Spanish. Teachers and parents will also be able to request placement in these programs.
• Question:
  What is English as a Second language (ESL)?
  Answer:
  ESL is the purposeful teaching of English in the areas of speaking, reading, and writing. Teaching may focus on English language development during academic activities.
• Question:
  What is a Dual Immersion or Two-Way Language Enrichment classroom?
  Answer:
  In this model the two classrooms at each grade level have mixed language classroom groupings. Children are only grouped by primary language for the reading/language arts block. Two teachers team with one instructing in Spanish and one in English at each grade level. All instruction is 50% Spanish and 50% English with the exception of Language Arts which is taught in the primary language until second grade. In second through fifth grade, language arts is taught in both languages to all students.
• Question:
  What is the district's long term commitment to the Dual Immersion or Two-Way Language Enrichment program?
  Answer:
  This model of instruction is available through fifth grade at one site.