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When we are introduced to different perspectives, it changes how we see the world. One of the great things about Kelseyville Unified is that we have students and staff from many different backgrounds who learn from each other every day.
In our schools, English and Spanish are the most common languages. Being able to speak both not only allows someone to connect with pretty much everyone at school, it also provides a window into another culture. Plus, learning more than one language enhances brain development.
When children enroll in a public school in California, if they speak a language other than English at home, they take an English proficiency test to make sure their English skills will enable them to keep up with instruction.
If their English needs work, they are placed in the English Learner Program. This program consists of both individualized support and integrated language-building activities. Integrated language-building includes teaching methods such as giving students an opportunity to practice talking with each other using specific scripts to build vocabulary. These language-building practices benefit all kids, not just English Learners.
To make sure no one falls behind, KVUSD has made language development an integral part of how we work. Many of our teachers have been trained in guided language acquisition design (GLAD), so they have more tools to help students gain English proficiency. And the results speak for themselves: last year, an impressive 25 students tested out of the English Learner Program.
Achieving English proficiency before high school lays a strong foundation for future academic success. As classes become more challenging, the ability to understand and communicate effectively in English is essential for complex subject matter.
While it is important to make sure our Spanish-speaking students become fluent in English, it is also important to provide English-speaking students with the opportunity to learn Spanish. This is why we sought the grant funding that allowed us to start our dual immersion program at Kelseyville Elementary School.
Research shows that bilingual children, meaning those who are fluent in two languages, develop stronger thinking, logic, and language skills, as well as better problem-solving and abstract thought processes. Being bilingual also helps children develop stronger social-emotional processing skills, such as delayed gratification (being patient and willing to put in work when the reward doesn’t come immediately).
This is the first year of our dual-immersion program. We are starting with kindergarten and first grade and will expand the program over the next several years as students progress through fifth grade.
Research shows that dual-immersion programs close the learning gap for Spanish speakers by allowing them to learn basic academic concepts in their native language. These programs also immerse our English speakers in another language, allowing them to quickly become bilingual. Though there may be an initial struggle for native English speakers, research shows that things click around third grade and then they sky rocket academically.
For students to be successful, schools and families must work together. To support our Spanish-speaking families, KVUSD has hired Bilingual Liaison Alex Duarte. She assists Spanish-speaking families by providing them with the resources they need to help their children succeed. For example, when a student needs to enroll with the district, there are a lot of required documents. Alex walks families through the whole process, step by step.
Alex is stationed at the district’s Welcome Center, but is happy to meet parents at school campuses for their convenience. Alex also attends district meetings to translate information for those who attend. She wants people to know they can ask for help with anything school related. She is wonderfully approachable and very capable.
We can’t wait to see the benefits our dual-immersion program will provide to our students as they progress on their educational journeys.