Dual Language Immersion Program

Introduction

The Dual Language Program is part of the Curriculum and Learning Design Department. The Thompson School District offers the Dual Language Program in Spanish in six schools: Truscott Elementary School, Cottonwood Plains Elementary School, Bill Reed Middle School, Lucile Erwin Middle School, Loveland High School, and Thompson Valley High School.

The Dual Language Program is an academic program that enhances the development of content in two languages, English and Spanish, as well as literacy in both languages. This approach ensures students will graduate ready for college, career, and life in a globally competitive economy and a collaborative global community. This unique program builds student linguistic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in both English and Spanish. Students learn standards-based content as they become linguistically and academically proficient in two languages.

Dual Language Academic Progression

Elementary K-5

TSD Dual Language Program Overview Timeline

Instructional Model-Two Teacher Team

The Dual Language two-teacher team plans and works together to deliver the TSD Curriculum.

K-2 The English speaking teachers use half of the instructional day to teach English language arts and portions of social studies and science. The K-2 Spanish speaking teachers use the other half of the day to teach Spanish literacy and math, from the grade appropriate level of the Colorado State Standards.

3-5 The English speaking teachers highlight English literacy and math and the 3-5 Spanish speaking teachers focus on Spanish literacy, social studies, and science. Teachers use the Thompson School District curriculum documents in literacy, math, and other content areas.

Truscott Elementary & Cottonwood Plains Elementary

The Dual Language two teacher team plan and work together to deliver the TSD Curriculum.
English-speaking teacher uses half of the instruction time to teach English language arts and portions of social studies and science, as well as other subjects of the curriculum.
Students learn academic content in English 50% of the time. (English literacy, science, social studies, and calendar in English to reinforce Spanish)
Spanish-speaking teacher uses the other half of the day to teach Spanish literacy and math at the grade appropriate level of the Colorado State Standards.
Students learn academic content in Spanish 50% of the time. (Spanish literacy, math, and calendar)

Middle School 6-8

Bill Reed & Lucile Erwin Middle School

TSD MS Dual Language Program Overview Timeline

Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language

Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish.
The Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language courses are a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. These required courses focus on the developement of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the intermediate level of proficiency.

Dual Language Social Studies

This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies in North, Central, and South America. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with state standards for the student's grade level.
The Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics.

High School 9-12

TSD HS Dual Language Program Overview Timeline

Loveland High School & Thompson Valley High School

Dual Language Advanced Spanish 4

9th grade school year students will take one advanced Spanish class at high school: Dual Language Advanced Spanish 4

Dual Language Advanced Spanish 5

10th grade students will enroll in Dual Language Advanced Spanish 5 AP (advanced placement), where there is a possibility students can earn college credit depending on their score.

Resources

TSD Dual Language Program Overview K-12

Thompson School District Dual Language Program

The Thompson School District Academic Dual Language Program seeks to provide learning experiences that promote literacy, linguistic and intercultural competencies and academic content in Spanish. The TSD Dual Language Program goals guide learners to be able to communicate effectively in multiple languages so that students will graduate ready for college, career, and life in order to actively participate in the international community and a global economy.

What are the 3 Goals of the TSD Dual Language Program?

Bilingualism and Biliteracy
High academic achievement in both languages
Intercultural and Sociocultural Competence

What do these three goals mean?

Bilingualism/Biliteracy is the ability to speak two languages and biliteracy is about being able to also read and write in two languages.
High academic achievement in both program languages continues as courses increase the complexity of learning.
Intercultural and Sociocultural Competence- the ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds at both home and around the world. Students better understand the practices, products, and perspectives in their own cultures and those studied. Interculturality provides pathways to open-mindedness to other cultures. Dual Language students are more aware of and generally show more positive attitudes towards other cultures and an appreciation of other people because the dual language programs offer a rich, culturally diverse experience.
The TSD Dual Language Program is about “languages for all.”

K-5

TSD K-5 Elementary Dual Language Program

The TSD K-5 Dual Language Elementary at Truscott Elementary and Cottonwood Plains Elementary

Pre-requisites: Students may enter the TSD Elementary Dual Program up to the end of 1st Grade. After this time a student may take a district approved Spanish Language assessment to evaluate if the student is at the appropriate proficiency level in Spanish to be successful in the Elementary program.

The TSD elementary dual language program is a two-teacher team: one Spanish teacher and one English teacher. Instruction is divided between these two qualified teachers into two classrooms. The K-2 English speaking teachers use half of the instructional day to teach English language arts and portions of social studies and science and the K-2 Spanish-speaking teachers use the other half of the day to teach Spanish literacy and math, from the grade-appropriate level of the Colorado State Standards. Then in grades 3-5 the English-speaking teachers highlight English literacy and math and the 3-5 Spanish-speaking teachers focus on Spanish literacy, social studies, and science. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

6-8

TSD 6-8 Middle School Dual Language Program

The TSD Dual Language Middle School program is at Bill Reed Middle School and Lucille Erwin Middle School.

Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Immersion K-5 program, participant in another dual language program or by taking a district approved Spanish Language assessment to evaluate if the student is at the appropriate proficiency level to be successful in the middle school program. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

DL Advanced Spanish Language 1 (6th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 1 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Novice-high to Intermediate-low levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world.

Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish 1 (6th Grade) The TSD Middle School Dual Language Social Studies 1 course in Spanish is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of the Western Hemisphere, as well as other topics in grade 6 curriculum. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies in North, Central, and South America,.Students develop social study skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with Colorado Social Studies standards for Grade 6.

DL Advanced Spanish Language 2 (7th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 2 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low levels to the Intermediate-mid levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries.

Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish 2 (7th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Social Studies 2 course in Spanish is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics as well as other topics in grade 7 curriculum. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with state standards for Grade 7.

DL Advanced Spanish Language 3 (8th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 3 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low levels to the Intermediate-high levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world.

Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish 3 (8th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Social Studies 3 course in Spanish is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of US History from the American Revolution to Reconstruction. .This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with state standards for Grade 8.

9-12

TSD 9-12 High School Dual Language Program

The TSD Dual Language High School program is at Loveland High School and Thompson Valley High School.

Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Immersion K-8 program, participant in another dual language program or by taking a district approved Spanish Language assessment to evaluate if the student is at the appropriate proficiency level to be successful in the high school program. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

DL Advanced Spanish Language 4 (9th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 4 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low levels to the Intermediate-high levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world and the Advanced Placement Spanish (AP Spanish) themes.

DL Advanced Spanish Language 5-AP Spanish (10th Grade) The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 5 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-mid levels to the Intermediate-high levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. This course will follow the curriculum focus of the Advanced Placement Spanish Exam (AP Spanish) themes, using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world. Students will take the AP Spanish Language Exam. Depending on the student score, the student could earn college credit. The university decides on the amount of credit.

DL Advanced Spanish Language (Grades 11 and 12) Course preparation with university courses and other options is in progress

TSD Dual Language Middle School Course Descriptions

DL Advanced Spanish Language 1 (6th Grade)

The Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 1 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Novice-high to Intermediate-low levels of proficiency. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Immersion K-5 program or by taking a district approved Spanish Language proficiency assessment. The TSD Dual Language Middle School program is at Bill Reed Middle School and Lucile Erwin Middle School only.

In the Dual Language Advanced Spanish 1 course, students will:

Communicate effectively in more than one language in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes within the Intermediate proficiency range.
Interact with cultural competence and understanding.
Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations.
Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence.
Communicate and interact with cultural competence in order to participate in multilingual communities at home and abroad.

Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish 1 (6th Grade)

The Dual Language Social Studies 1 in Spanish course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of the Western Hemisphere. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies in North, Central, and South America. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with state standards for Grade 6. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Immersion K-5 program or or by taking the district approved Spanish Language proficiency assessment as a Heritage or Native Spanish Speaker. Students coming from another dual language program are also welcome. The TSD Dual Language Middle School program is at Bill Reed Middle School and Lucile Erwin Middle School only

DL Advanced Spanish Language 2 (7th Grade)

The Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 2 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low to Intermediate-mid levels of proficiency. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and Presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes and the Advanced Placement Spanish (AP Spanish) themes, using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Continuation Grade 6 Dual Language program or by taking the district approved Spanish Language proficiency assessment as a Heritage or Native Spanish Speaker. Students coming from another dual language program are also welcome. The TSD Dual Language Middle School program is at Bill Reed Middle School and Lucile Erwin Middle School only.

In the Dual Language Advanced Spanish 2 course, students will:

Communicate effectively in more than one language in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes within the Intermediate proficiency range.
Interact with cultural competence and understanding.
Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations.
Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence.
Communicate and interact with cultural competence in order to participate in multilingual communities at home and abroad.

Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish 2 (7th Grade)

The Dual Language Social Studies 2 in Spanish course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of the Eastern Hemisphere. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies in North, Central, and South America. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with state standards for Grade 7. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

DL Advanced Spanish Language 3 (8th Grade)

The Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 3 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-mid to Intermediate-high levels of proficiency. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and Presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes and the Advanced Placement Spanish (AP Spanish) themes, using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Continuation Grade 7 Dual Language program or by taking the district approved Spanish Language proficiency assessment as a Heritage or Native Spanish Speaker. Students coming from another dual language program are also welcome. The TSD Dual Language Middle School program is at Bill Reed Middle School and Lucile Erwin Middle School only.

In the Dual Language Advanced Spanish 3 course, students will:

Communicate effectively in more than one language in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes within the Intermediate-Mid proficiency range.
Interact with cultural competence and understanding.
Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations.
Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence.
Communicate and interact with cultural competence in order to participate in multilingual communities at home and abroad.

Dual Language Social Studies in Spanish 3 (8th Grade)

The Dual Language Social Studies 3 in Spanish course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of American History.. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of American History learning about colonization, and American Revolution to Reconstruction.. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with state standards for Grade 8. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.

Colorado Dual Language Immersion

Seal of Biliteracy

Ashley Reuter
Curriculum & Learning Design Coordinator

Kelly Smith
Curriculum & Learning Design Coordinator

Toni Theisen
Teacher on Special Assignment
Dual Language Program /
World Language

Contact School

Cottonwood Plains
Elementary School

970-613-5900

Truscott Elementary School

970-613-6900

Bill Reed Middle School

970-613-7200

Lucile Erwin
Middle School

970-613-7600

Loveland High School

970-613-5200

Thompson Valley
High School

970-613-7902

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