What Does the Dual Language Strand Look Like at Charles M. Schenck (CMS) Community School?


•    Two classes per grade level in grades kindergarten, first and second as of the 2008/2009 school year. (One grade level to be added every year until we reach fifth grade.)

•    The classes are made up of 50% Spanish speakers and 50% English speakers.

•    Two dual language teachers at each grade level.  One teacher is the English teacher and will do all instruction in English.  The other teacher is the Spanish teacher and will do all instruction in Spanish.

•    Our Dual Language model is different than other Dual Language programs in that it is literacy based and utilizes the philosophy and methods of Literacy Squared.  CMS is a part of Literacy Squared which is a research project currently in its fifth year of a five year study through the University of Colorado, BUENO Center.  The project is intended for Spanish speaking students in bilingual classrooms.  However, because we saw such progress and potential in the program, we have applied what we are doing through Literacy Squared in our ELA-S classrooms to our Dual Language model for both the Spanish and English speakers.

•    Follows DPS Curriculum including Literacy Guides, Everyday Math, TRACKS and the new Social Studies curriculum

•    The day is broken into three main components:
1.    Native language literacy and math instruction
2.    Literacy based ESL or SSL based on Literacy Squared methodology (a minimum of 45 minutes- 1 hour a day)
3.    Mixed group for math, content and specials (Approximately 50% of the day)















Literacy Squared