What happens when you combine children whose primary language is English with others whose primary language is Spanish? In Mansfield ISD, the answer is a group of bilingual learners.
Two-way dual language programs are now available at Erma Nash Elementary School for kindergarteners and at D.P. Morris Elementary School for kindergarteners and first-graders.
The English and Spanish-native students work simultaneously learning both languages in every subject.
“The students do an amazing job helping each other with words or pronunciations and understanding what the teacher is saying at times,” said Tara Sublette, principal at Morris Elementary. “They learn together, they play together, they socialize, they eat together, and language is never a problem.”
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| Anderson teaches the students how to read. |
Sublette noted that the teachers work very hard to ensure that fun lessons are made in both languages.
Rebecca Anderson, a two-way dual language teacher, said it’s the social aspect of making friends and breaking barriers that has impressed her the most.
“We have students from all different schools and all different backgrounds,” Anderson said. “They’ve learned how to get along. They didn’t know each other at the beginning of the year, and they all love to come and be friends and learn each other’s languages."
Two-way dual language programs are part of MISD’s Power of Choice initiative. View more information about what’s offered here.