Dual Language Program
Stronger together
¡Sus maestros les desean un gran año escolar!
Benefits of being bilingual...
- Intellectual growth/crecimiento intelectual
- Child's mental development is enriched and enhanced/el desarollo mental del niño es enrequesido y mejorado
- Better ear for listening/un mejor sentido del oído para escuchar
Our goals:
- Become bilingual, bilitierate, and multicultural/Ser bilingue, bialfabetizados y multiculturales
- To develop high academic performance in Spanish and English/Desarollar un alto nivel academico en inglés y español
- Demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and cross-cultural competence across a variety of social situations/Mostrar un aprecio de diversidad cultural y competencias interculturales en una variedad de situaciones
Our dual language teachers:
Mrs. Ortega
My name is Maria Ortega. I attended the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) (México) obtaining a bachelor's degree in Law & Judicial Science. After the birth of my daughters I devoted myself to raise and nurture them. I supported their education and interests in extracurricular activities. Knowing the benefits of being bilingual, I instilled the importance of reading, writing and speaking both English and Spanish in the household. My eldest, Victoria, graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University, Lorena graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Ileana is currently a Junior at Texas A&M-San Antonio. My decision to become a bilingual teacher was driven by my youngest daughter Ileana. In 2002, I began working as a Head Start Teacher and found my true passion in supporting early childhood development. I obtained my Texas Educator Certification in Bilingual Education in 2010. I signed up to be part of NISD in 2013 and joined a great team of education professionals here at Westwood Terrace Elementary. As a Dual Language Teacher, the goals for all my students are based on:
1- Bilingualism/biliteracy,
2- High Academic Achievement in both program languages, and
3- Sociocultural competence.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to be teaching in person and virtually. My motto is “everyone can learn.”
Mrs. Salinas
My name is Estefania Salinas and I was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico.
In elementary I attended both bilingual and Dual Language programs which gives me the point of view of both the student and teacher. This allowed me to learn English as a second language. I moved to the United States in 2001 at the age of 13 and graduated from Warren High School in 2006. I obtained my bachelor's degree as a Bilingual Educator from UTSA in 2013 and this will be my 6th year teaching in the DL program.
Our strategies:
- Visuals/Visuales
- Cognates/Cognados
- Songs/Canciones
- Partner talk/Hablar con compañeros
Resources at home/Recursos en el hogar
Westwood Terrace Elementary
Email: diana-i.guerra@nisd.net
Website: https://www.nisd.net/westwoodterrace
Location: 2315 Hackamore Lane, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 397 0300
Twitter: @NISDWWT