Indiana Dual Language
March 2020
Message from the Indiana Dual Language Specialist
I have had the pleasure of visiting many of Indiana's programs since January. I have been impressed by the progress and the evidence of dual language that is evident throughout the buildings.
Dual Language Featured Educator: Ana Verduzco
Ms. Ana Verduzco is the proud Principal at Washington Irving Elementary School in Hammond, Indiana. It is safe to say that she “came back home” when she returned to Irving as Principal in August of 2017.
Ana began her career in 1998 as an instructor for English learners in the Bilingual Education Department in various schools throughout the district. She went on to become the Sheltered English teacher and EL lead teacher at Irving Elementary for six years. During this time, Ana taught Adult ESL in the evening to members of the community. Her expertise in EL instruction led her to become the district EL coach. After three years in this role, she became the EL Coordinator for the Language Development Department.
During this time, she pursued her Master’s degree in Building Administration at Indiana University Northwest. While earning this degree, she taught Diversity in Education as an adjunct instructor at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. Ana went on to serve as Assistant to the principal at both Irving Elementary and Edison Elementary.
She feels very blessed to support the Irving community as Principal. Recently, Ana led her team through the consolidation of two schools, which also doubled the student enrollment while simultaneously planning, organizing and opening the first Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program in Lake County Indiana. Irving’s DLI program offers the two-way model of instruction with Spanish as the target language. It is in its first full-year of implementation with 125 students currently enrolled. The program has gained high interest from the community and is expected to grow with additional DLI strands next school year. Ms. Ana Verduzco has a true love for language and bilingualism. The School City of Hammond is proud to have such a committed and dedicated student advocate leading Washington Irving Elementary.
Dual Language Spotlight Program: Skiles Test Elementary Spanish Immersion STEM school of MSD Lawrence Township
This is the second year with the Dual Language Program. Last year, Skiles Test started with two classes of kindergarten and two classes of first grade, and this year two second grade classes were added. Each year, a grade level will be added, and the expectation is to transform the elementary school into the second Dual Language immersion school of Lawrence Township School District. It is exciting that Skiles Test is the first Spanish immersion and STEM certified school in the State of Indiana.
MSDLT provides students with opportunities to earn dual high school diplomas upon graduation. The student population is very diverse; even the teachers come from different countries. The goal is to promote bilingual literacy to the students through compelling, researched-based, and engaging instruction.
Skiles Test Elementary Spanish Immersion STEM School’s vision is to ensure that the program is an academically and linguistically rigorous program that assists with providing high linguistic proficiency in two languages while creating positive cross-cultural experiences for all students.
Muncie Dual Language Program in the News
Chinese New Year Celebration in Batesville
The second annual Chinese New Year celebration was held at Batesville United Methodist Church, which sponsored the event and made it free for all to participate. There were two sessions that served 100 children and parents. It was a great event, and everybody enjoyed it a lot.
The event was organized by Nance Widdowson (member of Batesville United Methodist Church), Sharon Chia (member of Batesville United Methodist Church), and Guili Zhang (BPS First grade teacher).
2020-2021 Dual Language Program Grant Timeline
The Dual Language Immersion grant has expanded to provide funding to local educational agencies and charters in order to support new dual language programs as well as existing dual language programs. Please refer to this memo for tiers and guidance. Competition will increase with the expansion of this grant. The application for the 2020-2021 school year will be due April 17, 2020 and has been updated here.
Application for Visiting Teachers
Coursework Funding for Teachers Seeking Dual Language Bilingual Education Certificate
Please review this memo for teachers wanting to participate coursework for the dual language bilingual education certificate. The deadline for an representative to submit the form on the behalf of teachers within the district or charter school is March 9. Questions can be sent to Nathan Williamson.
First Recipient's of Purdue's Dual Language Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate
Purdue graduates its first set of Indiana teachers with a DLBE Graduate certificate! Through their grant funded project, Parental Understanding for Equity in Dual Language Bilingual Education, they identified Indiana teachers who would provide significant leadership to the development of DLBE pedagogy throughout the state. The DLBE Graduate Certificate is a fully online program designed for DLBE teachers wanting to learn more about the foundations of bilingual education and methodologies in teaching bilingual learners.
Obscuring Equity in Dual Language Bilingual Education: A Longitudinal Study of Emergent Bilingual Achievement, Middle School Course Placements and Grades
Forthcoming in press will be an article on Indiana’s DLBE programming in one of the highest tiered, international journals in the field, TESOL Quarterly. This article will demonstrate the higher academic achievement among ELs in DLBE versus ESL program models over time. Important considerations are offered as students matriculate into middle school, where the ‘master schedule’ can restrict or liberate its benefits. A matrix is offered for schools and districts to examine the structural practices of DLBE programs in K-12 contexts.
AACTE Award
Professional Development from Indiana University
Dual language educators from across Indiana gathered at Indiana University’s School of Education on February 7th, 2020, for a workshop on how to teach complex math concepts to emergent bilinguals and how partner teachers teach all of the curriculum required. Participants also discussed how to provide opportunities for all students to respond and show what they understand. The workshop was led by Kerrie Nue, Elementary Dual Language Specialist with expertise in Math and Early Childhood Education and Spanish Language Pedagogy. A wide range of instructional resources were shared along with the strategies to integrate language and content in dual language classrooms.
Indiana University’s School of Education will be hosting the 2020 Dual Language Summer Institute from June 8-12, 2020. Out-of-state experts and practitioners will lead sessions related to planning, implementation, practice and growth of dual language programs.
Dual Language Program Evaluation Opportunity
Spots to Fill
Teacher Resources
Infusing Culture, Language, and Diversity into your DLI program
As many Indiana Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs are starting to consider what their programs look like at the next level, it’s also important to make sure the students have had exposure to bilingual role models so they, too, know where they are headed and what adventures await them.
We all know the awe that elementary students have when they engage with high school aged peers, so why not make sure that those interactions model language and cultural diversity as well as biliteracy! Collaborating with your high schools to encourage the admission of exchange students will allow your district to do multiple things:
1. Prepare high school language teachers and staff little-by-little for the incoming cohort of bilingual and biliterate students from the DLI program.
2. Allow your elementary teachers to have guest speakers, story readers and cultural ambassadors visit their classrooms to interact in the target language with the students.
This is a great way for your elementary students to engage their interpersonal language skills when they ask questions of their guest!
3. Be intentional about the cultures represented and shared with students. The district can be strategic about ensuring that the exchange students represent the same language but diverse backgrounds to help the DLI students negotiate meaning and interact in safe and comfortable conversations with high school peers.
4. If your dual language parents host the exchange students, they will get a preview of what their child will be like as a bilingual teenager. They will also have a student who speaks the same languages (maybe more) and might even help answer some homework questions!
A community that has embraced bilingualism and biliteracy is most likely open to biculturalism as well. Encourage your community to host exchange students to help your DLI program grow, have more access to diverse perspectives and language and to prepare for having a successful secondary DLI program.
For more information on hosting exchange students, please visit the website for the Council on Standards on International Educational Travel (CSIET) to find an approved program provider and to know your rights as a hosting school.
Questions about how to get started? Email Jill Woerner at JWinterculturalEd@outlook.com
WIDA Español
Soleado Winter Publication
Important Census Information
The upcoming U.S. Census will determine the federal funding Indiana schools receive. The census impacts academic support, special education, school lunch, and Head Start/early learning programs. The Indiana Department of Education has created a website resource for superintendents, teachers, and families. Learn more here:
School City Hammond Bootcamp Teaches the Power of Hugs
Parents from Hammond practiced hugging and discussed the effects of a hug! Students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are three times more likely to have academic failure, five times more likely to have attendance problems, and six times more likely to have behavioral problems. According to research, eight hugs a day impacts the brain of a child. What a wonderful way to impact one another in a positive way!
Connect with us on Twitter!
Twitter is a fantastic resource for educators. Educational Twitter chats provide the opportunity to connect with educators outside of your own district. Leaders in the field of dual language tweet out important articles, ideas, and research as well. I invite you to connect with one another and with us at the department. Please use #INDualLang when sending tweets about Indiana dual language programs. Here are some recommendations of Indiana educators to follow.
Erika Tran @erika_tran10
Kim Park @kim_a_park
Rachel Sever @DrRachelSever
Gina Pleak @ginapleak
Michael Parsons @Parsons_Tweets
Paul Ketcham @KetchamPaul
Sherry Mursch @librasherry
Norma Cerreon @npcarreon25
Tony Salinas @SCHLDP
Cristina Sanchez @CrissySan93
Branden Roeder @RisingSunSupt
Tonya Schepers @ELLTeacherSWDCS
Karl Galey @galeykarl
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Nicole Leach
Email: nleach@doe.in.gov
Phone: (317) 232-0572
Twitter: @NicoleNLeach