Rockford Public Schools

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Rockford Spanish Immersion Preparing Students
for their place in the WorldInternationalizing
Michigan Education ConferenceMarch 6, 2007
Rockford Public Schools
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The limits of my language means the limits of my
world.Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 1951)
Rockford Public Schools
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RSI Basic Structure

• Located within Roguewood Elementary
• RSI is School of Choice Magnet Program
• 94 students enrolled K-1 (SY 06-07)
• Growth of 54 students at KG each year
• 148 students K-2 (SY 07-08)
• 202 students K-3 (SY 08-09)
• 256 students K-4 (SY 09-10)
• 310 students K-5 (SY 10-11)
• Two sections added each school year during growth
  of program to K-5 program

Rockford Public Schools
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RSI Basic Structure

• 3 Teachers
• Early Elementary Experts
• Highly fluent in Spanish
• Overseas experience
• 3 Classroom Assistants
• Native Spanish support in classroom
• Language and Culture model

Rockford Public Schools
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RSI Goals

• High levels of academic achievement across all
  subject areas/grade levels.
• Mastery of State of MI curriculum objectives
  across all subject areas/grade levels.
• Interpersonal Academic language proficiency in
  English and Spanish.
• Enhanced intercultural understanding for more
  effective participation in the global community.

Rockford Public Schools
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Immersion Quick Facts

• 1965 St. Lambert Experiment in Canada
• 1971 1st Immersion School in U.S.
• Fastest growing type FLEP in the U.S.
• 263 programs in 33 states/82 districts.
• 130 programs in Spanish (42)
• Different Immersion Models
• Rockford Spanish Immersion is a One-Way Program.

Rockford Public Schools
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Immersion Quick Facts (cont.)

• Students learn the RPS district core curriculum
  though Spanish rather than English.
• K-1 curriculum delivered only in Spanish.
• English instruction added for 30 minutes per day
  starting 2nd semester of 2nd grade.
• 15 minutes of English instruction added with each
  grade level.
• Middle school/High School
• 2 subjects taught in Spanish

Rockford Public Schools
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Why does Immersion work?

• Cognitive development Language development
  interdependent.
• Children use language as a tool for understanding
  and communicating meaning.
• Children perceive the school curriculum as
  important and of value. inherently motivating
• Subject matter curriculum naturally provides a
  broad range of language vocabulary, structures
  and functions.

Rockford Public Schools
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Keys to RSIs Successful Start

• District School Improvement GOAL
• Parent/Administration/Board Support
• RPS Curriculum already established
• Language rich supplies and resources
• Teacher Professional Development
• Expert Teachers
• Native Speaking Spanish Assistants

Rockford Public Schools
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Immersion Resources
Center for Advanced Research on Language
Acquisition (CARLA) http//www.carla.umn.edu
Center for Applied Linguistics
(CAL) http//www.cal.org Rockford Spanish
Immersion _at_ Roguewood Elementary http//www.rockfo
rdschools.org
Rockford Public Schools
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Contact Michael J. Hibbeln
Principal Roguewood Elementary Rockford
Spanish Immersion 3900 Kroes Road Rockford,
MI 49341 Phone [phone] mhibbeln_at_rockfo
rd.k12.mi.us
Rockford Public Schools