Meeker Dual Language Program

About

Meeker Elementary School is offering a Dual Language Immersion Program beginning in 2024-2025. Enrollment is for kindergarten only and instruction will be in both Spanish and English.

The dual language program housed at Meeker Elementary School is open to all of District 6 students and will eventually include one classroom per grade level. Meeker families will also have the option of choosing this program for their kindergarten student, but students do not have to be in the dual language program to attend Meeker.

Dual Language Immersion provides instruction and support for students to become fully proficient in English and Spanish. Students will study literacy, math, social studies, and science, as well as engage in specials classes like their peers.

Interest Forms:

Interested in enrolling your student in the program? Please fill out the form indicating your interest in participating in the Dual Language Program! Completing this interest form will not guarantee placement in the program, but will indicate your interest in the program for consideration.

English Form: MEEKER KINDERGARTEN DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM INTEREST FORM
Spanish Form: FORMULARIO DE INTERÉS DEL PROGRAMA DE LENGUAJE DUAL DE KINDERGARTEN DE MEEKER (ESPAÑOL)

Vision and Mission

Greeley-Evans School District 6 dual language program integrates English Learners and English-dominant students with the goal of improving the academic and linguistic performance of all participants. Its mission is to develop critically aware, multilingual students who are equipped to build bridges of intercultural understanding between diverse communities and successfully participate in the global community.

Our dual language program's vision is that all students:

attain high levels of proficiency in English and Spanish and are able to use both languages effectively in academic and social settings
perform at or above grade level in English and Spanish in all content areas
value and appreciate their own culture and the diversity of our community's cultures
graduate with a District 6 Seal of Biliteracy and are prepared to thrive as global citizens.

If you are interested in enrolling your student in a dual language program at Meeker Elementary School for Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year, please fill out an application at www.greeleyschools.org/openenrollment. (the application will also ask for your primary home language). Incoming kindergarten students must be five years old by October 1, 2024, in order to register.

	Foundational instruction to achieve literacy (reading, writing, and speaking) in both English and Spanish
	High academic achievement in two languages
	Develop positive attitudes about students of other language and cultural backgrounds
	Knowing two or more languages helps employment opportunities when students enter the workforce
	Ability to earn a Seal of Biliteracy Certification upon graduation.

Questions?

Alison Ferguson, Principal
AFERGUSON1@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG
970-348-2000

Bridget Garcia, Assistant Principal
BGARCIA28@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG
970-348-2000

Noheli Batres, DLI Lead Teacher

NBATRES2@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG

Enrollment Questions
D6 Admissions
ADMISSIONS@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG
970-348-6062

Dual Language Program Details

The Kindergarten dual language program follows a two-way immersion model; classrooms are comprised of balanced numbers of English Learners and native English speakers and include students who enter school with bilingual skills.

Elementary dual language programs adhere to an 50/50 language allocation model. Most instruction is in Spanish in the primary grades gradually increasing to 50% of instruction in English and 50% in Spanish by Grade 4. Students are expected to actively use the language of instruction and are grouped in ways that provide opportunities to practice language and benefit from peer models.

Dual Language FAQs

Why should we consider dual language for our child?

Research shows numerous benefits for students who participate in dual language, including:

Educational - Students who learn literacy in one language can transfer those skills to their other language.
Cognitive - Students who understand two languages show more cognitive flexibility, creative thinking, and problem-solving abilities compared to monolingual students of the same age.
Socio-cultural - Students in dual language programs develop positive attitudes towards students of other language and cultural backgrounds, and positive attitudes toward themselves as learners.
Economic - Knowing two or more languages enhances employment opportunities when students enter the workforce.

Do children in dual language programs fall behind academically because the teacher uses their non-native language?

There are universal concepts and skills that all students will learn, regardless of the language of instruction. These skills transfer from one language to another. Skills and concepts that are language specific are explicitly taught so students can gain full proficiency in both languages.

Developing academic language and literacy skills in two languages takes time, and students typically need at least six years to become proficient in both languages. Because of this, students in dual language classrooms may lag behind their monolingual peers in the early grades. However, ultimately, they should not only score as well as or higher than their monolingual peers, but they also will have acquired a second language for their lifelong use.

What does research say about Dual Language Education?

Academic Success

Dual language programs are based on over forty years of research showing the advantages of learning a second language through academic content instruction. Studies show (Thomas and Collier, 2009) that historically underserved students, especially English Learners, attain greater academic success when they participate in dual language programs.

Out-Perform Their Peers

Research demonstrates that both native English speakers and native Spanish speakers in well-implemented dual language programs tend to excel academically, outperforming their peers in traditional educational settings. (Thomas and Collier, 2012).

Mental Discipline

The mental discipline of learning a second-language system increases intellectual flexibility and translates into higher achievement in all subject areas. The longer the exposure to the second language, the more significant the cognitive advantages to the student (Genesee and Lindholm-Leary, 2009)

Multicultural Awareness

Knowledge of more than one language enables people to communicate in a variety of cultures and settings. A heightened level of multicultural awareness and communication skills foster intergroup contact and appreciation (Cummins, 1986, Ager 2005)

How do teachers help students learn and understand in a second language?

Teachers use a variety of sheltered instructional strategies to help students understand oral and written language without the need of translation.

Teachers adhere to the target language during instructional time rather than switching between languages so that students do not wait to hear the instruction in their stronger language.

Language development is a part of instruction in all content areas and teachers provide instruction on linguistic structures within the context of reading, writing and speaking.

Teachers make connections between the two languages to help students compare similarities and differences between languages and deepen their understanding of both languages.