Information
Giving Your Child the Gift of a Second Language
Thompson School District Dual Language Program
The Thompson School District Academic Dual Language Program seeks to provide learning experience that promote literacy, linguistic and intercultural competencies and academic content in Spanish. The TSD Dual Language Program goals guide learners to be able to communicate effectively in multiple languages so that students will graduate ready for college, career, and life in order to actively participate in the global community and global economy.
What are the 3 goals of the TSD Dual Language Program?
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Bilingualism and Biliteracy
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High academic achievement in both languages
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Intercultural and Sociocultural Competence
What do these three goals mean?
- Bilingualism/Biliteracy is the ability to speak two languages and biliteracy is about being able to also read and write in two languages.
- High academic achievement in both program languages continues as courses increase the complexity of learning.
- Intercultural and Sociocultural Competence- the ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds at both home and around the world. Students better understand the practices, products, and perspectives in their own cultures and those studied. Interculturality provides pathways o open-mindedness to other cultures. Dual Language students are more aware of and generally show more positive attitudes towards other cultures and an appreciation of other people because the dual language programs offer a rich, culturally diverse experience.
- The TSD Dual Language Program is about "languages for all."
TSD K-5 Elementary Dual Language Program
The TSD K-5 Dual Language Elementary program is at Truscott Elementary and Cottonwood Plains Elementary
Pre-requisites: Students may enter the TSD Elementary Dual Program up to the first semester of Grade 2. After this time a student may take a district approved Spanish Language assessment to evaluate if the student is at the appropriate proficiency level in Spanish to be successful in the Elementary program.
The TSD Elementary Dual Language Program is a two-teacher team: one Spanish teacher and one English teacher. Instruction is divided between these two qualified teachers into two classrooms. The K-2 English-speaking teachers use half of the instructional day to teach English language arts and portions of social studies and science and the K-2 Spanish-speaking teachers us the other half of the day to teach Spanish literacy and math, from the grade-appropriate level of the Colorado State Standards. Then in grades 3-5 the English-speaking teachers highlight English literacy and math and the 3-5 Spanish-speaking teachers focus on Spanish literacy, social studies, and science. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.
TSD 6-8 Middle School Dual Language Program
The TSD Dual Language Middle School program is at Bill Reed Middle School and Lucille Erwin Middle School
Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Immersion K-5 program, participant in another dual language program or by taking a district approved Spanish Language assessment to evaluate if the student is at the appropriate proficiency level to be successful in the middle school program. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.
DL Advanced Spanish Language 1: 6th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 1 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Novice-high to Intermediate-low levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world.
Dual Language Social Studies 1: 6th Grade
The TSD Middle School Dual Language Social Studies 1 course in Spanish is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of the Western Hemisphere, as well as other topics in Grade 6 curriculum. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies in North, Central, and South America. Students develop social study skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with Colorado Social Studies standards for Grade 6.
DL Advanced Spanish Language 2: 7th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 2 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low levels to the Intermediate-mid levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries.
Dual Language Social Studies 2: 7th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Social Studies 2 course in Spanish is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics as well as other topics in Grade 7 curriculum. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies. Specific content aligns with state standards for Grade 7.
DL Advanced Spanish Language 3: 8th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 3 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low levels to the Intermediate-high levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world.
Dual Language Social Studies 3: 8th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Social Studies 3 course in Spanish is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course provides a greater understanding of social studies inquiry, including history, geography, civics and government, and economics within the study of US History from the American Revolution to Reconstruction. This course focuses on the history, culture, and government of various specific world societies. Students develop skills used in the social studies disciplines. Specific content aligns with Colorado Social Studies standards for Grade 8.
TSD 9-12 High School Dual Language Program
The TSD Dual Language High School program is at Loveland High School and Thompson Valley High School
Pre-requisites: Participated in the TSD Dual Language Immersion K-8 program, participant in another dual language program or by taking a district approved Spanish Language assessment to evaluate if the student is at the appropriate proficiency level to be successful in the high school program. All Dual Language courses are taught 100% in Spanish.
DL Advanced Spanish Language 4: 9th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 4 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-low levels to the Intermediate-high levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. There will be strong emphasis on diverse cultural themes using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world and he Advanced Placement Spanish (AP Spanish) themes.
DL Advanced Spanish Language 5: AP Spanish - 10th Grade
The TSD Dual Language Advanced Spanish Language 5 course is a continuation of the Thompson School District Dual Language Program. This required course focuses on the development of language, literacy, and cultural competencies at the Intermediate-mid levels to the Intermediate-high levels of proficiency of the ACTFL proficiency scale using district materials and resources. Students will express their own thoughts, interact with other speakers of the language, and understand oral and written messages in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal speaking and writing; Interpretive reading and listening and presentational speaking and writing. This course will follow the curriculum focus of the Advanced Placement Spanish Exam (AP Spanish) themes, using authentic cultural resources from the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world. Students will take the AP Spanish Language Exam. Depending on the student score, the student could earn college credit. The university decides on the amount of credit.
DL Advanced Spanish Language Grades 11 and 12
Course preparation with university courses and other options are in progress.