FRequently Asked Questions / preguntas frecuentes

• What subjects will my students learn in elementary school?

  • APS follows a 50/50 program. Students learn English Language Arts (ELA), Social Studies and Math and Science support in English and Spanish Language Arts (SLA), Math, Science and Social Studies support in Spanish. Students have specials classes too (art, PE, music, world language)

• Will my student have the same teacher all day?

  • No, students switch between 2 teachers for core subjects, on English one Spanish and rotate on their special classes.

• What if my child has special needs?

  • Like all APS schools, students in the DLI program have the same access to special education services, programs for the gifted, and intervention and tutorial offerings.

• What is the class size of a DLI classroom?

  • There are 30 students or less.

• How can I help support my child in doing homework in the second language, particularly if I don’t know that language? 

  • Parents can support students at home by making sure that they have the right environment and tools to  complete the homework (e.g., a quiet space, paper, dictionaries in both languages, and school supplies). Parents can also ask questions about the homework in the language spoken at home, thus giving the students opportunities to explain the assignment in their first language. Additionally, parents can and should reach out to their child’s teacher for creative options or ideas to support children at home with homework (eg, explanation of homework tasks for parents in their home language, visits to their local library for support and resources, etc.) 

• What is my role as a parent in a Dual Language Program? 

  • Parents quite often feel some anxiety about having their child educated in a language, which they themselves do not speak. They often worry about not being able to help with homework, or about not understanding their child’s difficulties. Dual Language teachers know that the children often come from monolingual homes and consider this when assigning homework. English dominant parents should expect some level of frustration to be expressed by their child. The calm support of parents facilitates the adjustment to a new language and instructional environment. It is important to realize that immersion provides a scholastic experience in Spanish. To attain a higher level of bilingualism parents should look for Spanish language experiences outside of school: Spanish television, radio, movies or other media, sports activities, summer camps, and get-togethers/“play dates” with their Spanish-speaking peers are among the many possibilities. 

The three most effective ways that a parent can prepare their child to succeed in school are:∙ 

• • • reading together; 

    • talking together, 

    • and answering your child's questions about language. 

Reading aloud with your child in your native language every day is very important. It creates an interest in books, it enlarges your child’s vocabulary and it broadens his/her experience. Visits to the zoo, shopping center, sports events, watching TV, cooking together and family chores all provide occasions for talking together. Research clearly demonstrates that second language acquisition is dependent upon development of the first language. When you strengthen your child’s native language, he/she becomes more successful in learning the second language.

• • Will we have to remain in the program once my child is accepted?

    • Yes, we ask each family to commit to the DLI program from Kindergarten to 5th grade. We understand that there are extenuating circumstances where a student may not be able to continue in the program. 

  • Will my child be fluent after 5th grade?

  • For a child to become fluent in another language, it can typically take several years depending on the child's exposure to the language, learning style, and the complexity of the language itself, with most experts stating that achieving conversational fluency could take between 3-5 years of consistent exposure and practice

MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL

• Will my student only have classes with other DLI students? 

  • DLI Students will have a combination of DLI and non-DLI classes each day. The DLI classes will only have students that are part of the DLI program but non-DLI classes will have a mix of DLI students and students that are not DLI. 

• What classes are DLI and what classes are not DLI? 

  • Currently 6th grade DLI students take the following DLI classes: DLI English Language and Literature (DLI ELA), DLI Spanish Language and Literature (DLI SLA), DLI Spanish Individuals and Societies (DLI I&S), Visual Arts in Spanish as a connections class for one semester, and DLI Media Literacy as a connections class for one semester. All other classes are non-DLI. Students have two DLI classes that are taught in Spanish and one DLI class taught in English. 

  • Currently 7th and 8th grade DLI students take the following DLI classes: DLI English Language and Literature (DLI ELA), DLI Spanish Language and Literature (DLI SLA), DLI Spanish Science and Design (DLI Science), DLI Media Literacy as a connections class for one semester, and Visual Arts in Spanish as a connections class for one semester. 

  • Middle school mathematics has various levels that would be difficult to fill with only DLI students. We do not plan for Math to be a DLI Spanish class. 

• What are the requirements for a teacher to teach a Spanish Language DLI class?  

  • All Spanish Language DLI teachers will meet program assurances established by district and must demonstrate a high proficiency in Spanish, advanced-mid or higher, and be content certified. Our goal is to always have the best teachers regardless of content area. 

• How different are DLI Classes than General Education classes of the same content?  

  • DLI Classes follow the same standards as their non-DLI equivalents. While the standards are the same, the resources and instruction are different to provide authentic language experiences. Additionally, DLI classes focus on the three pillars of DLI, 1) biliteracy and bilingualism, 2) grade level academic content, and 3) cross-cultural competence which may influence the approaches taken to instruction and curriculum. 

• How will my student be assessed and how will I know that they are progressing in their Spanish/English language development? 

  • Students will be assessed in the language of instruction for classroom assessments. They will take MAP tests for DLI Classes in both Spanish and English. All district benchmarks and state testing will be in English. Students will take a Spanish language proficiency test (The Avant STAMP™) every year. Students receiving ESOL services are required to participate in the annual test of English proficiency (ACCESS for ELLs®) every year. Spanish language proficiency tests and the ACCESS for ELLs® results will be shared with parents. 

• Will my students receive other services if they are in DLI?

  • Students who are ESOL will receive ESOL services in the DLI English Language & Literature class and may receive ESOL services in other non-DLI classes. Students who have an IEP or 504 will receive those services in accordance with their IEP or 504 Plan in all classes. Students who are Gifted Identified will receive gifted services in non-DLI advanced content courses, either Science or Social Studies depending on grade level. 

• How will my student receive gifted services while also in DLI? 

  • The model for Gifted Services in middle school is to receive one advanced content course. Currently all Gifted Identified DLI students receive gifted services in an advanced content either Science or Social Studies class, depending on grade level. DLI students will have access to courses and curriculum that will prepare them to apply for entrance into advanced content in high school. The district office of ESOL & World Languages, which oversees the district's DLI programs, and North Atlanta High school have committed to ensuring that DLI students will have access to all high school level gifted and AP courses. 

• How will teachers be able to provide these services to my students in the DLI program? 

  • DLI classes will have a mixture of ESOL, Special Education, and Gifted students. This is not uncommon for middle school classes and teachers are familiar with providing different services for students in the same class. Teachers provide this by differentiating instruction, assignments, remediation, and assessment and is a skill that teachers at Sutton have support in executing on a daily basis. 

• Will there be other opportunities for students to get help or DLI experiences outside of class? 

  • We know that not all parents of DLI students speak both English and Spanish and want other opportunities for their students to practice and develop their language skills. All DLI teachers provide weekly tutoring opportunities before or after school in the language of the class. We look forward to working with teachers and families to provide additional support as well as clubs and activities specifically for DLI students. 

  • Students may qualify for Spanish Language Intervention based on the NWEA MAP Spanish Reading test. We use the Read Naturally® Live–Español program for Spanish Language reading intervention. 

• How can I support the DLI Program at Sutton Middle School? 

  • Having your student in the DLI program is the most important way to ensure the program is successful and continues in APS. There are several opportunities for parents to get involved in supporting DLI at Sutton including volunteering at our school, joining and becoming involved with our amazing PTA, helping with DLI events, and promoting DLI around the district. We appreciate your encouragement and desire for the program to be the best it can be so feedback is always welcome. Lastly, knowing that this is a new program at our school and the first secondary DLI program in the district, your patience and understanding with us as we undertake this exciting and important work is key.

HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL