Project Information

The project design was developed by a team of high school Spanish teachers. Known as the WLLC team (World Language Learning Community) team these teachers have worked together for several years to improve the teaching strategies in language education for area schools. They have all participated in various professional development opportunities, including Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) with Susan Gross and Karen Rowan, Comprehensible Input Reading Strategies with Jason Fritze and Literacy Strategies delivered by staff from Nebraska Department of Education, World Languages Department.

Year One (2007 - 2008) of the project was devoted to curriculum development, lesson design and assessment planning. The WLLC adopted a curriculum, and produced lessons based on TPRS methodology. Lesson activities were recorded in enhanced podcasts (audio and images). Assessment plans for student learning were developed with Dr. Lee Jenkins using the From L to J Continuous Improvement Model. Evaluation plans for the grant activities were developed with Lisa Knoche, University of Lincoln Research Center, who is also serving as project evaluator.

Year Two (2008 - 2009) involved the implementation of the project into five area schools. Grades 1 - 6 incorporated the lessons and activities using the podcasts prepared by the WLLC Team. The project was designed to assist small schools with limited budgets with a way to integrate Spanish language learning into elementary classrooms where the elementary teachers have little or no experience with the Spanish language. Weekly lessons and activities are scheduled with periodic assessment of student learning.

Year Three (2009- 2010) added four more school districts to the project, while continuing the project with the first five schools. Additional resources were added to enhance the experiences for the students. These included songs, rhymes, chants and games.

Professional development opportunities were provided to the elementary teachers in Spanish language immersion (Fluency Fast Summer Workshops) each summer. Followup workshops were provided each year to help elementary teachers understand second language acquisition methods, improve their own Spanish skills, and use resources and materials provided by the project.

The completed program will be available on iTunesU through the Nebraska portal in fall 2010 free of charge. All lessons and podcasts will be available for download into iTunes for use in the classroom. UPDATE: also available now on OER Portal, Nebraska and this Google site.