1At what grades can a child join the program without a prior background in the language?
HWIS has successfully transitioned students into HWIS starting in any of the elementary years. Often the summer will be a good time to prepare the student with individualized tutoring. The student joins the immersion class and may be pulled out for additional tutoring as needed. Classmates support each other during the transition. Teachers estimate that midway through the year a new child may understand about 50% of what is being said, but by the end of the year, that figure may be 80-90%.
2Is there a lag in English proficiency?
HWIS has not seen a lag in English proficiency in the early elementary years likely due to the small class sizes and flexible grouping enabling individualized instruction. English teachers are very efficient with their time and use resources and stories which are also taught in Spanish or Mandarin. A recent Rand study on dual language immersion students controlled for income showed that 5th graders outperformed monolingual students by 7 months, and 8th graders outperformed by 9 months – nearly a full year ahead of monolingual peers. Students in immersion develop metalinguistic awareness which is a knowledge of how language work. HWIS ERB results corroborate these findings.
3How can students do well on standardized assessments if most of the time the subjects are taught in the target language?
Assessments begin in Grade 3, and students take the ERB for language arts and math in English, and the Avant assessment in the target language (Mandarin or Spanish). Students in the elementary years, depending on the grade, are taught all of the core subjects (language arts, math, science and social studies) in the target language. Math and English language arts are also taught in English during alternating weeks. Students learning the content in both languages often benefit from hearing the instruction taught in both target language and English. ERB and Avant results show that HWIS students meet or exceed the norm for language arts and math as well as language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing as compared norms.
4How are we celebrating diversity and addressing race issues?
The student body is approximately 70% students of color defined as part Asian, Latino or African American. This diversity is celebrated through the study of culture and language, as well as through meaningful discussions on race. During both the August and October in service trainings, discussions were held which promoted awareness of white privilege and outlined strategies to support all students equally.
5What is the student to teacher ratio?
The average elementary class size is about 10 students.
6What are some examples of the theme-based learning and how is it integrated across the curriculum?
Students will be immersed in a theme for 6-8 weeks. A theme on community, for example, may involve reading storybooks such as “Dr. Desoto”, taking part in dramatic play re-enacting a restaurant, or laundromat. Students may create a community in the block center, measure the distance between buildings in a math center, or draw a group mural of a community in art. Through exposure to essential questions week after week, children deepen their understanding and critical thinking.
7How are we developing skills of problem-solving and critical thinking in various subject areas?
Each and every morning students spend the first half hour in the morning meeting discussing topics related to social emotional learning. Positive character development is supported through the use of a positive behavior intervention system (PBIS). We also support parents with frequent webinars on topics such as “Raising Kind Kids”.
8How are we developing character in elementary students?
Each month one value such as respect, or kindness is highlighted during our student assembly. Each day during the month a student can recognize a fellow student for acts of kindness which are broadcast to the entire school during morning announcements. Students also produced a kindness chain by writing specific acts of kindness of fellow students which when linked together formed a chain that stretched across the entire school. Positive character development is supported through the use of a positive behavior intervention system (PBIS). We also support parents with frequent webinars on topics such as “Raising Kind Kids”.
9How are parents expected to support their child with homework?
Most of our students (80%) do not come from households that speak the language at home. We do not expect parents to help the child complete the homework. In fact, it is preferable that the parent communicate the issues the child may be having so that the teacher can adjust the lessons to ensure that the materials is learned. Homework is a reinforcement of the content taught in class and is a good way for teachers to assess how well the material is understood. Also, by not being able to help, the child is developing the important skills of self-reliance, independence and communication.
10In the Mandarin program, are characters taught in simplified or traditional form?
Characters are taught in simplified form which is what is used in mainland China. This is not only the dominant form in the world compared to traditional, it is used by our teachers who mostly come from China, and likely to be what is encountered during trips abroad. We expose students to the traditional form of characters starting in 4th grade so that they have an understanding of the differences, and the evolution of characters which completes their understanding and appreciation of Chinese literacy.