Seventh International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education

Strand I: Pedagogy & Assessment

English/Spanish

Elementary (K-5)

This will be our agenda topics. We will share a data driven instructional method based in content integration. This method increases academic rigor and language growth on both sides of a DLI model, while supporting all learners in the classroom community: Academic and Social Language Growth Through Joint Productive Activities (JPA’s)

• Using data to drive standard aligned instruction
• Video clips of a JPA in action
• JPA’s as a means of content integration
• Building academic and social language through problem solving
• Language support to increase oral expression
• Differentiated instruction with JPA’s
• Technology integration
• Building a collaborative culture
• JPA’s across grade levels: Vertical Alignment

Bethesda Elementary is part of the Gwinnett County Public School System (GCPS), an award winning urban school district. Bethesda Elementary is one of 12 elementary schools within GCPS that provides a dual language immersion (DLI) learning option with instruction in English and Spanish in grades K-4. Based on the student population, BES provides a two way DLI experience, however there are students whose L1 is a language other than English or Spanish.

During this session we will share the best practice of Joint Productive Activity (JPA), an evolution of traditional Project Based Learning (PBL), to better meet the needs of all learners through rigorous content integration while increasing academic and social language in English and the target language. The JPA method requires students to discover new knowledge, collaboratively problem solve, and create a product to demonstrate their understanding as a learning team. Attendees will participate in a JPA and learn research based methods to design and implement JPA’s that align with Common Core Standards while challenging gifted students, maximizing the potential of learners who are on grade level, and supporting the growth of struggling learners.