It's time to sign up for Growing Up Bilingual!

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Parents of incoming kindergartners are invited to come an learn what GISD's Growing Up Bilingual program is all about!

This is the second year for the two-way dual language program, in which students learn subjects using both English and Spanish. The benefits are tremendous for students.

Here are the concepts behind the program:

Students will be paired off as academic partners with one English-speaking student and one Spanish-speaking student helping one another.
Reading & writing will be taught in students' native language.
Math will be taught in English.
Science & Social Studies will be taught in Spanish.

Research shows that children who grow up speaking more than one language have distinct learning advantages. The mental processes required to learn two different languages and then easily switch between them enables children to develop high levels of the following:

language skills
mathematical skills
problem-solving abilities
creative thinking skills

The Dual Language program is open to incoming GISD kindergartners (regardless of where they live). The program will be located at Bowie Elementary, and transportation to Bowie will be provided to students districtwide.

Parents are required to fill out an application in order for their child to be considered. Applications are due by March 29 at Bowie Elementary or at any at the Administration Building (4004 Moulton St.). The application forms are available in English and Spanish.

Every year, a new kindergarten group is introduced. Here are the details:

What: Informational meetings for two-way dual language program
When: Native English-speaking families: 6 p.m. Feb. 21
When: Native Spanish-speaking families: 5:30 p.m. March 7
Where: L.P. Waters Early Childhood Center Cafeteria
Who: Incoming kindergartners
How to apply: Applications are available on all GISD elementary campuses starting Feb. 21
Deadline: Applications are due by March 29
Questions? Call 903-457-2676

In the study (published in the International Journal of Bilingualism), 121 bilingual children were given the same tests and tasks to perform as children who spoke only one language, and the bilingual students consistently performed better at them. The bilingual children also had larger vocabularies, and they scored higher on their ability to understand the words, demonstrating much more detail and richness when describing them.

In a paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, researchers found similar results, which suggested much more strength and flexibility in the "brain wiring" of people who speak more than one language. Click HERE to see more bilingual research.

Some parents have asked us about the difference between Dual Language and Bilingual Education. Dual Language is a two-way program that enables students to learn and speak in both English and Spanish. On the other hand, Bilingual Education is a one-way program that enables students who grew up speaking and learning in a language other than English to learn to speak and learn in English.