ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orange County public school is upgrading one of its programs so its students can upgrade their language skills.
- Chickasaw Elementary School expanding its dual language program
- More students will also have access to digital devices
- RELATED: Back to School 2019
Chickasaw Elementary School extended its dual language program to include second-graders, but it’s not the only new development. Students in the program will also get their own digital device. Kindergarteners to first graders will use iPads and second graders will get laptops.
“It’s a fact of life now, all children need to be prepared and versed and be tech savvy,” Principal Janet Medina-Maestre said.
She said students will spend 25 percent of their learning using their 1:1 digital devices. The addition of the digital devices is a districtwide initiative. This year, there will be 109 schools in the district that are 1:1.
Principal Medina-Maestre said in its brief history, the program has helped her students learn a second language, whether it is English or Spanish.
“We have students who are native English speakers that can read or write in Spanish, and they just completed only first grade,” Principal Medina-Maestre said.
She said when students first start in the program and are introduced to a new language, many of them look like a deer caught in the headlights.
“By mid-year, they’re so comfortable with hearing the teacher speak in the second language they follow along,” she said.
The National Association of Bilingual Education recently recognized the school for its dual language program. Twenty-five educators came from across the country to watch the Chickasaw Elementary students in the program learn.
Next year, Principal Medina-Maestre said third grade students would be added to the program.