bilingual education in district 65

Members of the bilingual services team support English Learners (EL) in District 65. Currently, there are three program models that serve EL students.

Bilingual/ESL Support
Grades 6-8

When EL students are in middle school, they are supported through a co-teaching model in which there are two teachers (one content teacher and one bilingual co-teacher) in the classroom. The bilingual co-teacher provides the EL students with extra academic support, assists the content area teacher in modifying curriculum and instructional techniques, and may work with students in small groups to differentiate instruction.

In addition, we offer a Spanish for Spanish Speakers (SSS) class for our TWI students and native Spanish-speakers as a way of building upon their academic language skills in Spanish. The literacy skills students employ in the SSS class build upon the same skills emphasized in English Language Arts and help students make explicit connections between and across languages.

These programs are available at: Chute, Haven, and Nichols.

Video: Overview of Middle School Programs (Spanish)

Video: Overview of Middle School Programs (English)

English as a second language (esl)

Grades K-5

English as a Second Language (ESL) is a program that serves eligible students from low-incidence language backgrounds. District 65 services students from nearly than 70 language backgrounds. Some examples of the language groups represented in this program are: Arabic, French, Haitian-Creole, Mandarin, and Swahili.

The program provides support to help students succeed in academic subjects and learn English. The program provides instruction in the English language using Sheltered English Instruction. Students who receive this support are in the general education classroom the majority of the day and receive support from an ESL teacher either in the classroom or in small ESL groups as necessary.

This program is available at the following schools elementary schools: Dawes, Lincoln, Orrington, and Walker.

Two-Way Immersion (TWI)

Grades k-5

The goal of the TWI program is for students to develop strong literacy skills and language proficiency in both English and Spanish, in order for them to become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.

In District 65, the TWI magnet program is composed of a balance of two linguistic groups:

• Spanish-speaking students who are eligible to receive EL (English Learner) services and who have accepted services, and
• English proficient students

Teachers use challenging strategies that promote high levels of language and academic achievement. The same curriculum as general education classrooms is followed, with specific units of study taught in Spanish with a bridge to English.

The program is available to all EL-Spanish speaking students who accept services, and to English proficient students through a magnet lottery at the following elementary schools: Dawes, Dewey, Oakton, Washington, and Willard. Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, the TWI program was expanded to serve all kindergarten students enrolled at Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies (K-8). One grade level will be added annually eventually making the global studies school the first to offer TWI at all levels.

Click here for more information about the TWI program. 

Video: Overview of Elementary Programs (Spanish)

Video: Overview of Elementary Programs (English)

Contact Us

Amy Correa, Bilingual and ESL Program Director

(847) 859-8104         correaa@district65.net

Monica Ornelas, Bilingual Assessment Facilitator

(847) 859-8105         ornelasm@district65.net 

Manuel Aleman, District Translator

(847) 859-8108        alemanj@district65.net 

Amada Zamudio, Bilingual Department Secretary
(847) 859-8106         zamudioa@district65.net