We need a framework!
As Dual Language Teachers we are always wearing two hats- we are a grade-level teacher AND a language teacher. We need a way to organize our teacher tools and instructional strategies to ensure we are meeting our students’ needs.
Frameworks made for Language Learners an ideal place to start. SIOP and GLAD are two popular frameworks. If you choose one of these frameworks, you’ll have to make a few changes to help them align with the Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education. An example that changes the SIOP to work for Dual is the TWIOP.
Other frameworks that can be used by Dual Language Programs and teachers are CLAVES™, from Dual Language Education of New Mexico and the C6 Biliteracy Instructional Framework™ by Dr. José Medina. The benefit to using these frameworks is that they are already designed for specifically for Dual Language Programs, and they align with the Guiding Principles.
The Framework I Use
I use this Cornerstones Framework for Dual Language Pedagogy. It organizes strategies into four big concepts.
If you continue to explore my thoughts about instruction, I’ll continue to refer back to the Cornerstones, but everything can also fit into one of the other frameworks, if that is what you use.
All of these frameworks are grounded in research, so you will find considerable overlap in the strategies used. Instead of spending time bouncing from framework to framework, choose one and go deep- become an expert in that framework.