Highline Proud of our Dual Language Professional Learning
- "Definitivamente está mucho más claro y puedo planear para este año."
- “Loved getting PD in Spanish! More of this please!”
- “Mario is a breath of fresh air—I think I know Spanish now!” [from a Vietnamese-English Dual Language participant]
These are just a few of the enthusiastic responses from elementary teachers who attended the Dual Language (DL) Thematic Biliteracy Core professional learning opportunity. Hosted by Highline’s Language Learning department and led by partner Mario Palma, this special session wrapped up DID week by leaving teachers inspired and ready to launch their year.
This wasn’t just talk about using culturally responsive teaching methods—it was an immersive experience. Mario guided teachers through reading and writing lessons that supported the four pillars of Highline’s Dual Language program [pdf]. He modeled how to be a culturally responsive educator while cultivating joy in learning.
One highlight was the integration of the Sentence Patterning Chart into thematic language development, showing how explicit syntax instruction can deepen students’ writing. The room buzzed with energy as Mario led the group through chants, read-alouds and oracy development—all in the context of culturally responsive instruction and identity development, with ARC’s Literacy Framework anchoring core lessons.
Teachers left with clear, concrete examples of how to live our Highline Promise and work toward achieving our four goals:
- A Culture of Belonging: Teachers saw the power of personal stories and scaffolds in complex instruction, building connections with students.
- Innovative Instruction: Mario demonstrated how to showcase the brilliance of bilingual students through a literacy-rich, integrated thematic approach to biliteracy.
- Bilingual and Biliterate: Teachers learned to leverage transfer through bridge moments and teach syntax, helping students become linguistic experts.
- Future Ready: Empowered and prepared, teachers are ready to make student learning more rigorous, seeing no limits to how students can engage and grow as bilingual geniuses.
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead in Highline’s Dual Language programs!