 |  | Welcome to the
Garrison-Jones Elementary
Dual Language Program |  | Señora Skeim is a graduate of the University of South Florida. At the beginning of her teaching career, she taught at Tarpon Springs Middle School. After 10 years there, she transferred to Garrison-Jones Elementary when her daughter started kindergarten. She has been with the Garrison-Jones family for 20 years. She is married and has two daughters that are currently attending a University. On her free time, she enjoys the beach, cooking and traveling.
She is overjoyed with the opportunity to teach the Spanish immersion program that is starting at Garrison-Jones this fall. Spanish is very dear to her. She was born in Cuba and brought up in Costa Rica by missionary parents. Her middle school and high school years were in the Miami/Dade area. | People often say, “I would love to speak another language”. It is possible for our students!
The dual language program is an enrichment model of instruction. It emphasizes the importance of all students becoming bilingual and biliterate. Students will not just speak a second language, but they will become prepared for the 21st century where they can use it in the professional world.
Dual language develops best using both languages in meaningful contexts. When students are learning in a second language, they are not losing their first language. Instruction will remain aligned to the national core standards. The material in one language will reinforce the second language, but does not necessarily repeat. Students will be learning and increasing knowledge on grade level in both languages. Student engagement will be planned through collaborative learning structures to expand the constructs of meaning in listening, speaking, reading, writing and math. Curriculum activities will be meaningful, expand student language and increase their cognition.
We invite families to the Dual Language Program that are committed to supporting their child’s education and acquisition of a second language. Family commitment will require you to support your child’s learning in their first language and expecting nothing less than a rigorous curriculum at school in two languages. |
| Ms. Urbanski is a graduate of the University of Central Florida. She came to Garrison-Jones as an ESOL teacher in January 2010. She taught kindergarten last year and is now looking forward to being the English teacher in the dual language program. In her free time, Ms. Urbanski enjoys going to the beach, traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Ms. Urbanski can't wait to learn Spanish along with her kindergarteners! |
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