How do I set up my class? How much English do I use? How much Spanish do I use? When do I transition students? These are all good questions and really, without simplifying things too much, the answers are pretty easy.
First, I understand that not all children speak English as their primary language. I understand that some children process information better in their native language so we make extensive use of this in my classroom. However, I also understand the importance of learning and having a strong base in English so we use English with great frequency as well. In other words, my classroom is indeed a bilingual learning environment.
How do I set up my class? This year I will use more structured stations so I can better give the differentiated instruction that my class needs. My stations will cover such areas as word games/ word consciousness activities, spelling, math, writing/handwriting, computers and reading along with any other area that I feel the children need during the year. While the different groups work at different stations, I will work with a group on a specific skill.
How much English and Spanish do I use? Again, it is pretty simple. I have made my schedule so that I have a dedicated English language arts time and a dedicated Spanish language arts time. I spend about one hour and fifteen minutes in English language arts and the same in Spanish language arts. My kids have two spelling lists, but they are short. In addition, my classroom is usually reading two different stories concurrently, one in English and one in Spanish. This has not caused problems and the children easily adapt to this.
My math lessons are done in both languages. I give whole group instruction in Spanish with key concepts translated into English so that everyone understands. Then those students who are working in English in math receive small group instruction in English while I continue to instruct in Spanish for those children who have still have not acquired enough academic English to work effectively and efficiently in English.