Book Description

This handbook, designed for classroom teachers, administrators, and parents of limited-English-proficient (LEP) children, describes aspects of successful bilingual education program design. In general, the handbook's focus is on school settings with large numbers of LEP students. Chapter 1 reviews research findings on effective program design and provides illustrations from California schools which use content-based curriculum in the home language. The second chapter examines bilingual program content by subject area, and describes how the requirements of the core curriculum interact with the special needs of the LEP student. Chapter 3 details one possible organizing scheme for large-scale bilingual programs, i.e., the transitional bilingual education program, and focuses on key questions in classroom-level planning. In the fourth chapter, essential elements for effective program support are discussed, including a staff of trained professionals who believe in and act on the assumption that every student can do well in school, and appropriate instructional materials, parental involvement, and periodic program evaluation. The final chapter reviews the key elements of program design and provides a checklist for planners. (MSE)