NABE 2025 Pre-Conference Institutes

February 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET
Breakfast provided. | Lunch on your own. 
Cannot be combined with a school visit.
This institute illustrates an inquiry approach focused on interdisciplinary thematic learning as children progress through phases that include hands-on experiences, scaffolded writing, and dialogic reading. The goal is to equip young dual language learners with cognitive and linguistic tools to build a strong foundation for biliteracy development. Examples of implementation of this three-phase approach in action will be shared.
​The research is clear: Multilingualism is a natural part of human potential and multilingual education provides the ideal context for unlocking this potential in each child. But  how do  we do this? In this session, participants will explore practical tips, tools, and strategies for developing bilingualism and biliteracy in Spanish and English by leveraging both languages through a simultaneous biliteracy approach. Specific examples will demonstrate the process of bi-directional transfer in children at various stages in their biliteracy development, from preschool to pre-teen. Information is directed at teachers in dual language education contexts but is applicable to teachers of multilingual children across a variety of instructional settings, including transitional bilingual and English  as a Second Language settings.
Strategies that leverage one language to increase acquisition of the other language (Spanish and English) through the process of bi directional transfer. Strategies shared will focus on cross-language connections that we can help students make which go far beyond simple cognates. We will explore strategies to build Oracy and literacy (reading and writing) with a focus on linguistic structures, including grammatical structures that are needed for students to engage meaningfully in academic content. What grammar is needed to summarize, compare and contrast, and describe? How is this grammar similar and different in E and S? all presented through highly visual and interactive strategies that are fun and engaging for students (and teachers), but still challenge students to refine their skills in the two languages.

Click here to register.

NABE 2025 Education Site Visits

February 19, 2025 | 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET
Cannot be combined with a pre-conference institute.
Green Tour- University
o Offers two programs in Dual Language Immersion Education
- Master of Education in Elementary Education Degree with a concentration in Dual Language Education
- Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement
o These programs develop highly prepared teachers who understand Dual Language Immersion education and are teacher-leaders in establishing learner-centered classrooms consistent with the standards of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium
o Early Childhood and Elementary Education is a partner with the Future Immersion Teacher (FIT) Fellowship.

As the first of its kind, the University Visit will provide participants the opportunity to engage with professionals at the university and district level to hear about Dual Language Immersion program implementation in Georgia and make connections across states and contexts. Participants will engage in roundtable discussions about topics related to teacher preparation; teacher recruitment; student-to-teacher pipelines; and collaborations between universities, organizations, districts, and other important topics. Participants will be able to brainstorm and share solutions to challenges, connect with others, contribute and access shared session resources.
Orange Tour- Grades K-6
This school is a statewide charter school serving K-6 students across Georgia. This school offers the state's only dual language immersion program in English and Japanese, catering to a unique multi-ethnic, multi-racial, and multi-linguistic community. Students learn both languages through a variety of subjects, with instruction in Japanese and English vertically aligned with the Georgia Standards of Excellence, following a 50/50 model. This framework ensures that students achieve proficiency in both languages by the 5th grade.
Red Tour- Grades K-6
This school is a state-wide dual language immersion (DLI) charter school in Georgia, offering a 50/50 two-way immersion program with two language tracks: Mandarin-English and Korean-English. Founded in 2020 with the mission to cultivate bilingual, biliterate, and multicultural students, this school currently serves nearly 500 students in grades K-6 and plans to expand to K-8 by 2026.
Pink Tour- Two sites
School 1: Grades 7-11
This school opened in August 2016 to serve English Language Learners, grades 7-11, who are newcomers to the American school system. The middle school's program of study seeks to accelerate the development of English proficiency and math skills to enable students to graduate within four years of entering high school. The high school's program of study seeks to accelerate the development of English proficiency, math skills, and the necessary career skills to enable students to transition to the workforce and/or adult educational opportunities. This school currently has sites at Berkmar HS, Central Gwinnett HS, Discovery HS, Duluth HS, Meadowcreek HS, and Norcross HS.
School 2: Elementary
This school opened in August 2016 to relieve elementary schools in the Norcross Cluster. The school is named in honor of a beloved educator and active community member in Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia. A unique feature of the school is its Dual Language Immersion Program. Through the DLI program, participating students learn the AKS curriculum; however, they learn language arts and social studies in English and science and mathematics in Spanish. Another unique feature of our school is that we offer both Computer Science and STEM programs. We have a competitive robotics team, athletics program, and a vast number of clubs to enrich our students beyond the school day. Finally, this school was one of two GCPS schools selected as part of the US Deputy Secretary of Education school tour in 2023.
Blue Tour- Grades K–5
In its 11th year in 2024-25, our 50/50 two-way Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program serves children in grades K–5. In DLI, children learn the curriculum in both English and Spanish. We also offer a Spanish Special for all students.
This school promoted cultural awareness and community unity through celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month , Black History Month,  Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) History Month, and International Night.
To support school readiness, this school hosted rising kindergartners over the summer and offered Play 2 Learn on Fridays during the school year. During Play 2 Learn, families with children, ages 3 to 5, worked with a certified teacher to prepare their children for school.
This school 's parent center provided instructional resources to promote academic success for students. Through parent workshops and evening programs sponsored by the Parent Center, parents learned ways to help their child improve in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, writing, and test-taking strategies. The center also offered English classes for non-English-speaking parents, cooking classes, home buying courses, and partnered with University of Georgia (UGA) to offer parenting and wellness classes.
This school’s elementary school won a $9,100 grant from Gas South. The grant money was used to revitalize the current garden by making it more colorful, updating the soil, adding cross-curricular items, lessons and materials, and more planters.
This school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) sponsored Harvest Fest, International Night, school dances, and fundraisers to increase family engagement.
This school offered extracurricular activities such as Chorus, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Safety Patrol, Student Council, Readers Rally, and Robotics. The Robotics Team won the Regional Championship at the First Lego League Regional Competition.
During this school’s annual College Week, college students were invited to participate in a panel that provided students with an up-close and personal view of the college experience. Career Day and Careers on Wheels students provided students with opportunities to learn about a variety careers as volunteers shared information about their workplace, their job, and the education and skills that are required for success in their career.
This school’s Elementary School was a pilot school for the EL Education Curriculum. El Education is a literacy curriculum builds students' capacity for three dimensions of high achievement: Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, Character, and High-Quality Student Work.
This school is a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school. PBIS encourages positive behaviors with recognition for students who exhibit appropriate school conduct.
Yellow Tour- Grades PK-5
This school was Georgia's first dual immersion school when it opened in 2006, with approximately 150 students in kindergarten and 1st Grade. The desire for students to become bilingual, as they learned the Georgia standards quickly spread throughout the district and the state.  With popularity for dual immersion learning picking up, this school became a model for other dual immersion schools to open across Georgia. This school now boasts enrollment serving over 400 students from Pre-K through 5th grades. This school follows the 50/50 immersion model in which Math and Science are taught in Spanish, and all students enjoy additional language support in Spanish through their daily specials rotation.  
Opportunity for all students has most recently led this school on its S.T.E.M. certification journey to fill a void of females, blacks and Hispanic/Latino representation in S.T.E.M. professions. During the Summer of 2024, this school is proud to reestablish ourselves as a Dual Language Magnet and S.T.E.M. certified elementary school.  We are bilingual, innovative, biliterate, collaborative, multicultural, critical thinkers.