Biliteracy Professional Development Series

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About the Biliteracy Series

This is a four-part course comprised of an Introduction and three Modules. This course is designed to provide participants with evidence-based strategies for teaching students in English and Spanish while working towards bilingualism and biliteracy. It is an open-source format designed to be accessible to anyone interested in learning more about best practices for providing biliteracy instruction in Spanish and English. There is a note catcher that corresponds to each course component for you to capture your learning. Additionally, you will find support documents and websites to further your learning. You may take this course at your own pace. If you choose to take the quiz at the end of the course, you will be eligible for two hours of professional development.

Jump to Modules

Biliteracy Walk-Through Tool

The Biliteracy Walk-Through Tool helps identify areas of strength and growth in instructional practices. The tool can be used over time, over multiple observations, to watch for improvement in instructional practices or to identify opportunities for targeted support at both the individual classroom level and for grade or school-wide support. It is not intended for formal evaluation. During an observation of instruction, indicators can be marked to indicate criteria that are observed, partially observed, or not observed. Notes and recommendations for future instruction can be recorded in the Evidence/Feedback section.

The Biliteracy Walk-Through Tool Includes:

Features of Effective Bilingual Instruction (can be utilized across content areas)
Content and Language Objective Checklist and Language Development Supports (can be utilized across content areas)
Oral Language Indicators (can be utilized across content areas)
Biliteracy Indicators for Phonological and Phonemic Awareness and Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension
Systematic and Explicit Instruction Indicators (can be utilized across content areas)

Biliteracy Walk-Through Tool (Google Sheets)

Biliteracy Walk-through Tool (Excel)

Biliteracy Walk-Through Tool in Spanish (Coming Soon)

Introduction

The introduction to this course provides the learner with the foundational knowledge necessary to advance through the modules. Key vocabulary is defined to frame the course learning.

Watch Introduction Video

Introduction - English

Introducción - Español

Additional Resources

Additional Resources (cont.)

Web Link Disclaimer

Because of their potential interest or usefulness to the education community or the general public, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) occasionally provides links from this site to external websites. It attempts to monitor such links regularly. However, the Department cannot be responsible for the content of any site external to its own.

Further, by linking to other sites, CDE is not endorsing any particular product, practice, service, provider, or institution, nor does it necessarily endorse views expressed or facts presented on these sites.

In addition, neither CDE nor any of its employees makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information linked to this site.

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Module 1: The Key Components of Spanish Literacy and Biliteracy Development

Essential Question: What are some of the key components of Spanish literacy and biliteracy development?

In Module 1, you will review some of the components necessary for developing literacy and biliteracy in Spanish and English. You'll examine various instructional frameworks for biliteracy, analyze the reading braid for multilingual learners, and conclude with research-based literacy strategies for teaching both languages.

Watch Module 1 Videos

Module 1 - Part 1: Biliteracy Instructional Frameworks

Module 1 - Part 2: The Reading Braid for Multilingual Learners and Biliteracy Development

Module 1 - Part 3: Components of Reading for Spanish, English, and Biliteracy Development

Module 1 - Part 3 Continued: Components of Reading for Spanish, English, and Biliteracy Development

Module 1 - Part 4: Evidence-Based Strategies for Bilingual and Multilingual Learners

Module 1 Resources

Módulo 1: Página para tomar notas (PDF en español)

Module 1: Note Catcher (PDF in English)

End of Course Credit

Please complete this brief survey and quiz on modules 1-3 to receive a certificate for 2 hours professional development.

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Module 2: Oral Language Development in Spanish and English

Essential Question: How do oral language and oracy relate to literacy and biliteracy development?

In this module, you will review the bilingual continuum and understand the importance of oral language development for multilingual learners acquiring literacy skills in both Spanish and English. You will also identify evidence-based strategies for fostering oral language and oracy development across languages.

Watch Module 2 Videos

Module 2 - Part 1: Developing Bilingualism and Biliteracy

Module 2 - Part 2: Increasing Oracy and Oral Language Development

Module 2 - Part 3: Research-Based Strategies to Support Oral Language and Literacy

Module 2 Resources

Módulo 2: Página para tomar notas (PDF en español)

Module 2: Note Catcher (PDF in English)

End of course Credit

Please complete this brief survey and quiz on modules 1-3 to receive a certificate for 2 hours professional development.

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Module 3: Metalinguistic Awareness

Essential Question: How can the similarities and differences between Spanish and English be leveraged to support cross-linguistic transfer?

In Module 3, you will explore the phonological, morphological, and syntactic aspects of metalinguistic awareness. You will review examples of phonological, morphological, and syntactic awareness in both Spanish and English. Additionally, you will identify research-based strategies that support biliteracy development.

Watch Module 3 Videos

Module 3 - Part 1: What is Metalinguistic Awareness?

Module 3 - Part 2: Phonological Awareness in Spanish and English

Module 3 - Part 3: Syntactic Awareness in Spanish and English

Module 3 - Part 4: Morphological Awareness in Spanish and English

Module 3 - Part 5: Translanguaging

Module 3 - Part 6: Cross-Linguistic Transfer

Module 3 Resources

Módulo 3: Página para tomar notas (PDF en español)

Module 3: Note Catcher (PDF in English)

End of course Professional Development Hours

Please complete this brief survey and quiz on modules 1-3 to receive a certificate for 2 hours professional development.

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End of Course Survey & Quiz

Biliteracy Professional Development Series Survey and Quiz

The end of course survey and quiz is required for those wishing to receive a certificate of 2 hours professional development. This quiz includes ten questions from all three modules. Participants must score an 8 out of 10 to receive a certificate of completion. Should participants score lower, they will receive an email with a new link to take the quiz again. Please allow up to 60 minutes for the new link and for certificates of completion to be emailed. If you do not receive an email, please check that your account allows emails from the Smartsheets.com domain.

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