At Columbine Elementary School, the Biliteracy Literacy Club, led by second grade teacher Jamie Schroeder, is giving students in grades three through five the opportunity to strengthen their bilingual skills. The club, which meets for an hour after school on Tuesdays, encourages students to build literacy in both English and Spanish with the goal of earning their Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diplomas. The Seal of Biliteracy in St. Vrain Valley Schools is an award given to high school graduates who have demonstrated proficiency in English and at least one other language. Approximately 10 students participate in the after school club.
“The Biliteracy Literacy Club was inspired by our district’s K-3 Biliteracy Program,” said Schroeder. “We want to encourage students to keep learning in two languages through high school. The Seal of Biliteracy is a prestigious acknowledgment of this achievement, and it’s a goal we want all students to reach.”
The club uses a cross-language approach, utilizing tools like cognates — words that sound similar in both languages — to make connections between English and Spanish. The club’s focus is on showing students that learning a second language is not completely foreign but rather an extension of what they already know. “I often chart new concepts in both languages and highlight how they’re alike and different,” said Schroeder. “For example, capitalization rules change between English and Spanish, and we discuss why that happens.”
Schroeder’s aim is for students to develop equal proficiency in both languages and recognize their bilingual abilities as valuable assets. In each session, she begins by introducing concepts in Spanish and then transitions to pressing them in English. This method helps ensure that students fully understand each concept before applying it in both languages.
Parents have expressed their support for the club, appreciative of the opportunity it provides their children to grow academically and personally in both languages. According to Schroeder, the club gives parents a way to engage more fully in their children’s education by utilizing resources translated in both languages.
“Our district has adopted a biliteracy component in the ReadyGen curriculum, which supports students in kindergarten through third grade,” said Schroeder. “With the potential adoption of new math resources, parents will have even more tools available to help their children at home in both languages.”
Looking ahead, Schroeder hopes the Biliteracy Literacy Club will have a lasting impact on students. “I want them to feel empowered to use both languages in all aspects of their lives,” she said. “I hope they continue to work toward their Seal of Biliteracy in high school and inspire others to embrace bilingualism as a strength.”