Dual Language Spanish Fifth Grade Teacher

Position Title:

Fifth Grade Spanish Dual Language Teacher (50/50 Two-Way Immersion) Position Summary

The Fifth Grade Spanish Dual Language Teacher is responsible for delivering high-quality standards-based instruction in Spanish within a 50/50 Two-Way Dual Language Immersion program. The teacher fosters bilingualism, biliteracy, high academic achievement, and cross-cultural competence by providing rigorous, culturally and linguistically responsive instruction that affirms students' identities and leverages their full linguistic repertoires.

Working collaboratively with the English dual language partner teacher, the Spanish teacher co-plans integrated instruction, aligns curriculum across both languages, and ensures students develop strong literacy and content knowledge in Spanish while making meaningful cross-linguistic connections. The teacher creates an inclusive learning environment where multilingualism is viewed as an asset and all students are challenged to reach high levels of academic success.

• Provide standards-based instruction in Spanish for fifth-grade students in accordance with the district's dual language model.
• Teach designated content areas in Spanish while maintaining the integrity of language allocation.
• Implement evidence-based biliteracy practices that promote reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Spanish.
• Collaborate closely with the English partner teacher to develop cohesive bilingual instructional units and coordinate assessments.
• Incorporate translanguaging and cross-linguistic transfer strategies intentionally to strengthen students' biliteracy development.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the diverse academic and linguistic needs of multilingual learners and native English speakers.
• Use formative and summative assessment data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction.
• Foster positive classroom relationships that promote student engagement, belonging, and social-emotional development.
• Integrate culturally responsive and sustaining instructional practices that reflect students' diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Collaborate with special education, ESOL, interventionists, and related service providers to support student success.
• Communicate regularly with families in a respectful, culturally responsive manner.
• Participate actively in grade-level planning, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), curriculum development, and professional learning.
• Maintain accurate records and fulfill all district responsibilities related to instruction, assessment, and reporting.

• Valid Connecticut certification with bilingual endorsement appropriate for elementary instruction.
• Demonstrated fluency in spoken and written Spanish and English.
• Knowledge of biliteracy development, second language acquisition, and dual language instructional practices.
• Experience implementing culturally and linguistically responsive teaching practices.
• Strong classroom management and collaborative planning skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and high expectations for all learners.
• Experience with collaborative co-planning and interdisciplinary instruction preferred.
• Experience teaching in a dual language or bilingual education program preferred.

• Biliteracy instructional planning and assessment
• Literacy instruction in Spanish
• Cross-linguistic instructional strategies and language bridging
• Data-informed instructional decision-making
• Collaborative team teaching
• Differentiated instruction and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Technology integration to enhance multilingual learning
• Family and community engagement

The Fifth Grade Spanish Dual Language Teacher plays a critical role in preparing students to become bilingual, biliterate, and culturally competent global citizens. Through rigorous instruction, collaborative planning, and an unwavering belief in the strengths of multilingual learners, the teacher supports students in achieving academic excellence while developing pride in their linguistic and cultural identities.