November 4, 2021 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Curriculum, Assessment & Professional Practices Committee Meeting

Summary of the Briefing:

• In our Spanish classes, Levels 1-4, we have been using the textbook, Avancemos (2007) which will no longer be supported as of August 2023

• We have engaged in a program review of several textbooks and are recommending, Senderos Levels 1-4 Copyright © 2018, Vista Higher Learning, Inc., as a new core instructional program for Levels 1-4. 

• We would use this book series at both Bethel Middle School and Bethel High School since we are teaching Spanish levels I and 2 in our middle school. 

• Per our policy, students can receive World Language credit at Bethel Middle School as long as they meet the established requirements.

• The book, Senderos, was selected for the following reasons:

  • Alignment to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards

  • Focus on authenticity, cultural immersion, and seamless integration of text and technology

  • Each unit includes context, vocabulary, media, culture, structure, and skill synthesis

  • Scaffolded student support

  • In addition to a grammar component, this book supports our work around equity using comprehensible input (e.g., videos, films, pictures, visualizing, action, games) and cultural representations to support language learning

  • There is AP alignment addressing 3 modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication

  • Strong focus on speaking communication using partner chats and virtual chats with native speakers

  • Extensive digital tools are available to support teaching and learning

  • Brookfield and Masek are currently using this textbook and Newtown and Watertown are looking to adopt a new book as well

• The cost of the textbooks: