International Spanish Language Academy

International Spanish Language Academy (ISLA), a K-6 Spanish immersion community, empowers the whole child by nurturing the development of personal growth, strong character, academic excellence, and global vision.

Dear Families,

 

Thank you for your interest in International Spanish Language Academy! We are a growing elementary Spanish immersion charter school, having just opened in the fall of 2007.  We are excited about all we have to offer children.

 

The school was founded by five teachers who were interested in providing more immersion options for Minnesota families.  Having worked in immersion for fifteen years or more, these teachers watched as family and friends applied to immersion programs, only to be placed on a long waiting list.  After years of learning much about second language acquisition, it was time to create a new opportunity for children.

 

With over seventy five combined years of immersion teaching and administration, these founders went to work to create a stellar program. Not only does ISLA offer a superior language model for children, we are also working toward authorization as an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IBPYP).  The IBPYP brings global understanding to the classroom on a daily basis.  Six units of inquiry are studied at each grade level, encouraging students to dig deep into a topic and look at issues from many perspectives.  The IB Student Profile integrates character education in every lesson.  Students are encouraged to be principled, have integrity, to be honest and open-minded.  Students read books on various topics integrating a science or social studies theme with these characteristics included as well.  It is important at ISLA that we continue to teach children the important values that will help them become responsible global citizens.

 

Spanish immersion is a popular education option today.  It has evolved over the past twenty years of implementation here in Minnesota.  Much has been learned in these twenty years.  ISLA has designed an enriching program that offers best practices in teaching.  Our teachers are trained in immersion teaching strategies, IBPYP implementation, Six Traits writing and the use of Responsive Classroom to enrich second language acquisition.  New teachers are paired with an experienced immersion mentor.  Specialist classes are taught with a native speaker, thus further enriching the daily language experience.  As our name indicates “ISLA” orisland, is a place where students learn everyday, surrounded by the Spanish language.  Whether in the halls, at lunch, or on the playground, ISLA students are truly experiencing immersion through a cultural/language island model.

 

I encourage you to learn more about ISLA today!  Call or email the school.  We would be happy to provide you with more information.

 

Sincerely,

 

Karen Terhaar

Director