Students at BES have a minimum of 120 minutes of literacy (phonics instruction, reading skills/practice and writing) daily. Students are explicitly taught skills unique to English and Spanish while also learning about the various ways both languages connect. Time is carved out each day to compare and contrast the languages to help deepen understanding for students. Students leverage what they know in their first language to help acquire and learn literacy skills in their second. Throughout an English and Spanish literacy block you’ll find time for whole group lessons, as well as leveled small group time while students learn to develop their reading skills in a smaller setting where they are receiving targeted feedback to help them grow. In addition to these literacy blocks, each student at BES takes part in Longhorn Block. Longhorn Block is a 30 minute extension of the literacy block, where students “get what they need” – whether that is more time learning to read in their first language by one of our reading interventionists or for students who need the extra push, it may be more time spent in second language development or time with our PEAK/gifted & talented coordinator. Our belief at BES is that students should prioritize learning to read in their first language first, and then focus on developing their second language.