How many students are in each class?

It depends on the particular class. For our morning meetings, closing circles, and some classes, such as a science or inquiry, class size typically ranges from 9 to 12 students. For math and for reading and writing groups, students are placed based on their ability levels and their groups are smaller – typically anywhere from 2 to 7 students. 

What is your student-teacher ratio?

We have a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. This low student-teacher ratio allows us to provide instruction that is highly individualized.

What if my child doesn’t have prior experience learning Spanish?

Numerous studies affirm that immersion is the best way to teach foreign languages. It is more successful than any other educational method in promoting bilingualism and literacy in two languages. Immersion is most effective when it begins early in a child's academic career. It is not necessary to have previous knowledge of Spanish to enter our program before the 2nd grade. Students without prior exposure to Spanish who start our program early — in kindergarten and 1st grade — will gradually build their knowledge of Spanish. 

However, if students enter our school at 2nd grade or higher, they will encounter greater academic demands that all children face as they advance through school. In the process, the cognitive demands placed on these older students to speak and understand Spanish, as well as to read and write in Spanish for half of their instructional time, will also increase. For this reason, students wishing to enter Tampa Bay International School in grade 2 or higher must demonstrate at least a basic level of Spanish comprehension and initial Spanish speaking skills. These skills can be acquired in a number of ways. They include:

• Previous Spanish instruction in or outside of school – through a FLES or after school program, a summer camp, a Saturday school or an immersion program elsewhere

• Hearing and speaking Spanish at home

• Previous experience living in a Spanish-speaking country

• Contact with Spanish speakers on a regular basis

How do you teach students who are gifted?

Research has shown that the challenging nature of immersion is beneficial to gifted students. Additionally, our small school and the approach we take to instruction — grouping students based on ability level and interest and not always by grade level — benefits students who are gifted. This allows them to be challenged appropriately and take on work that is more cognitively demanding. Furthermore, our regular instruction includes the implementation of teaching strategies for gifted learners. These strategies include acceleration of curriculum, compacting curriculum, and differentiation of instruction to meet the needs of students who are gifted. Finally, we are committed to providing our teaching staff with continuous professional development geared toward gifted students.