970 Madison Oak Park Illinois 60302 ph: 708.524.3000 fax: 708.524.3019 www.op97.

org

February 17, 2015

Dear Families,
On September 23, 2014, the District 97 Board of Education approved the purchase of the Rosetta Stone World
Language Program for the purpose of supplementing Spanish instruction for Elementary World Language
(FLES) students in grades three through five, enhancing the educational experience for our English Language
Learners (ELL), and supporting the lifelong learning goals of our staff.
Since then, the Spanish team at the elementary school level and the teachers who specialize in English as a
Second Language (ESL) have been trained on the effective use of Rosetta Stone, and have worked together to
determine how the program can best be utilized to help our students succeed both in and out of the classroom.
We also created user accounts for students and staff members. Please note that no student account was created
without the consent of the childs parents/guardians.
This month, students will begin using Rosetta Stone outside of the school day to help increase their exposure to
the language. Next month, the districts language teachers and directors of curriculum and instruction will
provide the board with an update regarding the implementation of the program. The teachers will also spend
time between now and June establishing goals and creating plans for the 2015-16 school year.
Below is additional information regarding how Rosetta Stone is currently being used by our FLES and ELL
students, or will be used by them in the future
FLES Spanish - Grades 3 to 5
Rosetta Stones Spanish program is being used in grades three through five to:
Complement classroom teaching and learning.
Support the existing FLES curriculum.
Build both skills and confidence in reading, listening and pronunciation, as well as in basics such as
grammar constructs, through self-paced instruction.
Provide additional opportunities for differentiation.
Provide extended learning time beyond the classroom, which will aid communicative competence and
language proficiency.
The last bullet point is particularly important because frequent and consistent practice is critical for
strengthening proficiency in a language. That is why we are asking students to dedicate time outside the school
day for working with the Rosetta Stone software. Third graders should set aside at least 30 minutes per week,
while fourth and fifth graders should set aside at least 40 and 50 minutes respectively. This time should be
broken up into increments of 10 or 15 minutes to increase exposure to the language on a more consistent basis.
Our teachers will be monitoring how the program is being used at home, and will offer feedback on each
students progress in the participation section of the FLES report card.
We realize there are families that do not have Internet access at home, which may make it difficult for some
students to use Rosetta Stone when class is not in session. In these cases, we recommend that the
parents/guardians contact their childs teacher to discuss an alternative plan for meeting the necessary time
requirement. Options may include going to the public library, attending homework help sessions in the

building after school, utilizing free choice time during school, or at some schools, attending lunch time Spanish
or Rosetta Stone clubs.
English Language Learners
Both new and middle school ESL students will be given accounts that will allow them to access Rosetta Stones
English program from an iPad or computer. This program will be used to supplement what is being taught in the
ESL classes. It will also provide the students with additional opportunities to practice English in school and at
home. Your childs ESL teacher will provide instructions about using Rosetta Stone at home.
If you have questions about the districts use of Rosetta Stone, please contact your childs FLES or ESL teacher.
You can also email me at ddeaton@op97.org. In the meantime, I want to thank you for your support of this
initiative, and for your strong commitment to language learning. We believe Rosetta Stone is a valuable
educational tool that will aid the professional development of our staff and help our students learn, grow and
achieve.
un milln de gracias,
Dawn Fogle Deaton
Teacher-Leader, Elementary World Language (FLES Spanish)