Mariposa Instructional Program Principles: Core beliefs or principles drive decision making and the entire design of our academic model.

All students at Mariposa will have a focus of biliteracy in English and Spanish.  The ability to communicate in multiple languages is critical for effective participation in the political, social, and economic arenas of today’s globalized world. To honor the multilingualism (mostly Spanish) of many Mariposa students, students are provided daily opportunities for conversational Spanish with over 50% of staff being bilingual and weekly specialized instruction 2 hours per week focused on biliteracy through our STEAM curriculum.  This model offers a sustainable, “even playing field” and strategic focus for all learners on academic biliteracy and aligns with any future pathway’s students may choose in post elementary learning to be pursue and be awarded a Seal of Biliteracy. https://sealofbiliteracy.org/ 

At Mariposa, we choose to use our Project Lead the Way curriculum as the academic foundation for biliteracy focus. https://www.pltw.org/ Young learners are naturally wired for discovery. PLTW is designed with activities that let them see what they can be and build skills to discover what they can do. Students are immersed in hands-on activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the real world. They experience integrated learning that blends computer science, engineering, biomedical science, and more. Throughout the modules, even the youngest learners apply their math and English Language Arts (ELA) skills, learn science to standards, and adopt skills that are foundational across disciplines. The Mariposa model in connection with the PLTW curriculum supports rigorous learning for all students, including America’s 5 million English Language Learners, all PLTW Launch students and teachers have access to curriculum in both English and Spanish.