What is the Dual Language Program?

Designated as a Bilingual School Organization (BISO), Ada Merritt offers students the opportunity to pursue a dual language education in English/Portuguese or English/Spanish. This successful program is based on the philosophy of the transfer of skills from one language to another. Every elementary school student spends sixty percent of their day in English language instruction and forty percent of their day in a second language the other language of instruction.

What is the International Studies Program?

Students pursuing English/Spanish proficiency will have the opportunity to enter the Spanish Section of the International Studies Program (ISP). This dual recognition program is a collaborative effort of M-DCPS and the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain. The ISP offers students the opportunity to explore social science and science objectives which are part of Spain's educational curriculum and not covered by Florida standards. This highly demanding academic program will enable students to receive a "bachiller" degree from Spain as well as a High School Diploma upon successful 12th grade graduation from the program and fulfillment of the educational requirements set up by each country. The ISP functions as a component of Ada Merritt's English/Spanish two way bilingual program with an additional hour of daily instruction in Spanish in the PYP and two out of eight courses in Spanish IS for MYP students.

Classes begin for students on Friday, October 3rd, 2025

Purpose of the program

To provide the students with an extensive knowledge of Spanish language culture as well as literature. Speaking, listening, reading and writing will be improved, focusing on the standards approved by the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Program Requirements

1. PYP students attend class for an additional one hour and fifteen minutes of instruction in Spanish every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday after regular school hours. PYP students maintain above average academic/conduct grades and achievement levels.
2. PYP students who do not attend the After School Care Program should be picked up on time, immediately after the additional one hour and fifteen minutes of (ISP) instruction.
3. MYP students take two classes in Spanish every year of the programme: an international Studies class in 6th and 7th grades and the Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and Culture class in 8th grade, as well as a Spanish Humanities class.
4. All students must:
   1. maintain above average academic/conduct grades
   2. complete and turn in all assigned homework.

International Studies Links

Spanish Activities (Learning):

Shared Activites

Spanish Dictionary:

Real Academia Española

Newspapers From Around The World:

Newspapers from around the world

Information on Spain:

Información sobre España

Interactive Map:

Mapa Interactive

Parents/Guardians

• Please provide a quiet place where the student can work effectively
• Please make sure the student does not leave assignments at home.
• Please go over the student's home learning assignments daily
• Please encourage the students to use maximum effort at school.

Students

• Must come to class prepared to work and with a positive attitude.
• Should participate in class and ask for help when needed.
• Must complete all assignments on time.
• Should keep notebooks organized.

What is the International Education Program?

The International Education Program (IEP) was established during the 2005-2006 school year by Miami-Dade County Public Schools and in support by the Cultural Center of Brazil (Centro Cultural do Brasil).

IEP presents selected students in first through fourth grades with a unique opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of Brazilian culture and their official language. Students are chosen by their homeroom teacher based on levels of proficiency in the Portuguese language. The students are also chosen based upon their ability to display positive behavior and attitudes across subject areas.

The International Education Program curriculum is divided into ten units of study. These units focus on the development of oral and written communication and the understanding of the cultural aspects that play a role in language. Each unit culminates a final project. The final projects allow students to display their understanding of the units through the completion of individual projects delineated by both their peers and their teachers. The projects consist of hands on activities that give the students the opportunity to actively manipulate their learning process.

Classes begin for students on Friday, October 3rd, 2025.

International Education Links

Brazilian Search Engines:

Google Brazil

Educational Magazines:

Educational Online Brazilian Magazine:

(Revista Nova Escola)

Online Dictionary:

Priberam Dictionary (Dicionário Priberam)

Brazilian Folklore:

Jangada Brasil

Portuguese Language Theme Page:

Enchanted Learning (Picture Dictionary, Information, and Printouts to Color)

Online Educational Games and Resources:

Online Games from Santa Teresinha Elementary of Rio de Janeiro (Links Divertidos do Colégio Santa Teresinha)

What is the International Baccalaureate Programme?

Quality education for a better world

The International Baccalaureate (IB) offers three high quality programmes of international education to a worldwide community of schools: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3–12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP), for students aged 11–16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for high school students.

Ada Merritt K-8 Center is officially an IB World School offering a Primary Years Programme and a candidate school for the Middle Years Programme.

The IB programme aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. It emphasizes critical thinking and an integrated approach to learning and encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.