Meriden Public Schools: Bilingual Success with Wonders and Maravillas

The case study examines the implementation of Wonders and Maravillas, a bilingual instructional program, in Hanover Elementary School, part of Meriden Public Schools in Meriden, Connecticut. The program is used for grades K–5 in a public school setting. Alicia Lorenzo, a fifth-grade bilingual teacher with 21 years of experience, shared her insights into the program’s impact on her classroom, which includes students from diverse backgrounds such as Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, and Paraguay.

The teacher testimonials focused on the program’s ability to simplify planning, adapt instruction to student needs, and enhance learning outcomes. Wonders and Maravillas provide interconnected resources that streamline preparation, support differentiated instruction, and align with high-stakes testing formats. Alicia highlighted the accessibility of the program’s Spanish and English materials, which help newcomers build background knowledge while advancing English proficiency for more experienced learners. The program also fosters cross-curricular connections to subjects like science and social studies.

Outcomes examined include improved student engagement, language acquisition, and cultural connection. Students feel empowered by seeing their experiences reflected in the content, which promotes social-emotional learning and classroom participation. While statistical measures such as effect sizes or p-values are not provided, Alicia emphasized the program’s ability to meet higher educational standards and drive success across varying language levels.