Preschool Immersion Pedagogy: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Administrators

ABSTRACT Immersion education has been surging in the United States, with a focus on bilingual programs and continued interest in total immersion approaches, especially for early learners. To this day, however, there are few pre‐ and during‐service training opportunities or degree programs specialized in preschool, additive, total immersion pedagogy. In consultation with the directors and teachers of the Kinderstube German Immersion Preschool in Minnesota, USA, this article offers an accessible, short, and user‐friendly pedagogical resource that teachers and administrators can use for training and informational purposes, including communication with parents. It distills research findings on total, additive immersion for the preschool age, translates them into workable pedagogical suggestions, and offers practical approaches to working with young children in the immersion classroom. The article strengthens the position of preschool immersion educators as they are more than just preschool teachers, more than just knowledge and skills facilitators, and more than just language instructors. The recommendations focus on preschool‐aged children in the immersion environment but can be used for older learners and the non‐immersion second language classroom as well.