Audubon ESL Department

ESL Teachers

Mrs. Sarah TrzaskaMrs. Barbara MacMullenMrs. Xenia Zacharczuk

Mrs. Kathy Wahl

ESL Aides

Mrs. Joanne DunbarMrs. Irene Dobbs

Methacton ESL Program

English as a Second Language

English Language Development

Many ESL students were born in the US.

Some do NOT speak their family’s language.

Approximately 123 students in ESL now.

Most common home languages: Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese & the languages of India.

ELLs = English Language Learners

How Students Qualify for ESL

PA and US laws require that Methacton assess the English Language proficiency of all students from a home where another language is spoken.

-English Language Proficiency tests, such as ACCESS-Other district tests-PSSA scores-report card grades/classroom performance

ESL Curriculum

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension

Academic Language (Math, Science, Social Studies)

Higher-level Thinking Skills

Help ELLs meet grade-level state standards

ESL Schedule

Elementary: Reading + ESL, 1.5-2 hours per day

ESL only, average 30 minutes per day (less often for advanced level students)

Some students have an ESL assistantin their classroom for extra help with other

subjects

WIDA ACCESS for ELLs-Standardized English proficiency test used across the USA

-Taken annually by all ESL students in Pennsylvania

-Used to measure students’ progress and effectiveness of ESL program

-Tests both social and academic (math, science, etc.) language skills

-Scored on a scale of 1-6 (see attachment)Students need a composite score of 5.0 to exit ESL

-This year the ACCESS test will be taken in January

-Test results are used for planning ESL instruction and for placing and exiting students

Exiting the ESL Program

Pennsylvania Department of Education ESL Exit Criteria

-ACCESS score of 5.0 or higher-PSSA (gr. 3-11) of basic or better-Grade average of at least C in majorSubjects/satisfactory grade-level

Recipe for a

Successful Student

•Sleep

•Food

•Homework

•Free Time

•Parent- Teacher Communication

Sleep/Food

• Elementary students need 10 – 11 hours of sleep every night.

• Have a bedtime routine that will get the child ready to sleep. This could include bath, story, and talk about the day.

• Eat a good breakfast, such as cereal, milk, and fruit.

• Children should not have computers in their bedrooms. Parents cannot see what their kids are doing on-line or how much time they are spending on the computer.

Homework

• Homework is important. The teachers give credit for it or lower the grade if homework isn’t handed in.

• There should be a scheduled time for homework. There should be a quiet place to do homework.

• Say, “Show me what homework you have.” Then check the homework when they are finished. The new math program for Kindergarten, first, second and third grades has homework that the parent can help with. We have Spanish translations for the homework.

• Most students have homework assignment books. You can check the assignment book to see what homework and test your student has. The student is responsible for doing the homework.

• The parents, teacher and student are on the “team”. They can work together to help the student academically or with behavior.

• Your child’s teachers have email addresses which

are the first initial of the first name, last name, @methacton.org.

• If you would like to write a note, and you don’t feel

your English is proficient enough, you can use freetranslation.com.

Parent and Teacher Communication

Parent/teacher conferences are important.

•We can use Language Line, an interpreter service, for the conference. Just let us know if you need it, so we can arrange for a room with a speaker phone.

•Please fill out and return forms such as field trip forms quickly. If you have difficulty understanding the papers, contact the teacher.

•If you want to meet a teacher, please make an appointment. Please do not come to school to talk to the teacher without calling or emailing first.

Home

• Limit TV time and computer/video game time

• When kids have small jobs, such as making their bed or setting the table, they learn to be more responsible.

• Children should be responsible for getting their backpack ready for the next day; then parents can check it.

• Children need some unstructured, unscheduled free time to play.