How long will my child be in EL?
It depends on each child. Typically, it takes about 7 years to be fluent in English and to be able to do work comparable to native speaking peers. The younger a student starts learning English, the faster they will acquire it. Typically, students will progress through WIDA levels 1-3, and slower through WIDA levels 4-5. It also depends on how much English the child is exposed to and practices. Some students learn fast, and others have to put in more effort. There is no definitive answer!
Should I be concerned about m;y child missing class to come to EL?
In short, probably not. Your child needs English skills to be able to access what is being done in the classroom with the grade-level curriculum. Often, for students who know no English, EL classes are a welcome respite from the fast pace of the classroom. As students learn more English, their EL instruction hours are reduced, so that they are getting exactly what they need in pull-out groups, while being able to remain in their general classroom for most of the day.
What do you do in EL class?
We work on a variety of skills with speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We work on complete sentences and specific vocabulary when answering the "Question of the Day." We practice using new forms of writing (genres) and using correct word order. We read books together, and at other times, we read books individually. We work on following multi-step directions the first time we hear them. We work on learning through games. We work on explaining in many ways and strategies to figure out a new word in context.
It depends on each child. Typically, it takes about 7 years to be fluent in English and to be able to do work comparable to native speaking peers. The younger a student starts learning English, the faster they will acquire it. Typically, students will progress through WIDA levels 1-3, and slower through WIDA levels 4-5. It also depends on how much English the child is exposed to and practices. Some students learn fast, and others have to put in more effort. There is no definitive answer!
Should I be concerned about m;y child missing class to come to EL?
In short, probably not. Your child needs English skills to be able to access what is being done in the classroom with the grade-level curriculum. Often, for students who know no English, EL classes are a welcome respite from the fast pace of the classroom. As students learn more English, their EL instruction hours are reduced, so that they are getting exactly what they need in pull-out groups, while being able to remain in their general classroom for most of the day.
What do you do in EL class?
We work on a variety of skills with speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We work on complete sentences and specific vocabulary when answering the "Question of the Day." We practice using new forms of writing (genres) and using correct word order. We read books together, and at other times, we read books individually. We work on following multi-step directions the first time we hear them. We work on learning through games. We work on explaining in many ways and strategies to figure out a new word in context.