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Sunnybrook School District 171

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ELL

English Language Learners (ELL)

The mission of the English Language Learners (ELL) program is to support students in acquiring proficiency in English while maintaining and building upon their native language skills. The program aims to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where students can thrive academically and socially. Through personalized instruction, cultural awareness, and a focus on communication skills, ELL fosters confidence, encourages engagement, and promotes success for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

English Language Learners are students who come from non-English speaking homes who are learning English. Although many ELL students have developed basic communication skills in English, they still struggle with academic language. This disconnect can make classroom instruction difficult. As a result, modified instruction is often required to assist a student in their academic pursuit.

ELL Overview

 

 

9

Languages spoken in the distirct

Arabic, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Ibo/Igbo, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Youruba 

15%

Students revice ELL Services

 

4

Number of domians students are tested on

Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing

What is WIDA?

WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is an organization that provides English language proficiency standards, assessments, and professional development for educators working with English Language Learners (ELLs). Its goal is to support schools in helping students develop language skills needed for academic success. WIDA's key components include its English Language Development (ELD) standards, which outline the language skills students need across content areas, and the ACCESS for ELLs assessment, which measures students' proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. WIDA also offers resources for teachers to enhance their instruction and support ELLs' academic growth.

Standard 1

Social and Instructional Language: English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.

Standard 2

The Language of Language Arts: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of language arts.

Standard 3

The Language of Mathematics: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of mathematics.

Standard 4

The Language of Science: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of science.

Standard 5

The Language of Social Studies: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of social studies.

Check out the Can-Do descriptors:

Make sure to ask your teachers where your child falls on the Can-Do: https://wida.wisc.edu/teach/can-do/descriptors

Transitional Bilingual Education

Four people stand behind a table decorated for Dia de los Muertos, with sugar skulls, marigolds, and photos of loved ones.

The Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Program is a mandated full-time program for students of the same language background when there are 20 or more students as required by law.

The program helps students to succeed in academic subjects and learn English. The classes count toward graduation requirements.  The program is designed to allow EL students to successfully perform at their ability level while they learn English and transition into English-only classes.  Academic instruction in all required subjects areas is provided in the student’s first language while they learn English.  The instructional goal of the program is to meet academic achievement standards for grade promotion and to become proficient in English.

This program is offered to students who speak Spanish in grades K through 12 in self-contained classes.  At the middle and high school levels, all courses required for graduation are offered in Spanish, English as a Second Language, and/or English to meet the linguistic needs of this population.