ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAM

The ELL Program is for children who have another language in their background.  The acronym stands for English Language Learner. 

Students in the ELL Program receive specialized instruction to help with their English Language Development.  These services are provided by the classroom teachers and some students receive additional help from our ELL Instructional Assistant, Pauline Moroz.  If you have any questions, please contact either Mrs. Moroz or the ELL Program Coordinator, Christine Cloutier at the following e-mail addresses:

English Learner Program
We have a dual obligation for the education of English learners.  These responsibilities include developing students’ English proficiency and providing access to academic content instruction.  Expected levels of English language proficiency are based on a projected increase of one Overall Proficiency Level (OPL) per year, as measured by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT).  The district expects reclassification to fluent English-proficient status within five years for students who enter the district at the “beginning” level.

At Westwood Elementary, all English learners typically increase one proficiently level for each year they are enrolled and are reclassified as Fluent English Proficient prior to promoting to middle school.

English Language Development
English learners receive concentrated instruction in the use of the English language that is appropriate for their grade and English language proficiency level. Such instruction must be provided by a teacher with advanced training in special strategies to help students increase their English proficiency and learn academic subjects taught in English.

English language development (ELD) is embedded in all activities conducted in English throughout the school day, and students receive focused ELD instruction targeted to their specific proficiency level. 

California English Language Development Test (CELDT)
Any student who lives in a home where a language other than English is spoken must take the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) within 30 days of his/her first date of enrollment in school to determine whether the student is 'fluent English proficient or an English Learner. The CELDT is then administered each year to English learners until they are reclassified as fluent English proficient. CELDT results establish one of five proficiency levels for each student: Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, or Advanced. The CELDT enables the district to monitor student progress in learning English and helps teachers diagnose students' instructional needs.

Useful Websites:

1. The U.S. Department of Education recently released a toolkit for Hispanic families that includes a variety of resources to help students succeed in school. The toolkit was developed with guidance from over 1,800 Hispanic parents at Parent Information and Resource Centers across the country and is available in both English and Spanish.http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/2006toolkit/index.html
   
   
2. The following website contains some simple flashcards that may help with specific content areas - such as social studies and science topics. http://www.mes-english.com/flashcards.php
   
   
3. The following website provides books online for students, some in different languages.  Children can register for free and use the library to read books right on their computer. 
   
   The mission of the International Children's Digital Library Foundation (ICDL Foundation) is to support the world's children in becoming effective members of the global community - who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas -- by making the best in children's literature available online free of charge. The Foundation pursues its vision by building a digital library of outstanding children's books from around the world and supporting communities of children and adults in exploring and using this literature through innovative technology designed in close partnership with children for children. http://www.childrenslibrary.org