ESL Program Overview

In this program, children who come from homes where a language other than English is spoken are given English as a Second Language instruction and academic support. They develop and strengthen their English language skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The program focuses on developing the social and academic language needed to succeed in school. Social language is used to communicate for everyday purposes while academic language is used to communicate in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Every Spring, students are tested to evaluate their progress. Students will exit the program when they reach a satisfactory level of English proficiency or will continue in order to further develop their language skills.

At Sandshore School, children are pulled out of the regular classroom everyday for thirty minutes or an hour, depending on the child's needs. Children do not miss Music, Art, Gym, or Library. Every effort is made not to pull them during Math, Science, or Social Studies. Lessons focus on developing social and academic vocabulary through literature, songs, and poetry. Lessons also provide practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Visuals, graphic organizers, and websites are some of the strategies used to aid language learning. In the spring, children are tested to evaluate English levels. Depending on the results, children exit the program when they have reached a satisfactory level of English proficiency, or may continue in the program to further develop his or her language skills.

Click here for District ESL links