Academics > Accel. Language Programs > Secondary ESL
Secondary English as a Second Language
Lamar Consolidate Independent School District’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Education program in available in grades 6-12. For grades 6-12, LCISD implements a Sheltered Instruction model. Students receive 100% of their instruction in English. Teachers use research based strategies to assist students in acquiring knowledge of the English Language while learning content area concepts and skills.
Mission:
Our ESL program will promote acquisition in the English language by providing instruction in English that is comprehensible to all ELL students.Goals:
1. To enable ELL students to become proficient in comprehending the English language in Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing through the utilization of ELPS.
2. To promote awareness and appreciation of all cultures.
3. To achieve academic success in all content areas.
4. To encourage ELL students to participate in meaningful and active social settings.
5. To inspire ELL students to become problem solvers, critical thinkers, and self-motivators.
Program Overview:
The Secondary ESL program is designed to give the necessary support to each ELL at their level of English Language acquisition.
Each ELL has a certified ESL teacher in the schedule. Students who qualify for ESL services are assessed yearly according to Federal and State guidelines. Texas uses the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS). Students are rated in listening, speaking, reading, and writing receive a score of Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, or Advanced high for each individual modality. Additionally, the state calculates a comprehension and overall composite score. These levels are then used to guide instruction and placement within the Sheltered Instruction model.
The framework of the Sheltered Instruction Model includes a sheltered team of core content teachers, an ESL teacher, an ESL aide, and ELLs ranging from Beginning to Advanced High language proficiency skills.
Beginning Level Students:
For any grade level a beginning level (B) student will have the ESL teacher for language arts and reading, and teachers from the sheltered team for Math, Science, and Social Studies. In some cases student have an additional English sheltered teacher where they receive an additional period of instruction in English. Students are clustered together with the same schedule for the core classes and the ESL classes. Students are not seated in a group together but dispersed among the other students. A para professional teacher travels with the students and assists the student in connecting to the content the teacher is teaching. Students are not clustered in groups higher than 10 ELL students per class period. Ideal amount of students ranges from 5-7 students but only fewer if the total of B students is fewer than 5.
Advanced Level Students:
For any grade level an Advanced level (A) student will have an ESL certified teacher for English and Reading (when grade appropriate), but not have the ESL teacher. Additionally, A student will have teachers from the sheltered team for both Math and Science. Students not generally clustered together in one class period, but do have the sheltered teachers on their schedule. At times when the paraprofessional or ESL teacher is available assistance in the content area courses is provided. The ESL teacher is available to conference with any teacher and provided assistance in identifying appropriate accommodations an approaches a teacher can use to help (A) ELLs acquire the content and language simultaneously.
Intermediate Level Students:
For any grade level an intermediate level (I) student will have the ESL teacher for Language Arts and Reading, and teachers from the sheltered team for Math, Science and Social Studies. In some cases student may have an additional reading or READ180 course that they are assigned to by the campus based on their individual needs. Students are clustered together with the same schedule for core classes and the ESL classes. Students are not seated in a group together but dispersed among the other students. When possible a paraprofessional or ESL teacher will assist the sheltered teacher in the content area courses. This is made possible by assigning the ESL teacher two or more Sheltered Instruction periods along with grade and level based ESL classes. Students are not clustered in groups higher than 10 ELL students per class period. Ideal amount of students ranges from 5-7 students but only fewer if the total of B students is fewer than 5.
Advanced High Level Students:
For any grade level an Advanced High level (H) student will have an ESL certified teacher for English and Reading (when grade appropriate), but not have the ESL teacher. Additionally, A student will have teachers from the sheltered team for both Math and Science. Students not generally clustered together in one class period, but do have the sheltered teachers on their schedule. At times when the paraprofessional or ESL teacher is available assistance in the content area courses is provided. The ESL teacher is available to conference with any teacher and provided assistance in identifying appropriate accommodations and approaches a teacher can use to help (H) ELLs acquire the content and language simultaneously.
Student Schedules:
Each May Language Proficiency Assessment Committees (LPACs) meet to review ELL students’ progress both academically and in their language proficiency. In this May LPAC meeting the ESL teacher assists the student in finalizing their schedule to insure the placement of students according to the district framework. During the summer or at a school specific date the ESL teacher has two extra duty days where they can assist administration and counselors in scheduling ELL students to ensure that at the beginning of the school year all students are placed appropriately.