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Elementary ESOL Curriculum
The MCPS Elementary ESOL curriculum is based on Maryland English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards for ESOL instruction. The ELP standards describe expected performance levels for ESOL students from beginning to advanced language proficiency levels. A copy of the standards, as documented in the Voluntary State Curriculum, is available at the following Maryland State Department of Education website: http://mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/elp/index.html.
The MCPS Elementary ESOL curriculum is designed using a research-based model for teaching language through academic content. Students learn and practice language that they can apply to the content areas of reading/language arts, social studies, and science. In addition, ESOL instruction focuses on enabling students to use language to communicate effectively in interpersonal situations, to promote critical thinking, and to apply learning strategies.
The Division of ESOL/Bilingual Programs developed curricula for all ESOL students. Instructional guides have been developed for kindergarten, first and second grade ESOL students. Curriculum blueprints have been developed for pre-k, and third through fifth grade ESOL students. All instructional guides and curriculum blueprints are organized around standards-based thematic units, which provide guidelines to teachers for planning, instructing, and assessing their students. An overview of current ESOL curriculum resources for each grade level is provided below.
Pre-Kindergarten
The ESOL curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start ESOL students is designed to develop age-appropriate oral language and basic literacy skills in English. ESOL teachers work in collaboration with classroom teachers to set objectives that will help students attain Reading/Language Arts standards, perform academically across content areas, and communicate with others in the classroom, community, and at home. ESOL teachers instruct students using the ESOL Curriculum Blueprints for Pre-K students (2005). The blueprint has four thematic units, each of which is aligned with reading/language standards and curriculum and provides guidelines for assessment that focus on measuring students’ oral language development. An ESOL instructional guide for Pre-Kindergarten is scheduled for future development.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten
The ESOL curriculum for Kindergarten students is designed to develop oral language and age-appropriate literacy skills in English. This curriculum is designed for teaching ESOL students at beginning, intermediate, and advanced English proficiency levels. This includes specific instruction in English vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and pronunciation. ESOL Teachers provide grades based on student performance on academic tasks, Common Task assessments in the four skill areas, and observations of student interaction and communication in the classroom. ESOL teachers instruct students using the ESOL Kindergarten Instructional Guide (2007). The Instructional Guide has four thematic units, each of which is closely aligned with reading/language standards and curriculum.
The ESOL Grade 1 Instructional Guide (2007) is designed for teaching ESOL students at beginning, intermediate, and advanced English proficiency levels. The guide includes a recommended sequence of instruction, language focus objectives for different proficiency levels, and instructional resources. The guide also includes Common Task assessments for measuring the development of students’ language skills in listening, speaking reading, and writing. The four units of instruction are aligned to content from the Grade 1 Reading/Language Arts curriculum.
The ESOL Grade 2 Instructional Guide (2007) is designed for teaching ESOL students at beginning, intermediate, and advanced English proficiency levels. The guide includes a recommended sequence of instruction, language focus objectives for different proficiency levels, and instructional resources. The guide also includes Common Task assessments for measuring the development of students’ language skills in listening, speaking reading, and writing. The four units of instruction are aligned to content from the Grade 2 Reading/Language Arts curriculum.
Two curricula resources are available for beginning ESOL students in Grades 3-5. The ESOL Curriculum Blueprint for Grades 3-5: Level A (2007) is aligned to the new Maryland English Language Proficiency Standards and to classroom instruction. The Blueprint provides teachers with standards-based Common Task assessments for measuring the development of students’ language skills in listening, speaking reading, and writing. This curriculum blueprint is specifically designed for teaching students at the high beginning to low intermediate proficiency levels.
The ESOL Beginning Level Instructional Guide: Units 1-4 (2004) is another resource that provides teachers with additional instructional activities for teaching students at this level. It may be used in conjunction with the ESOL Curriculum Blueprint for Grades 3-5: Level A. An ESOL instructional guide for Grades 3-5 Beginning and Low-Intermediate levels is scheduled for future development.
Two curricula resources are available for intermediate to advanced ESOL students in Grades 3-5. The ESOL Curriculum Blueprint for Grades 3-5: Level B (2007) is aligned to the new Maryland English Language Proficiency Standards and to classroom instruction. The Blueprint provides teachers with standards-based Common Task assessments for measuring the development of students’ language skills in listening, speaking reading, and writing. This curriculum blueprint is specifically designed for teaching students at the high intermediate to advanced proficiency levels. In one blueprint, two pathways of instruction for alternating years have been provided.
The ESOL Intermediate/Advanced Instructional Guide (2004) is another resource that provides teachers with additional instructional activities for teaching students at the highest levels of ESOL proficiency. The guide consists of eight units. Units 1-4 and Units 5-8 are used alternatively every other year, so that students within these proficiency levels do not repeat the same curriculum two years in a row. It may be used in conjunction with the ESOL Curriculum Blueprint for Grades 3-5: Level B. An ESOL instructional guide for Grades 3-5 High-Intermediate and Advanced levels is scheduled for future development.
An instructional guide for ESOL students at the Newcomer level is in the process of development. Currently, students at this level are instructed using Newcomer ESOL Instructional Resource Packet (2005) with various additional support materials designed for beginning language learners.
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