ESOL

English for Speakers of Other Languages

Grades: 6,7 & 8
Students in the ESOL Program posses moderate, limited, or no proficiency in English and need varying degrees of English instruction. The curriculum provides survival skills for adjusting to a new culture, basic conversation skills development, and an expansion of basic reading, and language skills (oral and written) in a sequential manner.
Students are divided into three levels: Beginners (A), who take a minimum of three hours of ESOL; Intermediate (B1), who take a minimum of two hours of ESOL; and Advanced (B2), who take one hour of ESOL and regular English. Regular and ESOL teachers work together to provide additional support in reading, mathematics, and health and physical education as difficulties are encountered.

LITERACY (LA-ESOL)
ESOL LA
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
This course is taken concurrently with three periods of ESL and FAST MATH. Students with little or no schooling in their home languages may take this course. Instruction focuses on integrating literacy and school skills with language acquisition in a small-group setting. In some instances, A-level students with very minimal language may take this course.

ESOL A LITERATURE
Grade: 6, 7, 8
This is two parts of the four-course A-level curriculum. It is literature-based and may be tied to Focus Science and Social Studies courses. It draws on content-related readings and a variety of genres for language development. Students develop language skills that enable them to function socially and academically, while preparing them for later SOL achievement. Opportunities to use technology for research and publishing are essential to this course. Placement is made by staff at Devonshire and an ESOL teacher. This course may be repeated.

FOCUS SOCIAL STUDIES
ESOL A Soc.St
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
This course is one part of the four-part ESOL A course and is also an alternating curriculum. It is based on major concepts in upper elementary and seventh grade social studies programs of study, and provides a foundation for future SOL achievement. In even years students learn about geography and study U. S. History from Exploration through the New Nation. In odd years students study geography and U. S. History from the New Nation up to the Civil War.

FAST MATH
ESOL Math
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
The purpose of this course is to provide instruction in elementary mathematics skills to ESL students who are functioning two years or more below grade level in mathematics. The course presents the Elementary Mathematics Program of Studies in a condensed format using manipulatives, special materials, and ESL strategies. The course includes number concepts, mental math, estimation, problem solving, operations, measurement, geometry, data analysis, statistics, probability, and fractions. Students may need up to two years to complete the course, but should move to the next course as soon as their math skills warrant.

FOCUS SCIENCE
ESOL A Science
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
This class is one part of the four-part ESOL A course. It is a two-year alternating curriculum designed to keep beginning ESOL students at pace academically while they are learning English. The curriculum alternates between even and odd years to prevent repetition for students who are at the A-level for both years of middle school. Students learn the basics of scientific process along with key vocabulary and concepts through exploration and experimentation with science kits. In even years students learn biology, physics, and earth science through the study of these science kits: Plant Growth, Microworlds, and Electricity & Magnetism. In odd years students learn biology, chemistry, physics and earth science based on these kits: Butterflies, Mystery Powders, Simple Machines, and Weather. This curriculum provides a foundation for future SOL achievement.

ESOL B1 LITERATURE
ESOL B1
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
This course is taken concurrently with a B1 social studies class. It draws on a variety of literature through which students continue to develop proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Fiction and non-fiction literature serve as the foundation for vocabulary and grammar development, and literature selections may be tied to topics in B1 Social Studies. The course relies heavily on reading and the writing process along with opportunities to use technology for research and desktop publishing. Placement is made following assessment by staff at Devonshire and/or the ESL teacher. This course may be repeated.

ESOL B1 SOC ST
ESOL B1 Content
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
This class comprises a two-year alternating curriculum based on the Middle School Social Studies Program of Studies. It is taken concurrently with ESOL II B1 Literature, and provides a foundation for SOL achievement. Students use the text America's Story II to learn about major themes in American history (the 1860's to the present) as they develop their language skills. This class relies heavily on reading and the writing process, and integrates technology as a tool for research and publishing. This course may be repeated.

ESOL B2 LITERATURE
ESOL B2
Grade: 6, 7 & 8
This is the last course in the middle school ESOL sequence. B2 students have considerable language proficiency and take this course concurrently with mainstream grade seven or grade eight English. Students read a variety of literary genres and use technology as they work with the writing process to extend and refine their English skills. Topics and activities are designed to complement learning that takes place in mainstream English classes and to serve as a foundation for future SOL achievement. Placement is made by staff at Devonshire and the ESL teacher. This course may be repeated.