Standards
At each grade, toward the end of a given level of English language proficiency, and with instructional support, English language learners will produce…
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Simple and compound grammatical structures with occasional variation
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Sentence patterns across content areas
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Example from ELD Standards: Speaking & Writing, level 3 (developing)
ESL teachers often follow English Language Development (ELD) standards for English Language Learners, set forth by the WIDA Consortium, in their instruction of ELLs. The ELD Standards provide performance definitions in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
WIDA’s Can Do Descriptors “highlight what language learners can do at various stages of language development as they engage in teaching and learning in academic contexts.” Both general education classroom teachers and ESL teachers can examine these descriptors to know what is expected of students at each proficiency level and to know how to push students into the next proficiency level.
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Additionally, for each grade-level, the Common Core State Standards lists expectations for three areas which are particularly important for ELLs: language and listening & speaking.
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The activities and strategies detailed in this Creative Synthesis project can be adapted to meet various standards and expectations.
