English Language Development

Students who qualify for Multilingual Learner (ML) services receive English Language Development ELD elective classes aligned with the MN English Language Development Standards in a variety of options. Student placement is determined by their WIDA English Language Proficiency level (ELP), Average Daily Membership (ADM), and/or teacher recommendation.

ELD Courses: Students will develop and expand their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening with a focus on academic language in English. Academic language will include grade-level standards aligned language of Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Social language. ELD courses are taught by a licensed EL teacher. Students will receive an elective credit per course.

Sheltered Content Courses: The sheltered content courses are in the core subject areas with a focus on integrating academic language and grade level content standards. Sheltered courses may be taught by a dual licensed teacher in EL and the content area or by a content-licensed teacher trained in Sheltered Instructional practices. Students will receive content area credit for these courses.

Mainstream Content Courses: Multilingual Learner students participate in co-taught courses and/or courses taught by licensed content area teachers. Teachers purposefully integrate state content standards and academic language. Co-taught courses are taught by licensed EL and content-licensed teachers. Students will receive content area credit for these courses.

Course Offerings Based on WIDA Proficiency Levels

ELD Foundations

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit: 1 elective credit per trimester

Students will be introduced to social communication skills with an emphasis on academic vocabulary across grade-level content areas and integrated culturally responsive orientation practices.

Reading & Writing Foundations

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credits:2 elective credits per trimester (2 hour block)
Teacher placement for identified students with limited or interrupted formal education

Students will engage in scaffolded, extended research projects and selected units of study that emphasize language-rich reading and writing instruction integrated with content academic vocabulary.

Reading Foundations 3

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit:1 elective credit per trimester
Teacher placement for identified students with limited or interrupted formal education

Students will expand on foundational reading skills with an emphasis on proficiency in the five essential components of literacy development and independent reading. Instruction in this course is based on individual progress and skill. This course focuses on the Academic English Language domain of reading.

Science and Social Studies Foundations

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level)
Credit:1 elective credit per trimester

Students will be introduced to content specific academic vocabulary through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Instruction will include a focus on the academic vocabulary of science and social studies standards. Although using content as a means of instruction, the focus will be on learning academic English.

ELD Entering

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit:1 elective credit per trimester

Students will listen, read, write and speak in order to discuss, explain, argue, narrate and inform in content areas. Instructional focus will be on general academic language related to grade-level content standards for MLs at ELP levels 2.0-2.5.

ELD Developing

Length: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit:1 elective credit per trimester

Students will continue to develop their proficiency in academic English in listening, reading, writing and speaking in order to apply the key uses of language to discuss, explain, argue, narrate and inform in content areas. Instructional focus will be on general academic language related to grade-level content standards for MLs at ELP levels 2.5-3.4.

ELD Expanding

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit:1 elective credit per trimester

Students will continue to expand their proficiency in academic English in listening, reading, writing and speaking in order to apply the key uses of language to discuss, explain, argue, narrate and inform in content courses. Instructional focus will be on general academic language related to content areas for MLs with ELP levels 3.5-4.5.

Academic English Writing

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit: 1 elective credit per trimester

The course focuses on academic writing for the key language uses of narrate, inform, explain, and argue. Students will narrate experiences and events, clarify ideas, actions or phenomena, and persuade by making claims supported by evidence

LA Entering

Length of Course: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit: 1 Language Arts credit per trimester

This course is aligned with the Minnesota State LA and WIDA Language Standards for grade 9. Students will read independently, use the writing process, develop essays, review study skill strategies, reinforce the writing process to improve interpretive reading and writing skills in fiction (including drama) and non-fiction, use research and technology, and develop oral communication skills.

LA Developing

Length: Up to three trimesters
Prerequisites: Instructor or Counselor Approval (in conjunction with WIDA Language Proficiency Level and Average Daily Membership)
Credit: 1 Language Arts credit per trimester

This course is aligned with Minnesota State LA and WIDA Language Standards for grade 10, and extends the skills learned in LA 9. Areas of focus include, but are not limited to, informative text, literature, communications, grammar, and writing for a variety of purposes.

Math Foundations 1

Length of Course: Three trimesters
Not NCAA Approved
Teacher placement for identified students with limited or interrupted formal education

SLIFE identified students will develop working number sense, and will be introduced to fractions and decimals along with academic mathematical language. Students will be introduced to problem solving applications.

Math Foundations 2

Length of Course: Three trimesters
Not NCAA Approved
Teacher placement for identified students with limited or interrupted formal education

ML Students will continue to develop rational number sense, along with academic mathematical language. Students will be introduced to Algebra 1 skills and standards in preparation for Algebra 1.2.

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