Sheltered Instruction is...

• a way to use second language acquisition strategies while teaching content-area instruction,

• content-based English language instruction,

• a way of providing academic subject matter and linguistic assistance to ELs in the form of visuals, modified texts, and assignments,

• a means for making content comprehensible for ELs while they are developing English proficiency, and

• the integration of language, content, and socio-cultural awareness.

"Sheltered", in its usage at Horn Elementary, is the language that is surrounded by enough context clues for language learners with sufficient background knowledge to be able to understand what is being communicated.

At Horn Elementary, it is our goal through Sheltered Instruction to:

• accommodate materials, instruction, and pacing to ensure that EBs have a full opportunity to master the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum,

• address the affective, linguistic, and cognitive needs of EBs,

• ensure that EBs participate with their English-speaking peers in classes such as art, music, and PE as well as any extracurricular activities,

• provide instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies using second language acquisition methods,

• use knowledge of EB's proficiency levels to instruct, commensurate with EB's linguistic needs, in content-area classrooms,

• provide linguistically accommodated instruction (communicated, sequenced, and scaffolded),

• provide instruction that reflects the cross-curricular second language knowledge and skills, and

• provide additional supports that are focused, targeted, and systematic to EBs at the beginning or intermediate levels of English language proficiency.