Literature & Current Events

Download/Print Literature & Current Events

Download/ Print ELA Curriculum

Appendix

Additional Educator Resources

Course Details:

Grades: 9-12

Length: one - two semesters

Prerequisites: ELL-Program eligible, Developing or Expanding (WIDA levels 2-3), and instructor recommendation

Course Description:

This English course for ELL-eligible students integrates an exploration of literature and current event articles that support the content of learners’ regular classes and which draw from the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of learners’ heritages. Activities strengthen skills in the areas of syntax, continued vocabulary development, reading, listening comprehension, and writing multi-paragraph compositions that demonstrate organization of ideas, use of a thesis statement, and supportive elements. Learners will engage in the exploration of and use of language structures with increasing linguistic complexity, vocabulary that includes more technical language related to the content areas, and communication that is increasingly comprehensible and fluent.

ELL Program certified staff recommendation is required, and teaching assignments must be approved through the ELL program.

This course may fulfill 1-2 semesters of required English credits for Developing to Expanding learners, as determined by the appropriate WIDA English Language Proficiency Assessment.

English Language Development Standards**

- Standard 1: English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.
- Standard 2: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of language arts.
- Standard 3: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of mathematics.
- Standard 4: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of science.
- Standard 5: English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of social studies.

Informational Texts

Graduate - Level Competency:

Informational Texts

GS.1 Learners will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, analyze, and critique a variety of complex print and non-print informational texts – including texts for science, social studies, and technical subjects, and self-selected material.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.1 Receptive (Listening and Reading/Viewing)*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Know the personal, professional, and practical reasons to be a lifelong reader in the 21st-century American and global society.
- Find and consume texts that appeal to them, and explain what the texts may add to their understanding and lives.
- Interpret a wide variety of texts (different lengths, genres, methods of delivery, and purposes), and explain the merits and limitations of each.
- Practice close reading strategies to increase insight and accuracy, with teacher guidance.
- Choose the best support for a claim from a range of textual evidence.
- Annotate and highlight text with purpose, and explain how annotations help reading comprehension and engagement.
- Increase accuracy in evaluating texts for purpose, credibility, bias, and perspective using textual evidence to support that evaluation, with guidance from the teacher as needed.
- Identify how their own world views might be changing, and how that informs their interpretation of text.
- Increase the accuracy of their guesses about word meanings in context, with teacher guidance and instruction in word origins and structures.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Literature

Graduate - Level Competency:

Literature

GS.2 Learners will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, analyze, and engage with a variety of complex print and non-print literary texts, both teacher and self-selected.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.2 Receptive (Listening and Reading/Viewing)*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Read independently for in-depth understanding.
- Skim independently for important/specific information using text features, etc.
- Explain how their own cultural background informs their world view and interpretation of a text.
- Increase vocabulary by determining word meaning through context clues, knowledge of word origins, and structures.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Writing

Graduate - Level Competency:

Writing

GS.3 Learners will write in a variety of modes, including analytical, narrative, explanatory, and expressive, using complex reasoning, structure, and language

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.3 Productive (Speaking and Writing)*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Write effective arguments to support a claim using specific evidence and reasoning.
- Engage in the process of revision to improve writing, and consider various stylistic choices and refine voice.
- Choose and adhere to an established and effective format specific to the purpose of the writing task.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Speaking and Listening

Graduate - Level Competencies:

Speaking

GS.4 Learners will demonstrate the ability to speak purposefully and effectively, strategically making complex decisions about content, language use, and discourse style.

Listening

GS.5 Learners will demonstrate the ability to listen critically and reflectively in a variety of settings and purpose.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.4 Productive (Speaking and Writing)*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Produce coherent oral discourse appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Negotiate different cultural perspectives with sensitivity.
- Adjust presentation style, degree of formality, word choice, tone, and information to the context and audience.
- Synthesize and share information from a variety of sources and perspectives.
- Respond appropriately to others’ constructive criticism, compliments, and feedback to improve future communication.
- Use both formal and informal speaking to solve problems and/or create opportunities in the world outside of the classroom.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.5 Receptive (Listening and Reading/Viewing*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

Listen to understand, as well as to respond and build understanding collaboratively rather than competitively.
Understand cultural nuances in conversational styles and behavior (e.g., eye contact norms, body language).
Participate in live conversations while monitoring and enhancing equity of voice.
Independently make decisions in groups of all sizes, using consensus-building strategies and compromise.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Research

Graduate - Level Competency:

Research

GS.6 Learners will demonstrate the ability to conduct research to investigate self-selected and given topics, evaluate sources, utilize databases, and synthesize information independently and collaboratively.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.6 Receptive (Listening and Reading/Viewing*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Accumulate and vet sources online, in print, and in person.
- Coordinate and subordinate information and research material in order to synthesize it and present it coherently.
- Integrate common knowledge, summary, quoted material, and paraphrases.
- Cite material accurately according to a given professional manual of style (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago) in order to avoid plagiarism.
- Use the research process to solve problems and/or create opportunities in the world outside of the classroom.
- Find and select both primary and secondary sources.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Technology

Graduate - Level Competency:

Technological

GS.7 Learners will demonstrate the ability to appropriately use the tools of technology to gather, interpret, collaborate, and analyze information and create shareable products.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.7 Receptive (Listening and Reading/Viewing)* and Productive (Speaking and Writing)*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Understand the uses and limitations of search engines.
- Make choices about technology platforms and use the appropriate tools (e.g., an App, a program, etc.) to present material.
- Seek out and adapt to new developments and tools in order to select the best technology for the task.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Media Literacy

Graduate - Level Competency:

Media Literacy

GS.8 Learners will engage in independent critical thinking through accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and creating a complex variety of media.

Course/Grade Competency:

ELL.8 Receptive (Listening and Reading/Viewing)*

Content Objectives:

The learner will:

- Recognize, analyze, and understand the value of audio/visual/art as they connect to written pieces.
- Explain how factual news differs from propaganda (e.g., “fake news), and why an entity would use the latter versus the former.
- Be fully aware, prepared, and responsible online citizens.
- Identify and critique main modes of persuasion (ethos, logos, and pathos) as a consumer of media.

Standards:

Aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards** and grade-level competencies, as appropriate.

Additional Resources

Textbooks, student-issued learning materials, and/or instructional resources will be used as appropriate.

For additional site-based options, see the supplemental book list in the appendix.

*These will be based on WIDA Language Development Standards and Proficiency Level Descriptions, which are currently being developed (https://wida.wisc.edu/teach/standards/eld).

**WIDA Standards are currently being revised and new standards may be available at a future date.

Page updated

Report abuse