English Learners
The GOAL of the ELL program is to help students who are English Learners "including immigrant children and youth, acquire English proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English, and meet the same challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards as all children are expected to meet” (ESEA 'English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act’ Sec. 3102).
The EL program at Rock Ridge provides EL students with instruction in the English language by emphasizing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through the use of a structured English language approach. EL students are provided services in models that best fit the linguistic level of each student while not compromising the grade level content and rigor. Likewise, SERVICE MODELS are differentiated to best meet individual student needs in the most inclusive environment. A blend of age-appropriate, research-based instructional strategies, such as Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP), instruction in the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards, and Project Based Learning and Assessment allows ELs to access the content of the general education classroom.
Each student’s placement is determined on an individualized basis. Factors that should be considered before determining
course placement include, but are not limited to:
• Proficiency Level
• Prior educational experience
• Student transcripts
Newcomer EL Courses
EL Literacy 1
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1In this course, Proficiency Level 1.5 – 2.0 EL students will develop their literacy skills through a variety of reading andwriting activities. Students will learn strategies to support their development as active and critical readers and will explore a varietyof text types, including both fiction and nonfiction. Students will also create original compositions of varying lengths, styles andtypes to support their growth as writers in core content and elective study areas.Newcomer English
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1(Proficiency Level 1.0 – 1.9) Recently arrived EL students are immersed in intensive English language and literacydevelopment to develop social, academic, and cultural skills. ELs in this course participate in guided reading and writingactivities, systematic phonics, while exploring various text types including fiction and non-fiction. All four language domains –listening, speaking, reading, and writing – are incorporated in order to support students’ acquisition of academic English.Pre-Newcomer EL Mathematics
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1 (not a Math credit)In this course, Newcomer EL students (Proficiency Level 1.0 – 2.0) learn the language of mathematics as well asfundamental basic and conceptual math skills to build understanding of key concepts associated with newcomer EL MathematicsConcepts and Algebra I. This course is most appropriate for students at low levels of English proficiency who possess limitedbackground in mathematics and/or have had limited or interrupted schooling.Newcomer EL Mathematics
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1 (not a Math credit)In this course, Newcomer EL students (Proficiency Level 1.0 – 2.5) learn the language of mathematics along with keyconcepts of the grade-level mathematics curricula of Algebra I and Geometry.Newcomer EL Science
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1 (not a Science credit)In this course, Newcomer EL students (Proficiency Level 1.0 – 2.0) learn the language of science along with key conceptsof the grade-level science curricula, including general science theory, earth science, and biology. This course is most appropriatefor students at low levels of English proficiency who possess limited background in science and/or have had limited or interruptedprior schooling.Newcomer EL Social Science
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1 (not a Social Science credit)In this course, Newcomer EL students (Proficiency Level 1.0 – 2.0) learn the language of social science along with keyconcepts of the grade-level social science curricula, including World History and United States and Virginia History. This course ismost appropriate for students at low levels of English proficiency who possess limited background in social science and/or havehad limited or interrupted prior schooling.
Intermediate EL Courses
EL Literacy 2
Grade(s): 9-12 Elective Credit: 1In this course, Proficiency Level 2.0 – 3.0 EL students will expand their literacy skills in order to become more maturereaders and better writers. Students will apply a variety of reading strategies as they become more active and critical readers ifincreasingly challenging fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will also create original compositions of varying lengths, styles, andtypes as they expand their skills as writers.English as a World Language (EWL)
Grade(s): 9-12 World Language Credit: 1In this course, Proficiency Level 2.0 – 3.0 EL students learn to expand their communication skills in the four languagedomains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Complex vocabulary, grammatical, and sentence structures are used to extendstudents’ development of academic English.Meeting Link: Q&A Curriculum Meeting
Contact Info:
EL Department Chair- Margareta.Cernev@lcps.org
EL Administrator- Jennifer.Cavanaugh@lcps.org