Program Philosophy and Goals

We believe that the entire school community is responsible for the education of English Language Learners. We recognize that ELLs have their own language and culture which are assets to their academic achievement and to the school community. We believe that cultural diversity can add to the curriculum and broaden the educational experience of all students.

Effective ELL instruction incorporates quality curriculum that addresses ENL and Common Core Learning Standards, well-trained and certified teachers who utilize the best practices in the field of second language acquisition. ENL teachers work closely with classroom and content teachers, as well as administration, support staff and community organizations. The ENL teacher develops individualized instruction for language acquisition and cognitive academic language skills through the use of sound instructional techniques.

The goals for our ELL students in Spackenkill are:

• To use English to communicate in academic and social settings
• To achieve in the classroom/content areas while learning English
• To use English in socially and culturally appropriate ways
• To develop the language skills necessary to be successful students and members of society
• To effectively meet our goals, ENL instruction and supports address the following objectives: To provide instruction that builds on students’ previous education, cognitive abilities, and English language proficiency. To develop knowledge and experience in the four domains of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing, as well as pronunciation. To work with small groups of ELLs with similar needs.
• To collaborate with the classroom teachers so that students acquire the vocabulary and learn language structures needed to understand the instruction in the content areas and to integrate ENL supports in the classroom.
• To provide instruction and school activities that reflect respect for diversity and show understanding of students’ varied cultural backgrounds.
• To evaluate English Language Learners with appropriate and valid assessments that are aligned with state and local standards and take into account language proficiency and students’ cultural backgrounds.
• To provide opportunities that build and strengthen the home-school connection. To honor and respect various cultures and languages by drawing upon students experiences as well as teaching many aspects of American culture.