The Segregation of ELL Students

Background

• Low-income neighborhood in San Bernardino, CA.
• Focus on career exploration and STEAM.
• 90% English Language Leaners

Are ELL students in segregated classrooms?

• In our school, students are not segregated into certain classroom. Each teacher receives ELLs from different levels. Administrators allow grade levels to decide whether they want to have a designated ELD time or integrated ELD. CELDT scores and teacher’s observations are used to determine the level of the student.

What kind of curriculum are they receiving?

• Teachers can use different types of curriculum for ELLS depending on their levels. For emerging ELLs, there is “Moving into English” which provides students with basic English vocabulary. For ELLs that are at the expanding level, teachers can use science or social studies curriculum to integrated ELD.

What kind of curriculum are they receiving?

• Teachers can use different types of curriculum for ELLS depending on their levels. For emerging ELLs, there is “Moving into English” which provides students with basic English vocabulary. For ELLs that are at the expanding level, teachers can use science or social studies curriculum to integrated ELD.

How long do most students spend in separate ELL classes?

• Grade levels are free to determine if they want to have a designated or integrated time for ELD.In a designated time frame grade levels would split up the students depending on their levels.A designated time frame would last about 60 minutes
• During an integrated ELD, the teacher would be responsible to use ELD teaching techniques for her students through out the whole day.

When do they transition out?

• Students transition out depending on their CELDT scores, benchmark, state testing, and teacher observation.
• According to the CELDT, an ELL student that entered school in kindergarten should be reclassify by the third grade.
• The CELDT, is a difficult language test that many ELLs struggle in passing it.

What impact does their time spent in ELL classes?

• During designated ELD, ELLs receive English instruction at their level. The purpose of ELD would be to expose students to English vocabulary.
• It's important for ELLs to receive exposure to their first language. Ells should value the importance of being bilingual.

End remarks

• Overall, the ELL program at my school is helping some of the ELLs, but it is far from being perfect.
• We need to have an EL program that reflects the rigor of the 21st century serving skills and have adequate resources.