FAQs
What is ELL?
ELL stands for English Language Learners. You may also see our
program referred to as ESL (English as a Second Language).
What is the ELL program about?
ELL student groups are small, which allowsfor individualized instruction in
the areas the child needs help with. The children come to ELL for 30 to 60
minutes a day. The literature covered in ELL is science and social studies
based so that the children are still learning many of the same concepts as
their peers in class. The program focuses on reading, writing, speaking
and listening activities to strengthen their social and academic vocabulary,
increase their comprehension, build fluency and develop their phonetic,
spelling and grammatical skills.
Who is tested for ELL services and how do students qualify?
ELL Testing and Entrance Qualifications
· After a registration form or a home language survey has indicated that a
language other than English is spoken in the home, or by the student, the
district must screen the student with theEnglish language proficiency test
called the W-APT, as required by the state of New Jersey.
· If a student scores below a 4.5 on the W-APT he or she is eligible for
ELL services per state mandates. If the student receives a 4.5 or above
on the W-APT, then that student will be
considered fluent in English and will not receive services.
· If a child is tested and found to be fluent but is still struggling in the
mainstream classroom, the ESL teacher will retest a fluent student if a
concern arises and it has been one marking period since their last ELL
placement test.
How does a student exit the ELL program?
A student will receive ELL services until the following criteria have been
met:
· A score of 4.5 or above on the ACCESS state assessment.
· The student is reading on grade level according to District guidelines.
Does my child have to be in ELL?
A parent may choose to remove their child from ELL services at any time.
A simple letter to the ESL teacher stating your wishes to remove your
child from services is all that is required. Students withdrawn by their
parent(s) are still required by the state of New Jersey to take the ACCESS
state assessment to determine their language proficiency the first year
they are withdrawn.
What is the ACCESS State Assessment?
ACCESS stands for Assessing Comprehension and Communication in
English from State to State. New Jersey began using this test in
compliance with the new No Child Left Behind regulations. This
assessment scores the student’s English proficiency level in the areas of
reading, writing, speaking and listening in grades Kindergarten through
12. ACCESS is administered in April/May to all students who qualified for
ESL services during the school year.
How are students grouped?
Students are primarily grouped by grade level and come to ELL with other
English language learners from their classroom. At times students may
work with children at a different grade level based on their level of English
acquisition and their language needs. The ELL classroom is always a
warm and welcoming environment where students can feel free to
express their thoughts and opinions. The students work together to
increase their language skills through direct teacher instruction and
cooperative student groups. Students also work on independent projects
and individual participation is always encouraged.
What language is ELL taught in?
ELL is all English instruction. The teacher works with children who
themselves speak another language or their families speak another
language. This program offers additional support to help make the
transition into all English instruction easier for the student.
Who teaches ELL?
Mr. Diaz
I enjoy the challenge of working with students in different grade levels and
greatly appreciates each individual student’s cultural background.
Who do I contact if I have additional questions about the ELL
program?
At Roland Rogers, we are always happy to answer any questions you
may have. Please direct your questions to any of the following people:
Dr. Robin Moore (Principal)
Ms. Gruber (Assistant Principal)
Ms. Betty Napoli (Program Supervisor)
Mr. Diaz (ESL Teacher)
What is the focus of the ELL program?
ESL has 4 areas of learning: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
Some of the areas of focus are listed below.
Speaking Listening
asking questions
following oral directions
sharing feelings
spacial relations/positional words
sharing opinions
multi-step directions
role playing activities using visual and nonverbal cues
speaking clearly
role playing activities
speaking in complete sentences
Reading Writing
letter identification
upper/lower case letters
phonetic sounds
sentence development
vowel sounds
paragraph development
dipthongs/digraphs
punctuation and conventions
parts of speech
grammar
one to one correspondence
compare and contrast
directionality of print
retell/summarize
using picture and context clues
think and respond
decoding skills
making connections
reading strategies
author’s purpose
comprehension
making inferences
predicting outcomes
writing a letter
recalling details
journal writing
story elements
writing poetry
main idea
fluency
speaking
fact & opinion
context clues
vocabulary
character analysis
appreciation
evaluation
drawing conclusions
cause & effect
What Materials do they use in ELL?
ELL uses many different strategies to develop student skills. . Students
practice fluency and comprehension skills, as well as many other
activities. ELSL also focuses on the development of social and academic
vocabulary through hands on experiences, as well as grammar and parts
of speech. A variety of games and activities are used to strengthen these
areas and make learning fun and interactive for the student.
ELL’s reading series is Avenues by Hampton Brown. The series focuses
on science and social studies concepts through authentic literature of
many different genres. Avenues was developed as a motivational,
multicultural comprehensive, research-based instructional tool to meet the
state standards. Its multi-level materials provide learning opportunities for
all students with assessments to monitor progress. The series has
abundant visual support, authentic literature and hands on activities to
ensure understanding. Attached is a list of the themes covered in each
unit by grade level.
· Motivational, multicultural selections speak to student’s own
experiences.
· Multi-level materials providing access for all students.
· Abundant visual support and hands-on activities to ensure
understanding.
Is technology used in the ELL program?
Most definitely. We have PC computers, iPads, iPods and mp3 players in
use regularly in Mr. Diaz’s ELL Program.
Technology is revolutionizing the way students communicate, connect and
create-inside and outside the classroom. It's also revolutionizing the way
they learn.
With the latest digital tools, students explore and investigate rich
academic content through real-world examples. They express ideas
through photos and videos, and practice writing skills with blogs. They
learn how to integrate multiple media, analyze multiple perspectives, and
connect the dots between multiple subjects and disciplines.
These are the things students "WORLD-WIDE" are doing. These are the
things the students at Roland Rogers ELL Program are doing.
Students in my classroom have Blogs. They are familiar with using Ipods
and mp3 players. We also use Edmodo to allow students to communicate
with each other and their teachers.
Weekly I'll be uploading various tutorials I've created that students can
use at school or at home on a computer or ipod/mp3 player. Students
from Grades 2-6 will at times be bringing an iPod or mp3 player home to
review words and listen to common English phrases or greetings. Current
students can access these materials on our class Edmodo page.
I have several instructional videos on YouTube. My YouTube User
Channel is http://www.youtube.com/youtubeuser
Jose Diaz Network Websites
Welcome