English Language Learners Program For Secondary Students

What is ELL?

In Federal Way schools, students who do not know English, or who need to improve their English in order to understand their school work, are enrolled in the English Language Learners (ELL) Program. In secondary schools, ELL students are taught in Sheltered English classes.

Our teachers

Sheltered English classes are taught by ELL and regular classroom teachers who receive training in specific methods to make math, science and English understandable for non-English speaking students.

Students in math and science classes also have access to a tutor, many of whom are bilingual and can offer support in the student’s native language.

Curriculum

Curriculum used in ELL instruction is researched based. Language! is a basic reading program for beginning and intermediate students, grades 6 through 11. It focuses on phonemic awareness (the relationship of sounds to letters), phonics and fluency.

Secondary reading instruction is provided using the following textbooks:

• America’s Story at middle school
• Land, People and Nation at high school
• High Point for the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP).
• Leveled reading and language arts materials are determined by the school.

ELL students will have portfolios and participate in the Student Led Conferences.

Registering your child for ELL services will include the following:

• Registration Packet – families are given a packet of information about our schools and forms that the school needs you to complete and return to provide emergency contact and other essential information about your student. Translators are available to help you complete these forms.
• Home language survey – families fill out a form that tells what languages are spoken at home.
• Oral Language Assessment Scale Standardized Test (LAS-0) – students are given a test to determine their English skills.
• Family interview on prior education and learning – families tell the staff how the student received an education before coming to Federal Way , including academic background and prior knowledge/experiences.
• Community Resources – our staff provides information about resources for families of our ELL students within the school district and in the community.

Our families

Our students’ families are encouraged to be involved in their child’s education and are given ideas for helping their students at home.

Our staff:

• Connects parents with school and community resources
• Encourages parents to come to school throughout the year,
• Encourages parents to meet their students’ teachers
• Encourages parents to ask questions and talk with their students about what they learn.

Ways that parents can be involved:

• Help teachers to develop an academic profile for their student.
• Call voice mail lines for help in reporting absences or getting information from the schools. These lines are checked by interpreters at least twice a day :

Spanish: 253-945-2473
Russian: 253-945-2382
Korean: 253-945-2472

• Attend Student Led Conferences.
• Check Reading and Writing Scope and Sequence Progress Reports.
• Attend community conversation and citizenship classes.
• Contact interpreters for help when having trouble communicating with or understanding school staff.

For more information about the ELL program, please call Director Clarissa Parnell at 253-945-2179 or 253-945-2094