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E A L H A N D B O O K
E n g l i s h a s a n A d d i t i o n a l L a n g u a g e |
E A L H A N D B O O K
E n g l i s h a s a n A d d i t i o n a l L a n g u a g e |
MAP TESTING: MAP i
s an acronym for Measures of
Academic Progress and GWA students from Grades 1 - 9
are tested several times a year on Reading, Language
Use, and Math. EAL teachers and homeroom teachers
use the data from MAP testing to help them in creating
lessons that are appropriate and differentiated.
GWA’S LANGUAGE CONTINUUM:
Three times a year
the EAL teacher will fill out the language continuum for
students receiving pull-out support. Homeroom teachers
will fill out the continuum for students who receive
in-class support or are being monitored. The teacher
who spends the most contact time during language
lessons is responsible for assessing and reporting.
OTHER LANGUAGE ASSESSMENTS:
There are several
other ways for teachers and parents to see and to
track student progress. EAL students will have their
reading, comprehension and vocabulary/spelling tested
several times a year through
PM Benchmarks
and
Words Their Way.
Although most of these assessments
are used in Elementary, Secondary teachers also use an
assessment called
the
SRI -
an online reading inventory.
Assessment and reporting for EAL is the responsibility of the EAL teacher and the homeroom teacher. All students are assessed twice
a year for language proficiency using our formal testing tool (called the WIDA). EAL students also participate in regular testing and
leveling that is part of the GWA-Dubai’s assessment calender.
GWA’s EAL Secondary Department has
been making some changes to their
departmental policy and program, to be
implemented in Fall 2016.
For English Language Acquisition (2016-
2017) the most significant change is that
students will attend both ELA (English B)
and English Language and Literature (ELL/
English A) classes throughout the year.
The points below list the changes to the
ELA structure and the requirements of the
Middle Year Program (MYP) ELA student:
• The ELA course will be taught for 5 out 8
periods in a 10-day cycle in the ELA classroom.
• The ELA students will complete all
requirementsof theMYPby takingthefollowing
courses with their peers: Mathematics,
Sciences, English Language and Literature,
Individuals and Societies, Physical and Health
Education, Art, and Design.
• The ELA students will complete the
requirements of the ministry by taking the
Arabic Language Acquisition course.
• The ELA students will focus fully on English
Language Acquisitionwithout the need to take
Spanishor Frenchas their LanguageAcquisition
option.
• The English Language and Literature (ELL)
course will be supported by both the ELL and
the ELA teachers in the ELL classroom.
This method of teaching English in the MYP
at GWA will ensure that all ELA students will
receive additional reinforcement of listening,
speaking, reading and writing English in the
smaller, slower-paced ELA classrooms while
still being able to participate to varying
extents in the ELL classes.
Once a student has made the required
progress through the phases of ELA in the
MYP, transition out of the ELA class becomes
feasible. Students will then select Spanish or
French to replace the hours of ELA they no
longer require. There is no need to transition
to ELL as students are already in the required
course.
The changes for the
2016-2017 school year
will mean that all MYP
students take the
required Language
and Literature course,
regardless of language
prof iciency, along
with the MYP ELA
course. This change
is appropriate for an
international school
considering the vast
number of languages
spoken at varying
levels of proficiency
within school.
s u p p o r t i n S e c ondary
LANGUAGE A, LANGUAGE B and In-Class supporT
E A L A S S E S SME N T
AND R E P O R T I NG
HOW WE show what they know