• Elementary ELL Program 

    English as a Second Language (ESL) 

    The Elementary ESL curriculum is tied directly to District 204 curriculum, Illinois Learning Standards, and Illinois English Language Proficiency Standards. ESL is taught through academic content using current instructional strategies that emphasize active, discovery-oriented, and cognitively complex learning. Integrated language and content instruction enables English language learners to learn English through the study of academic disciplines such as mathematics, science, and social studies. This approach is an effective way for English language learners to develop their language skills and their academic skills at the same time. Students receive ESL services based on two models of instruction: push-in and pull-out. 

    Push-in: 

    • ESL and classroom teachers co-teach; both teachers are equally involved in the planning, implementation, and assessment of classroom instruction.
    • Instruction takes place in the students' grade level classrooms.
    • Materials and strategies are appropriate for all students and are specifically adapted to meet the needs of ELL students.

    Pull-out: 

    • Students receive ESL services outside of their regular classrooms.
    • Instruction takes place in small group settings.
    • Students are grouped by grade level.
    • ESL instruction is based on district grade level curriculum; therefore, students are not missing core content while out of the classroom.
    • Materials and strategies correlate with students' English proficiency levels.

    Bilingual Education (not offered at every school) 

    In addition to ESL instruction, students in the elementary TBE Program receive native literacy instruction and/or native language support. 

    • Native literacy instruction parallels the district ELA curriculum using authentic Spanish text and resources.
    • Native literacy instruction begins in kindergarten.
    • When students are ready to transition into English literacy instruction, they continue to receive Native Literacy Enrichment.
    • Native language support is provided by bilingual teachers and/or teaching assistants.
    • Bilingual teaching assistants push in to classes to support the instruction of the classroom teacher through translation and clarification.