1. Audubon ESL Department
ESL Teachers
Mrs. Sarah Trzaska
Mrs. Barbara MacMullen
Mrs. Xenia Zacharczuk
Mrs. Kathy Wahl
ESL Aides
Mrs. Joanne Dunbar
Mrs. Irene Dobbs

2. Methacton ESL Program English Language Development
English as a Second Language
English Language Development
ELLs = English Language Learners
Many ESL students were born in the US.
Some do NOT speak their family’s language.
Approximately 123 students in ESL now.
Most common home languages: Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese & the languages of India.

3. How Students Qualify for ESL
PA and US laws require that Methacton assess the
English Language proficiency of all students from a home
where another language is spoken.
English Language Proficiency tests, such as ACCESS
Other district tests
PSSA scores
-report card grades/classroom performance

4. ESL Curriculum Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension
Academic Language (Math, Science, Social Studies)
Higher-level Thinking Skills
Help ELLs meet grade-level state standards

5. ESL Schedule Elementary: Reading + ESL, 1.5-2 hours per day
ESL only, average 30 minutes per day
(less often for advanced level students)
Some students have an ESL assistant
in their classroom for extra help with other subjects

6. WIDA ACCESS for ELLs
Standardized English proficiency test used across the USA
Taken annually by all ESL students in Pennsylvania
Used to measure students’ progress and effectiveness of ESL program
Tests both social and academic (math, science, etc.) language skills
Scored on a scale of 1-6 (see attachment)
Students need a composite score of 5.0 to exit ESL
-This year the ACCESS test will be taken in January
Test results are used for planning ESL instruction and for placing and exiting students

7. Exiting the ESL Program
Pennsylvania Department of Education
ESL Exit Criteria
-ACCESS score of 5.0 or higher
-PSSA (gr. 3-11) of basic or better
-Grade average of at least C in major
Subjects/satisfactory grade-level

8. Recipe for a Successful Student
Sleep
Food
Homework
Free Time
Parent- Teacher Communication

9. Sleep/Food
Elementary students need 10 – 11 hours of sleep every night.
Have a bedtime routine that will get the child ready to sleep. This could include bath, story, and talk about the day.
Eat a good breakfast, such as cereal, milk, and fruit.
Children should not have computers in their bedrooms. Parents cannot see what their kids are doing on-line or how much time they are spending on the computer.

10. Homework
Homework is important. The teachers give credit for it or lower the grade if homework isn’t handed in.
There should be a scheduled time for homework. There should be a quiet place to do homework.
Say, “Show me what homework you have.” Then check the homework when they are finished. The new math program for Kindergarten, first, second and third grades has homework that the parent can help with. We have Spanish translations for the homework.
Most students have homework assignment books. You can check the assignment book to see what homework and test your student has. The student is responsible for doing the homework.

11. Parent and Teacher Communication
The parents, teacher and student are on the “team”. They can work together to help the student academically or with behavior.
Your child’s teachers have addresses which are the first initial of the first name, last
If you would like to write a note, and you don’t feel your English is proficient enough, you can use freetranslation.com.

12. Parent/teacher conferences are important.
We can use Language Line, an interpreter service, for the conference. Just let us know if you need it, so we can arrange for a room with a speaker phone.
Please fill out and return forms such as field trip forms quickly. If you have difficulty understanding the papers, contact the teacher.
If you want to meet a teacher, please make an appointment. Please do not come to school to talk to the teacher without calling or ing first.

13. Home Limit TV time and computer/video game time
When kids have small jobs, such as making their bed or setting the table, they learn to be more responsible.
Children should be responsible for getting their backpack ready for the next day; then parents can check it.
Children need some unstructured, unscheduled free time to play.