 |
| Orange County Office of Education |
“ELs at all English proficiency levels and at all ages require both integrated ELD and specialized attention to their particular language learning needs, or designated ELD. Such a multilayered application of the CA ELD Standards requires deep collaboration between educators, support for teachers, and, most importantly, a sustained focus on the strengths and needs of individual ELs and a persistent belief that all ELs can achieve the highest levels of academic and linguistic excellence.”
-California English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework, 2014
Designated ELD vs. Integrated ELD has been a lively discussion in my district in recent years, as if there was an either/or decision to be made.
I never really understood why comprehensive instructional programming for English Language Learners would not include both, especially when research has long established the need. Politics? Money?
Years (yes, for real...) of teaching hundreds of EL and Fluent English Proficient students have solidified my belief that comprehensive English language development, which meets the evolving needs of students, includes a place for specific English language development instruction, as well as ELD support strategies integrated in subject area content. So I'm pleased so see that the developers of the California English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework agree.
The quality of collaboration between adults in the school community, as described in this citation from the Framework, is absolutely the key element to the overall track record of any comprehensive ELD program, in my experience.
In my present professional incarnation as a Designated ELD teacher, I'm fortunate to have a school schedule, structure and culture which strongly supports collaboration. This means that every day, my English learners benefit from instruction which is the product of dynamic interaction among staff, offering both Designated and Integrated ELD.
Every
aspect of what we do—core content instruction, support, counseling, wellness,
administration—has been developed through some sort of collaborative
process. Shared visioning and feedback,
within a carefully crafted structure, can be the most powerful form of
formative assessment we have.
Like so many of my students, I'm a visual learner. These graphics, put together by the Orange County Department of Education, Services for English Learners, brought it all together for me.
I just love food metaphors.
Like so many of my students, I'm a visual learner. These graphics, put together by the Orange County Department of Education, Services for English Learners, brought it all together for me.
I just love food metaphors.
 |
| Orange County Office of Education |
