English for Speakers of Other Languages
(ESOL) Program

Program Philosophy

Students residing in the United States today will be living in—and contributing to—an increasingly diverse society. The challenge of today’s educational community is to prepare all students, including students who enter the school system with a primary language other than English, for life in this global society. Language Minority (LM) students must learn to communicate effectively in order to realize their academic, social, and career potentials. The Francis Howell School District ESOL support program provides English language learners the opportunity to study with age-appropriate peers in an emotionally supportive environment. Instruction that allows English language learners to master the communication skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and presenting in English is provided. The ESOL support program moves students along the continuum of English language acquisition and provides English language learners a bridge to full access of the Francis Howell School District’s curriculum.

Program Goals

1. Students will communicate effectively in English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) for a variety of purposes and audiences.
2. Students will know and understand the culture of the United States both formally (government, history, literature, music, art, etc.) and informally (beliefs, values, and behavioral patterns) and recognize similarities and differences with other cultures.
3. Students will use English for collaborative skills, research skills, and higher order thinking skills to make connections and reinforce knowledge across academic, vocational, and technical disciplines.
4. Students will use effective communication skills in English in relationship to career choices, social relationships, citizenship, and lifelong learning.

Description of the Program

The Elementary ESOL program, Kindergarten through fifth grade, is offered at four schools, Central Elementary, Becky-David Elementary, Harvest Ridge Elementary, and Warren Elementary. Limited English Proficient (LEP) students living outside these attendance areas are provided bus transportation to one of these schools. At the elementary schools, the District utilizes the Pull-out ESOL approach where LEP students are removed from the regular classroom for brief time periods during the day. During this time, an ESOL teacher works with individuals or small groups of students on focused English language lessons. The remainder of the students’ school day is spent with age appropriate peers in regular classrooms. Classroom teachers modify instruction and activities to meet the language needs of each student. The ESOL teachers collaborate with regular classroom teachers to provide academic support for the English language learners. Students who qualify for additional reading support also receive instruction from reading specialists.

At the secondary level the Francis Howell School district utilizes a modified form of Content-based ESOL instruction. ESOL teachers deliver curriculum content using English in a way that makes the content understandable to language learners, while at the same time focusing on English language instruction. LEP students take one, two, or three periods of various ESOL classes depending upon their English language proficiency level. The remainder of their daily schedule is in regular content area classes with age appropriate peers. Classroom teachers may modify instruction and activities to meet the language needs of each student. The ESOL teachers collaborate with regular classroom teachers to provide academic support for the English language learners. For middle school, grades 6-8, the ESOL program is offered at Barnwell Middle School and Saeger Middle School. LEP students living outside these attendance areas are provided bus transportation to the closest middle school offering an ESOL program. Francis Howell North High School offers the ESOL program for grades 9-12. LEP students living outside this attendance area are given bus transportation to this high school.
High school students pursue courses that meet graduation requirements while they continue English language learning.