Welcome!

Welcome to Pierce ESL

  • ESL Program Goals for Newcomers (Levels 1 and 2) in Grades K-5

    To develop English language proficiency as quickly as possible by providing comprehensive and directed English language instruction.
    To provide orientation and basic survival skills for American culture and schools.
    To build oral language, which is vital in order to read.
    To provide appropriate instruction at the appropriate level in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
    To enhance English Leaners’ self-esteem.

    ESL Services for Newcomers (Levels 1 and 2) in Grades K-5

    Oral language
    Word work
    Guided Reading
    Guided Writing
    Up to 120 minutes/day in grades 2-5
    Up to 90 minutes/day in grade 1
    Up to 45 minutes/day in kindergarten

    ESL Services for English Learners (Levels 3-5) in Grades 1-2

    Focus on reading and writing in response to reading
    Small literacy groups of 3-5 students
    Comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary
    Fiction and non-fiction texts
    Resources such as: Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention and Patricia Cunningham's Making Words
    Up to 30 minutes/day

    ESL Services for English Learners (Levels 3-5) in Grades 3-5

    Any intervention or combination of interventions:

    Focus on students reaching grade level in reading and on the reading units and strategies being taught in their classrooms
    ESL teacher collaborates with reading teacher and pushes into reading class up to 60 minutes/day
    Small literacy groups of 3-5 students up to 30 minutes/day
    Strategy groups in comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and/or vocabulary
    Strategy groups in writing
    Fiction and non-fiction texts
    Resources such as: Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention and AARI expository texts and text structures
    Support in other content areas may be provided to English Learners of all levels. Focus is on providing access to the curriculum.