English Learners

PRESCHOOL ENGLISH LEARNERS PROGRAM

Any child between the ages of 3 and 5 (with a birthdate after September 1st) may register to participate in the Winfield Tiger Cub Preschool Program. As part of the registration process, we will ask questions to identify if the child speaks a different language other than English or someone in the household speaks a language other than English. These questions are legally required of the district by Illinois state law. If the answer to either question is yes, then the district is required to provide a screener for the child to determine if the child is English language proficient. Preschool children participate in the Pre-IPT screener. If proficient, the child enters our general program. If the child is not proficient, then the preschool program will integrate some of the following language-based activities into the student's learning experience:

  • Pre-teaching vocabulary
  • Providing context clues
  • Developing a sense of print
  • Hands on learning experiences with real life objects (realia)
  • Vocabulary review
  • Increased conversation to build vocabulary at the child's instructional level.

Mrs. Reardon, our preschool teacher, has her endorsement in English Learning and integrates programatic learning opportunities for children into their daily classroom learning experiences.

K-8 ENGLISH LEARNERS PROGRAM

Any student in grades k-8 may be eligible for our English Learners Program. As part of the registration process, we will ask questions to identify if the child speaks a different language other than English or someone in the household speaks a language other than English. These questions are legally required of the district by Illinois state law. If the answer to either question is yes, then the district is required to provide a screener for the child to determine if the child is English language proficient. K-8 children participate in the WIDA-MODEL screener. If proficient, the child enters our general program. If the child is not proficient, then the English Learner instruction will be integrated into the general education program. Here are some of the following language-based activities into the student's learning experience:

  • Pre-teaching vocabulary
  • Guided reading instruction with scaffolded language and content
  • Providing context clues
  • Developing a sense of print
  • Writing support
  • Hands on learning experiences with real life objects (realia)
  • Vocabulary review
  • Scaffolded text
  • Re-teaching vocabulary and linguistic content
  • Increased conversation to build vocabulary at the child's instructional level.

At most grade levels, the certified classroom teach is endorsed in English Learning. As a result, we integrate programatic learning opportunities for children into their daily classroom learning experiences. At times, students in need of additional English Learner support receive pull out guided instruction from a teacher certified in English learning.