Language+&+Content+Standards

=Standards: Language & Content = In developing lesson plans, it is essential to consult standards in order to frame your lessons. In mainstream classrooms without English Language Learners, the state standards are likely the only ones to consider and outline. However, with ELL’s in the classroom, it is essential to consider an additional type of standards: language proficiency standards.

Just as each state has developed standards for learning, organizations such as WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) and TESOL ( Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.) have developed language proficiency standards. These standards help provide teachers with an understanding of levels of language proficiency as well as benchmarks for progress. In creating a lesson that includes English Language Learners, you will be enhancing your instruction and making it more meaningful to not only those who are not yet proficient in English, but the native English speakers will most likely benefit from the lesson design, such as the scaffolding techniques and special emphasis on collaboration and interaction.

On this page, I am providing links to both the Illinois State Standards, what teachers use for their content standards, as well as a link to WIDA and TESOL to help develop language standards. The standards can be used to support content and language objectives for each lesson.

In addition, I am including a sample thematic unit lesson plan that I developed in a Bilingual Bicultural Methods and Materials class at Illinois State University in Fall 2009. This plan includes 5 lessons developed using a format that supports English Language Learning in a sheltered model (SIOP). Each lesson includes content and language standards and objectives. It will give teachers an idea as to how to compile lessons that promote both content and language in their classroom.

Standards
[|Illinois State Learning Standards] Content standards in the state of Illinois.

[|WIDA Standards]This link brings you to the standards homepage, which includes English language proficency standards, Spanish language proficiency standards, "CAN-DO" descriptors that act as benchmarks for teachers, and a search tool.

[|TESOL Standards]An alternative to WIDA standards, which are used in select states, TESOL standards are nationally recognized. They are generally the same as WIDA standards, and include benchmarks as well.

Sample Lesson Plan
M y thematic unit that includes lessons developed with both content and language standards :

Resources
[|English Language Proficiency Standards Resource Guide] This link includes a guide published by WIDA to understand the English Language Proficiency Standards. It gives a detailed overview of what the standards are, how to construct lessons with them, and how to apply them to your classroom.

This Language Proficiency Handbook is an excellent resource for teachers trying to incorporate WIDA standards into their classroom.

[] "Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners—SIOP Model SHELTERED INSTRUCTION—for Academic Achievement" A concise and comprehensive overview for making lessons for English Language Learners with essential components.