ELL Curriculum

The ELL program provides intensive preparation for challenging college preparatory coursework. The program is uniquely focused to maximize readiness for mainstream placement in competitive independent schools.

Courses are offered at four levels: beginning, low intermediate, high intermediate and advanced. Lower level students take courses in reading, writing and conversation. At upper levels, students study literature, writing and a third course. All classes include acquisition of academic vocabulary as well as analytical and critical thinking skills.

Daily grading and evaluation provide essential feedback. Class size is limited to 4-6 students.

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ELL Reading

ELL Reading 1

ELL Reading 1 focuses on developing reading skills and expanding vocabulary for students at the beginning level of English learning. Instructors introduce basic reading strategies to improve comprehension, fluency and accuracy. Students will develop word attack, phonic, vocabulary and spelling skills as well as simple writing and conversation skills built through response to class readings. Daily grading and evaluation provide essential feedback to a class size of 4-6 students.

ELL Reading 2

ELL Reading 2 develops lower to upper intermediate ELL student’s skills in reading, vocabulary building, academic discussion, and independence as a learner. The course aims to strengthen and build upon the student’s familiarity with the nonfiction genre. Writing skills are reinforced through short writing response assignments based on the various readings and class discussions. Study habits and skill mastery are further built through planbook use, daily homework, frequent quizzes, and weekly tests.

ELL Reading 3

ELL Reading 4 - Literature

ELL Reading 4- Literature reviews the elements of a story (such as plot, conflict, characters, and point of view) as well as how to paraphrase, summarize, identify literary features, explain key themes, and use textual evidence to support their literary analysis. During the first part of the course, students read and discuss short stories in Discovering Fiction 2 by Judith Kay and Rosemary Gelshenen. In the latter part of the course, they study Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver and focus on the author’s characterization of the protagonist and the use of symbols in the work.

ELL Writing

ELL Writing 1

ELL Writing 1 aims to build basic writing skills in the beginning student. Writing is taught as a process with an emphasis on grammar, sentence structure and parts of speech. Specific objectives include spelling, planning, outlining, expanding academic vocabulary, editing and revising techniques, oral presentation and writing cohesive and organized paragraphs. Daily evaluation provides essential feedback. The primary text used is "Great Writing Foundations, 5th edition" (Keith Folse, April Muchmore-Vokoun, and Elena Vestri).

ELL Writing 2

ELL Writing 2 reviews the key elements of paragraph structure (such as topic sentences, supporting sentences, signal words, and concluding sentences) as well as how to use evidence to support a main idea. Students also learn how to organize a paragraph as well as how to define a concept, how to describe a process, how to structure an opinion, and how to compose a narrative. Students also engage in daily grammar and vocabulary review. The primary text used is "Great Writing 2, 5th edition" (Keith Folse, April Muchmore-Vokoun, and Elena Vestri).

ELL Writing 3

ELL Writing 3 develops the upper intermediate to advanced ELL student’s fluency and competence in composition. The course builds upon the paragraph and progresses to a thesis-driven essay. Students learn to analyze and evaluate professional and peer compositions to understand what constitutes effective writing. Fundamental to the course is the writing process. Students do draft revision (including peer revision), review essential grammar and elements of sentence structure, and develop a lexicon for discussing writing. Study habits and skill mastery are built through planbook use, daily homework, frequent quizzes, and weekly tests. (Keith S. Folse et al.’s) “Great Writing: from Great Paragraphs to Great Essays, Level 3,” 5th edition, along with supplementary grammar and usage material, form the basis of the coursework.

ELL Writing 4

ELL Writing 4 is an advanced ELL course which aims to improve sentence structure and paragraph development and to encourage independent engagement in the process of conceiving, planning, writing and revising paragraphs and essays in various modes. Students work on mastering the vocabulary of writing, including parts of speech and parts of a sentence. All students learn and practice the steps of the writing process with an emphasis on finding and correcting errors in their own work. With Refining Composition Skills as the central text, students learn to identify elements of successful writing in professional and student models and to write paragraphs and essays in response to specific themes. All daily work is supplemented by journal writing thematically aligned with readings and class discussions.

English Skills

English Skills 1

English Skills 1 is designed to provide beginning students the skills necessary for success in an American independent day or boarding school. Vocabulary building is achieved through oral communication in class, educational games, reading, and story writing. Students gain independence and confidence with their English-speaking abilities by consistent use of English through presentations and structured conversations. Specific focus is on building vocabulary and practicing speaking and listening skills with an aim toward building confidence. If requested and approved, course content may be adjusted on an individual basis to accommodate specific requirements of the student’s other school.

English Skills 2

English Skills 2 strengthens study and organizational skills concurrent with further development in reading comprehension and test preparation. Course content includes the identification of plot, characters, and themes in reading. Weekly tests include vocabulary and short-answer questions. A continuously well-organized notebook and the Wolfeboro planbook are daily priorities.

English Skills 3

English Skills 3 is a high intermediate level course which builds skills in all areas of English study: reading, writing, speaking and listening. While primarily focused on conversation and building skills for classroom discussion, students are expected to read a novel, learn and practice active reading strategies, participate in and lead class discussions, build vocabulary through dedicated study and extended reading, and write both short responses to reading assignments and longer essays of personal opinion. The primary texts for the course are "Bully" by Tiffany Jones , "The Palace" by Sophie Rathmann, and "Jacob and the Bee Man" by Kelly Winters. Supplementary texts include poems, non-fiction articles and personal essay examples. All students are required to keep a daily response journal and to maintain both an assignment planbook and a class binder.

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