ESL A: Quarter 1 Curriculum

Week 1 Objectives: Unit A Visions  Sept. 12 – 16

Vocabulary	School
Conversation	Identify people: greetings and introductions
Phonics	Initial consonants b, c, f, g, m p, s, tFinal consonants b, f, g, m, p, s, tShort vowels a, e, i, o, u
Reading	Sight words
Writing	Print and cursive lettersWords and sentences
Projects	Alphabetize namesMeet the principal or other important school person

Week 2 Objectives: Unit B Visions  Sept. 19 – 23

Vocabulary	Classroom objectsNumbers and colors
Conversation	Giving and following directionsAge and nationality Q and A
Phonics	Initial consonants d, j, l, n, r, vFinal consonants d, l, n, r, xLong vowels a, i, o, u
Reading	“The American Flag” (poem)
Writing	Words and sentences
Projects	Personal dictionaryNationality bar graph

Week 3 Objectives: Unit C Visions Sept. 26 – 30

Vocabulary	Classmates, clothing, and face/body words
Conversation	Describing clothes, hair, and faceClothes, hair, and face Q and AGiving compliments and thanksGiving and following instructions
Phonics	Initial consonants h, k, q, w, y, zConsonant digraphs sh, ch, th, ngVowel pairs ai, ay, oa, ee, eaand oi, oy, ou, ow
Reading	Sight words, “Friends” poem
Writing	Word order in common sentences
Projects	Plan and put on a class “fashion show”

Week 4 Objectives: Unit D Visions Oct. 3 – 7

Vocabulary	Around the school; prepositions of location; compound words
Conversation	Expressing needs and wantsAsking for and giving directions
Phonics	Initial consonant blends with l: cl, fl, gl, slInitial consonant blends with r: br, cr, dr, trInitial consonant blends with s: sk, sn, st, swFinal consonant blends: nd, nk, nt, stR controlled vowels: ar, er, ir, ur Syllables
Reading	School newspaper article
Writing	Words and sentences
Projects	Create a floor plan of school for new studentsPractice and hold a class spelling bee

WEEK 5: REVIEW UNITS A THROUGH D FOR EXAM FRIDAY.

Week 6 Objectives: Visions Unit 1 Chapter 1 “In The School Office” October 17 – 21

Vocabulary	Days and monthsDatesOrdinal numbersAbbreviations
Conversation	Office information Q and AGreetingsAsking for helpAsking and answering questions
Grammar	NounsPronounsSimple present of BEPossessive adjectives
Phonics	Short vowels a, e, i, o, and u
Mechanics	Capital letters and periods
Writing	Words and sentences
Project	Make a calendar

Week 7 Objectives: Visions Unit 1 Chapter 2 “Information Forms” Oct. 24 – 28

Vocabulary	Emergency information
Conversation	Discuss emergency information, follow verbal directions in completing forms
Reading	Information forms and class schedulesStrategy: compare and contrastFluency: rapid word recognition
Mechanics	Punctuating dates and addresses, spacing between words
Writing	Filling out a form
Project	School emergency forms, standardized test forms

 

Week 8 Objectives: Visions Unit 1 Chapter 3 “How to Solve a Word Problem” Oct. 31 – Nov. 4

Vocabulary	Math words and operationsSynonymsQuestion words
Conversation	Talk about math words and operationsShopping in a store
Reading	Math word problemsStrategy: set a purposeText structures of a textbook
Mechanics	Punctuating questions and answers
Writing	Strategy: select a focusWrite a word problem
Project	Group presentation of a math problem

Week of Nov. 7 to Nov. 11: In-service day and Veterans’ day makes it a 3 day week. Catch up time.  Review for quarterly exam.

QUARTERLY ASSESSMENT TEST NOV. 9 AND 10: Units A-D and Unit 1

END OF FIRST QUARTER ON NOV. 10

Week 9 Objectives: Visions Unit 2 Chapter 1 “About My Family”

Vocabulary	AntonymsDescriptive adjectives
Conversation	Talk about familyDescribe people and pets
Grammar	Contractions and negatives with BEThe verb HAVESimple present tense
Phonics	Long vowels a, i, o, u
Mechanics	Spelling and regular plurals
Writing	Descriptive paragraph about a family member
Project	Make a family chart comparing and contrasting people

Week 10 Objectives: Visions Unit 2 Chapter 2 “Two Family Poems”

Vocabulary	Family member wordsElements of poetry
Conversation	Discuss family: ask and answer questions
Reading	Two family poemsStrategy: identify main idea and detailsFluency: read aloud with intonation and expression
Mechanics	Spelling; more regular plurals
Writing	Using descriptive adjectives
Project	Rhymed and unrhymed poems about family

Week 11 Objectives: Visions Unit 2 Chapter 3 “Classifying Animals”

Vocabulary	Animals and related words
Conversation	Explaining animal classifications
Reading	“Classifying Animals” science textbook excerptStructure: science textbook, bar graphsStrategy: identify main ideas and details, scan headings
Mechanics	Spelling: regular and irregular plurals
Writing	Using details to support a main ideaWriting a descriptive paragraph about an animal
Project	Zoo exhibit poster about animal’s classification (featuring animals from students’ home countries)

ESL A Quarter 2 Objectives

Week 1 Objectives: Visions Unit 3 Chapter 1 “After School Activities”

Vocabulary	After school activitiesTelling time
Conversation	Talk about after school activitiesState likes and dislikesAsk and answer questions about activitiesAdverbs of frequency
Grammar	Simple past tenseTime words
Phonics	Long e sound with ee and ea
Mechanics	Spelling: simple past of verbs ending in consonant + ye.g. study, hurry
Writing	A friendly letter
Project	Make an activities collage

Week 2 Objectives: Visions Unit 3 Chapter 2 “Tomas Cleans the Car”

Vocabulary	SynonymsAfter school jobsElements of narrative
Conversation	Talk about after school activities and jobsRetell plot of a storyDiscuss story characters
Reading	“Tomas Cleans the Car”Strategy: identify sequence and plot elements
Mechanics	Quotation marks and commas in quotations
Writing	Narrative with elements of setting, character, and plot
Project	Acting out a story

Week 3 Objectives: Unit 3 Chapter 3 “The First Amendment”

Vocabulary	Rights and freedoms in the US ConstitutionElements of expository text
Conversation	Discussing reasons people come to the USAsking and answering questions on expository text
Reading	“The First Amendment” social studies textbook excerptUsing a dictionary, glossary, and index for informationStrategy: using expository text elements
Mechanics	Using commas in a series
Writing	Expository paragraph showing topic sentence and supporting detail sentences
Project	First Amendment freedom poster

OVER VACATION: Begin planning our presentation of music, speaking, and pictures for an assembly later. We can use pictures of your family and country, foods of your country, clothing in your country, places to see in your country.  We will put together a 45 minute presentation video for the assembly.

Week of April 12 – 16:

Unit 2 Chapter 3 of Visions, “Classifying animals” science textbook reading practice

We are studying different ways of classifying animals, and also reading poems and songs about animals.

We also have stories from “Beginner’s English reader” and “The Pizza Tastes Great.”

Week of April 5 – 9:

Unit 2 Chapter 2 of Visions book; quiz Friday

We are studying poetry terms, reading poems and song lyrics, and translating songs in class.

Week of March 15 – 19:

This week, we begin writing descriptive paragraphs.  Also, we will be reading 6 short stories in class.  With each short story, we learn vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and observe the grammar rules being followed.    We are also studying a chapter on “Family” in the Visions book and will have a quiz on this chapter Friday.

In the A Review class, we are practicing writing 5 paragraph essays for the Long Composition portion of next week’s MCAS test.  By the end of the week, we will know how to answer several different possible MCAS long composition questions in well-organized 5 – paragraph essays on several different stories.

Week of March 1 – 5:

We are continuing reading short stories and answering comprehension and vocabulary questions.  We are also continuing the “Grammar Challenge” work in preparatoin for the upcoming MEPA test.  There will be a 2-page homework worksheet each night.  Be sure to complete any make-up work you miss from MCAS retesting days.  Progress reports come out next week!

Week of February 1 – 5:

This week we are finishing Chapter 3, Word Problems.  We review the vocabulary needed to understand word problems and choose the correct math operation to solve them.  Later in the week, we will work in groups to plan oral presentations of word problems.

Week of January 4-8:

In Chapter 2 we are learning how to fill out forms correctly and punctuate dates and addresses.  We are also learning vocabulary about winter and snow.  Working in groups, we are practicing a role play of a student going to the nurse and the nurse calling the student’s parent.  We have answered comprehension questions about 4 short readings.  Friday we will have a quiz on vocabulary, addresses, and story comprehension.

Week of December 7:

This weeks objectives include:

Asking for and giving directions, using the words next to, between, across from, on the left and on the right.  (oral and written)

Completing our Speaking Test, which reviews the dialogues from units A, B, C, and D.  We role  play meeting someone and learning his/her name, nationality, clothing, eye/hair color, and homeroom location.  Grades are 4 (always clearly understood) 3(usually clear) 2 (somewhat difficult to understand) and 1(difficult to understand).

Learning the sounds of letter blends such as consonants with l, s, and r at the beginning of words (examples: clip, skip, trip), consonant blends at the end of words, and r-controlled vowels.  We are making posters about each type of letter blend by cutting example words out of magazines.

At the same time, new students are catching up on the first 3 units we have studied.

We also continue reading short stories and dialogues, and writing answers to questions about them.

There will be  a test FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 on unit D.

Workbooks have been issued this week and should be brought to each class, or there will be detention.  This week’s homework is pages 58, 59, 60, and 61.

Keep  your 3 ring binders organized and up to date.  Every handout is labeled to go with letters, words, sentences, or stories.  You may also keep your workbook inside your 3 ring binder.