Elementary Program Model  

EL students spend the majority of their day in their classrooms with English speaking peers. This allows them to be part of the student body, meaningfully and equally within their school. EL students are provided services through sheltered content instruction and/or co-teaching of core content subject areas. The EL teacher works closely with the classroom teacher to provide the most appropriate services and to support the academic content being taught within a language framework. This is done by reinforcing academic vocabulary, using strategies specific to EL instruction, and by modifying and adapting materials, instruction, and curriculum based on individual student language needs. 

In some instances, EL students may also receive assistance for a portion of the day through the pull-out component of the EL program. In pull-out, EL students are taught in a separate small group setting for intensive instruction in English and also to receive language support with content area subjects. Pull-out classes may be grouped by grade-level or proficiency level with English instruction that is adapted to students' proficiency levels. 

Students learn how to read, write, speak and listen in English in EL classes.  EL students are grouped by levels.  Beginning English language learners work in small groups with students who are just like them. EL teachers test all students to give them a level in EL.

Listed below is a brief description of each WIDA ELP level:

Level 1 – Entering

• pictorial or graphic representation of the language of the content areas 


• words, phrases, or chunks of language when presented with one-step commands, directions, 
WH-words (who, what, etc.), choice or yes/no questions, or statements with sensory, graphics, or interactive support 


Level 2 – Emerging 


• general language related to the content areas 


• phrases or short sentences 


• oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that often impede the 
meaning of the communication when presented with one to multiple-step commands, directions, questions, or a series of statements with sensory, graphics, or interactive support

Level 3 – Developing 


• general and some specific language of the content areas 


• expanded sentences in oral interaction or written paragraphs 


• oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that may impede the 
communication, but retain much of its meaning, when presented with oral or written, narrative or expository descriptions with sensory, graphics, or interactive support 


Level 4 – Expanding 


• specific and some technical language of the content areas 


• a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in oral discourse or multiple, 
related sentences or paragraphs 


• oral or written language with minimal phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that do not 
impede the overall meaning of the communication when presented with oral or written connected discourse with sensory, graphics, or interactive support

Detailed information about the WIDA ELP levels and ELD Standards can be found at Wida

• ELP Standards

• WIDA Can Do Philosophy

EL students in Loudoun County Public Schools usually spend about five years in EL. Sugarland Elementary is an elementary school in Loudoun County, Virginia with a school population of over 600 students. The EL program at Sugarland serves approximately 350 children in grades kindergarten to grade 5. Eleven full-time teachers and a part-time teacher work together with classroom teachers to support EL students.

In- Class Support:

Most EL students receive support in their regular classrooms. An EL teacher works with the classroom teacher to teach reading, writing, science, social studies and math lessons for the students.  Sugarland staff uses the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) approach to Content and Language learning. Classroom and EL teachers team-teach lessons in the content areas to best meet the needs of all students.  In-class team-teaching support can be from thirty to sixty minutes long.

Teachers at Sugarland engage students in enriching activities that foster culture and learning in a fun way! Here are some pictures of the Halloween Trick or Treat Car Hunt the students participated in!