Multilingual Learners
Our mission is to offer our Multilingual Learners a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment where they can effectively develop their academic English skills, adjust to the American school system, and be successful citizens.
Our program addresses two important areas: language acquisition and cultural adjustment for Multilingual Learners in the Early Learning Center and grade K-12. In the area of language development, we provide students with the opportunity to develop academic skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, so that they can be successful within the academic mainstream classroom.
Our program also assists our Multilingual Learners through their cultural adjustment by helping them develop an understanding of American culture. At the same time, we respect and value our students home language and culture; and we encourage them to be proud of their cultural backgrounds and realize the importance of their role in a multicultural society.
All new students to the Multilingual Learner program will be given English language proficiency tests to determine students' eligibility for English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction.
Contact
Frannie Becquer
Director of AE & MLL Programming
952-848-4824
Jen Jouppi
Department Specialist
952-848-4910
Elementary and Secondary Programs
Multilingual Learner (ML) service in the elementary schools is provided through a pullout and/or push-in program. ML schedules are coordinated with the classroom teacher so that children do not miss important classroom instructional time or specialists (i.e., gym, music, art). The ESL teacher and classroom teacher work closely together to plan an instructional program that is most beneficial for the language and academic needs of each student.
Parent/teacher conferences are held twice a year - in the fall and in the spring - in order to communicate student progress. Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test and the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) are given in spring for grades 3, 4, and 5; the Cognitive Abilities Assessment (CogAT) is given in spring for grades 2 and 4.
Secondary Multilingual Learner service is provided within the student's regular class schedule. One or more class periods each day are designated as ESL classes, depending on the language needs of the student. Conferences are strongly recommended. Report cards are issued four times a year.
We encourage all Multilingual Learners to stay after school for extra homework help in the media center. Students can get help from teachers, use school computers, and study independently or in small groups.