English Language Learners

The vision of the English Language Acquisition Department is to help each English Language Learner acquire the basic skills in the English language as well as the content knowledge needed to be successful as a member of the Sheridan community.

Who are our students?

Our population of English Language Learners has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past decade. Ten years ago Sheridan only had a handful of students who spoke a language other than English in their homes. In school year 2003-2004 we had approximately 545 students who spoke a language other than English. These students range from Kindergarten to 12th grade, speak 7 different languages, and are at all different levels of proficiency in the English language. Some now speak English better than they can speak their home language, while others have just arrived and speak only a few words of English. Sheridan Schools and especially the English Language Acquisition Department are very proud of these students and welcome the diversity these students bring to our schools.

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Sheridan Schools follow federal guidelines in order to identify which of our students qualify for English Language Acquisition services. Upon registration, each student’s family is asked to fill out a federal Home Language Survey to determine if there is a language other than English spoken in the home. Once it is determined that a language other than English is spoken, the student is given a Language Assessment Scale (LAS) to establish how well they speak English. If the assessment shows that the student requires help with the English language, there are several program options depending on which school in Sheridan the student goes to.

Our two elementary schools have a needs-based reading program which places students in the reading classroom that best suits his/her needs. There are between 3 and 4 reading classrooms at each grade level, with an entry level reading classroom for English Language Learners. In this classroom students are together with other non-English speaking students, who need to learn how to listen, speak, read, and write in English. The oral language and reading lessons are based on the science concepts that the students will be learning in the afternoon in their homerooms. This model gives students an extended time to practice both oral and literacy skills, as well as a period of time with Native-English speaking peers to better integrate them into the regular classroom and the community.
We are fortunate to have family liaisons, Ms. Lina Gomez and Ms. Carla Granados, who presently are at Ft. Logan, Alice Terry, and the Middle School and help all Spanish-speaking parents with questions they may have about their child’s education. Please see our contact list for telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Our new learners of English come to us at every grade level, including high school. For this reason we have beginning English programs at both the Middle and High School. Each school has its own English Language Acquisition teacher, who teaches beginning English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students then are placed in sheltered classes with teachers trained in sheltering content for math, science and social studies. Our English Language Learners participate in regular elective classes just as the native English speakers do.
We are fortunate as well at the secondary level to have family liaisons, Ms. Stephanie Schwabauer de Gongora and Ms. Carla Granados, who are alternately at the High School and Middle School respectively, and help all Spanish-speaking parents with questions they may have about their student’s education. Please see our contact list for telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.

We recently created a Newcomer Center for our new arrivals at the middle and high school level. This one-year program is designed to prepare students who are true beginners to the English language and the American school system. As well as participating in taught content classes – math, science, and social studies as a small group with teachers trained in sheltered content instruction. The students also have one block of a chosen elective class where they are integrated with the other members of the school. We feel this intensive one-year Newcomer Program rapidly enables the students to become more acclimated to the American school system, as well as provide them the English necessary to be successful in a regular classroom.

English Language Learners

Purpose