Learning — English Language
English Language Learner (ELL) Support
The students and families at ICSA come from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities. Many of the children enrolled speak English as a second or foreign language—or not at all. Our ELL program ensures students acquire the language skills they need to thrive academically and socially.
ELL Support — Growing confident English learners
Targeted, practical support for students learning English — literacy, vocabulary, grammar, speaking practice, and in-class strategies tailored to learners of every level.
🔢 Math Intervention
🧠 Learning Strategies
🤝 In-Class Support
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Literacy Support
Phonics, reading fluency, guided reading groups, and comprehension strategies.
Speaking & Vocabulary
Conversation practice, vocabulary sets by topic, pronunciation clinics, and role-play activities.
Focus sessions: tenses, sentence structure, connectors, and editing practice. Each workshop includes scaffolded activities and assessment checks.
Workshops for families to support language learning at home, bilingual resources and how to help with homework.
Overview & Services
Students and families at ICSA come from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities. The ELL program provides extra language support through differentiated and targeted instruction, helping students access content and succeed academically.
Children enrolled at ICSA are assigned to regular classes according to their age and previous school experience. The ELL program offers pull-out lessons and in-class support to meet individual needs.
ELL Service Models
Pull-Out ELL Services
Students whose English language proficiency is at Entering or Beginning levels receive dedicated English language lessons outside their regular classroom. These lessons target each student’s specific language-learning needs.
Push-In ELL Services
Throughout the school day, students follow the same instructional program as their peers. The ELL and classroom teachers collaborate to differentiate, scaffold, and co-plan instruction while co-teaching and co-assessing students.
With these services, students receive targeted language instruction while also gaining maximum exposure to English across content areas in their mainstream classrooms — ensuring support, inclusion, and academic growth.
Assessment Process
Assessment identifies student needs and determines the right level of support. The ELL team uses surveys, placement tests, and ongoing formative tools.
The first step is reviewing the student's linguistic history survey and previous school records. This helps teachers understand the student's language background and inform placement.
Based on records and surveys, the ELL teacher may administer a language proficiency test to determine the level of support required in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
If admitted, families complete the questionnaire and teachers use formative assessments, observations and student portfolios to monitor progress and adjust instruction.
ELL Assessment
At the end of each academic year, all current ELL students will take the WIDA Summative Test to assess English proficiency growth. This data can also be used to determine if the student can exit the ELL program. WIDA placed as formative and summative assessment-WIDA means World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment provides research-based language development standards, assessments
Assessment & Grading
Formative Assessment
After students enter the ELL program, teachers use ongoing formative assessment to monitor progress and guide instruction. Observations, anecdotal notes, and student work samples are collected in the student’s ELL folder, showing growth in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Summative Assessment
During pull-out lessons, teachers evaluate student performance using tests, rubrics, projects, and performance tasks. These assessments measure mastery of language skills and content objectives.
Grading & Reporting
ELL students follow the ICSA grading scale. Teachers write quarterly progress reports based on formative and summative assessments. Reports highlight each student’s growth in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Want to know how your child can be supported?
Contact the Student Support Team (SST) for a personalized assessment plan and resources.
How we work
We use assessment-driven groupings, daily practice routines, classroom co-teaching, and family engagement. All materials are scaffolded and culturally responsive.
Formative checks • Exit tickets • Differentiated tasks
Peer tutoring • Small group rotations • Language objectives
Language adaptation • Translation supports
Frequently asked
Students identified as ELLs through placement screenings or teacher referral. Services are flexible and based on need.
Sessions run in 8–12 week cycles with progress monitoring every 3–4 weeks.