Dana Hills High School - English Learner Support

Academics

English Learner Support

DHHS INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS

SOME OF DANA'S REDESIGNATED STUDENTS

students wearing face masks and holding certificates

New students that identify English as a second language will receive an initial language assessment. As a result of the assessment, students that are still learning English (ELLs) will be referred to Dana Hills High School's English Language Development (ELD) Program. Dana Hills offers the following programs* to students depending upon the student's English Language Proficiency Levels.

Sheltered English with English Learner Services Program: Novice English Learners receive up to 2 years of an intensive English instruction course AND an English Language Development (ELD) Support Course. They are placed into other Mainstream Courses where they receive Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE), instructional strategies and language and academic support by qualified teachers.

Mainstream English with English Learner Services Program: Intermediate to Advanced English Learners receive all instruction in a Mainstream English Course with English Language Development (ELD) Support, Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE), instructional strategies and language and academic support by qualified teachers.

Once a student meets redesignation criteria that considers GPA and language proficiency, Dana Hills and the district will continue to monitor student progress for four years.

*ALTERNATE PROGRAM ANDTHE WAIVER PROCESS

If the parent disagrees with the Instructional Program recommendation, parents must follow the procedure outlined in Board Policy 6174 for a waiver out of the English only program.

Alternative Two-Way Immersion Program: The District offers the Two-Way Immersion program at selected campuses through the Open Enrollment process. This program is for students whose parental waiver request is approved by the district.

WHAT DOES EL SUPPORT LOOK LIKE?

It is very common to have questions about what what the program looks like in the classroom. English Learners receive instruction in English and participate in the same classes as all other students. The only difference is that teachers are trained to work with students who are learning a second language using special instructional techniques that help the students experience the curriculum.

Typical specialized teaching techniques include the following:

Providing clear expectations on lesson outcomes;
Connecting the lesson to the student’s background, experience and prior knowledge on the subject, as well as emphasizing key vocabulary;
Using gestures, repetition, pictures, objects, technology and clear explanations of tasks to help students understand the lesson;
Teaching the students how to learn, and helping students to make connections and use higher level thinking;
Integrating frequent interactions between students and teachers, using different student groupings, as well as providing many opportunities for students to speak daily;
Using hands on activities, use of language and content knowledge, daily practice on listening, speaking, reading and writing;
Engaging learning experiences throughout the lesson;
Reviewing of vocabulary and key concepts as well as regular feedback to students.
Monitoring their progress throughout the unit of study.