Welcome to the English Language Learners Program

  • The ELL Program supports schools in delivering an equal educational opportunity to students who speak a language or languages other than English, who speak another language in addition to English, or who have a language other than English spoken in their home, and who are academically achieving below grade level. The program focuses on helping students gain basic interpersonal communication skills and cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) skills in English, while developing and maintaining a healthy cross-cultural perspective.

    Parent Guide

     

     ELL Program Information

Announcements

  • ESL teaching endorsement opportunity

    Posted by Virva Elliott on 11/1/2019 3:50:00 AM

    Are you a certified teacher interested in earning your ESL endorsement? University of Alaska is now offering a graduate certification opportunity (18 credits) that is offered fully online. Please see flyer (link below) for more information, deadline to apply is November 15th, 2019. While the program is targeting grade levels K-6, interested teachers from all grade levels are invited to apply.

    Graduate Certificate in ESL Flyer

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  • Self-paced online trainings for teacher

    Posted by Virva Elliott on 10/17/2019 12:00:00 PM

    Alaska Department Education & Early Development has purchased six online trainings that are available for teachers and other education professionals in our district:

    WIDA Self-Paced English Learner eWorkshops
     
    Join the participants in six districts across Alaska already enrolled and working through the modules! Complete the eWorkshops individually, or expand your learning with your professional learning community!
     
    The following eWorkshops are available in the eLearning Center of the WIDA Secure Portal:
    • Using the WIDA Writing Rubric
    • Leading for Equity: Classroom Walkthrough
    • Classroom Educators: Engaging Newcomer Multilingual Learners            
    • Language for Learning in Mathematics
    • Doing and Talking STEM
    • Foundational Concepts for K-12 Educators

    If you are interested in the eWorkshops and do not yet have a WIDA Secure Portal account, contact ELL Program Director, Virva Elliott, at virva.elliott@k12northstar.org to obtain access to these great resources.

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  • Imagine Summer Reading Club & Parent ESL Class

    Posted by Virva Elliott on 5/30/2019 2:00:00 PM

    The Imagine Summer Reading Club is a Language & Literacy program for elementary age English Learner (EL) students. This program is primarily intended for Newcomer students who can benefit from extra English language development support during summer break. We utilize the Imagine Learning Language & Literacy program as well as the Picturing Writing program.

    The Summer Reading Club is intended for elementary age ELL students who are enrolled or pre-enrolled in our school district and beginning to learn English. Students whose parent(s) enroll(s) in the parent ESL class have priority enrollment in the Reading Club. There is no fee for the Summer Reading Club.

    During Summer Reading Club students use the Imagine Learning Language and Literacy program which is also accessible from home. Additionally, students will write stories utilizing the art based intervention Picturing Writing.

    Schedule and Location:

    Admin Center, large classroom 1st floor (SMART)

    Tuesday & Thursday, May 28-June 27

    5:30 pm-7:30 pm

    Parent ESL Class:

    Parents of our EL students can enroll to take an adult ESL class with the Literacy Council of Alaska; the ESL class takes place at the same time as the Reading Club.Adult ESL class meets in the small classroom at the same time. ELL Program covers the fee for the adult ESL class for ELL parents.

    Contact

    Virva Elliott

    Director of ELL Program

    virva.elliott@k12northstar.org

    (907) 452-2000 x11467

    Classroom phone during Reading Club: (907) 452-2000 ext. 11256

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  • ACCESS for ELLs Testing February-March 2019

    Posted by Virva Elliott on 1/17/2019 1:00:00 PM

    All students eligible for ELL Program services will be tested using the ACCESS for ELLs assessment during the two month testing window (February-March). ELL staff at schools will be able to answer any school specific scheduling questions.

     

    Students in grades 1-12 will take the computer based ACCESS for ELLs assessment. Students can access the ACCESS for ELLs Test Practice at home (open the link in Chrome browser). Students will be offered an opportunity to practice at school prior to the test, to ensure that all students are familiar with the online tools and comfortable testing online.

     

    Students in Kindergarten will be tested individually using the paper-based Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs assessment.

     

    More information about ACCESS for ELLs and Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs can be found on WIDA Consortium webpages. You can also visit the FNSBSD ELL Program ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 webpage for additional information and links to test demos.

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  • Hispanic Heritage Month

    Posted by Virva Elliott on 9/27/2018 2:30:00 PM

    All schools and classroom teachers are encouraged to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Resources:

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  • FNSBSD English Learner Plan of Service 2018-2023 Approved by DEED

    Posted by Virva J. Elliott on 6/21/2018 8:45:00 AM

    Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has approved the new English Learner (EL) Plan of Service (POS) for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. The new EL POS is effective from 6/5/2018 until 7/1/2023. The EL POS may be revised annually, as necessary.

     

    You can view the EL Plan of Service 2018-2023 here.

     

    If you have questions regarding the EL Plan of Service, please contact the Director of ELL Program, Virva Elliott, at virva.elliott@k12northstar.org or (907) 452-2000 ext. 11467.

     

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Last Modified on November 1, 2019