Washington School Leaves No Student Behind

Washington Primary School faculty and staff members are working hard to serve the needs of every student, including the building’s English language learners and help them master all things English as soon as possible.

“In teacher Ariella VanCooten’s English as a new language stand-alone class, second-grade English language learners use the QTEL Clarifying Bookmark to support their inference-making skills,” Principal Michelle Richards said. “This scaffold helps students break down texts by prompting them to ask clarifying questions, define key vocabulary, and connect ideas. By actively engaging with the text, these young learners develop deeper comprehension and gain confidence in explaining their inferences through meaningful interactions.”

According to the US Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics, well over five million students are currently English language learners. The home language of nearly 80 percent of all ELL’s is Spanish/Castilian. Texas, California and New Mexico have more students enrolled in ELL programs as a percentage than any other state.

Ms. VanCooten holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from St. John’s University. Prior to coming to Huntington UFSD she was employed as a fourth grade teacher at Brooklyn Scholars Charter School.

“English language learners, or ELLs, are students who are not yet able to communicate fluently or learn effectively in English,” according to an online definition. “They often come from non-English-speaking homes and backgrounds and require specialized or modified instruction in both their academic courses and the English language itself.”

ELLs are the fastest-growing population of students in the United States K-12 school system. According to the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition it’s predicted that by 2025, on in four public school students will be an ELL.