English as an Additional Language
EAL Mission StatementThe English as an Additional Language (EAL) program works to provide equal educational access to English learners at AST. By employing all invested participants (students, parents, and educators) to share responsibility in the development of a student’s linguistic, academic, and cognitive skills, English learners will participate in an academically rigorous, high standards language learning program to become competitive global citizens at AST and beyond.
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Ms. Catherine Stark,
EAL Specialist |
EAL Program Philosophy
At AST, we believe:
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Our EAL Program
The EAL program is based on the WIDA English Language Development Standards. These standards support college and career readiness goals in all subjects including mathematics, science and language arts. Language acquisition and proficiency is a long-term process, with learners moving through developmental stages at varying rates. Current language acquisition methodologies indicate students learn language best when they interact meaningfully in the immersive language-rich environment of their mainstream classroom. In order to be successful in the classroom and expand their proficiency levels in the domains of speaking, listening, reading and writing, our English learners are supported in a variety of ways.
The EAL Specialist supports English learners in Grades 1-8 by:
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