Transitional Bilingual Programs in the Sheboygan Area School District Elementary Schools use the first language of the English Language Learner (ML) in instruction when possible but with rapid progression to all or most of the instruction in English. Instruction is in English adapted to the student’s English proficiency levels and provides a modified curriculum-based content. Native language skills are developed only to assist the student’s transition to English. Licensed ELL teachers enhance context by providing visual props, hands-on learning experiences, drawings, pictures, graphic organizers and small-group learning opportunities. The goal of this program is English (reading, writing, speaking and listening) acquisition and a quick transfer into mainstream classrooms.
The English Learner (ML) component at Pigeon River School offers students additional academic language support in the areas of reading and math. Students may receive additional classroom assistance as well as pull-out support from licensed EL teachers or bilingual educational assistants. First language clarification may be used to aid in the understanding of new concepts or directions. The goal of the EL program is to have students be confident, skilled learners reaching grade level capacity, in order to be active participants within the classroom. Our EL program consists of two ML teachers, Sarah Kim-Clabots and Barb Fuhrmann, and two bilingual educational assistants, Brig Lee and Marina Quino.