English Language Development

Welcome to the English Language Development (ELD) Department at Wakefield High School!

Our department is dedicated to supporting students in their journey to master the English language. We offer a range of courses and programs designed to enhance language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Our experienced and compassionate teachers provide a nurturing and inclusive environment where students can build their confidence and achieve academic success.

Join us as we empower students to become effective communicators and active participants in our diverse community!

English Learner (EL) Services provide English language development for students eligible for EL services. English Language Development (ELD) courses are aligned with both the WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards and Virginia Standards of Learning.

English learners take language arts (a two-period block) with teachers who are dually certified in ESOL and English language arts. ELs take science and social studies with a certified ESOL teacher, in a co-taught classroom, or in a general education setting. ELs also participate in general education electives and physical education. Students are recommended for mathematics courses based on readiness. English credit is earned in credit-bearing grade level English language arts courses that provide scaffolded instruction aligned to the EL’s level of English language proficiency. Successful completion of these courses allows ELs to meet the English requirement for graduation. Additional ELD classes carry elective or content credit, as noted below.

Note: Courses that have fewer than 15 students may not be offered based on student interest and budget considerations. In some cases, additional budget considerations may require that courses may not be offered in any given year and impacted students should select an alternative course. Additionally, courses with insufficient enrollment may be offered through distance learning or online learning.

ELD Courses

ELD 1/SLIFE Connect: an Introduction to English

Full Year (20776)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Development, Elective

Grade(s): 9

This course is designed for English Learners (ELs) who have been identified as students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE). And is designed to meet their foundational language needs. This course provides a supportive and engaging environment for learners to build foundational English language skills while exploring cultural contexts.This class earns an elective credit.

Prerequisites: Placement based on SLIFE status.

English 9

Full Year (21130E1, 21130E2, 21130E3, 21130E4)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

“Identity” is the central theme at Grade 9. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for ninth grade. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension by comparing fiction and nonfiction texts. In fiction texts, students will apply knowledge of literary terms and analyze a variety of genres. In ninth grade there will be an increased emphasis on nonfiction reading, and students will make inferences and draw conclusions using explicit and implied textual evidence. The student will expand vocabulary using the structural analysis of roots and affixes to understand complex words. The student will plan, draft, revise, and edit while writing in a variety of forms with an emphasis on analysis and persuasion while defending a position using counterclaims, reasons, and evidence from credible sources. Students will analyze and interpret the social, commercial, and/or political motives behind media messages. Students will use multimodal tools to create presentations both independently and in small groups.The student will apply research techniques to analyze information gathered from diverse sources by identifying misconceptions, and possible bias citing both quoted and paraphrased information using either MLA or APA style. Students will continue to work in collaborative groups assisting with setting rules and working toward consensus.

English 10

Full Year (21140E1, 21140E2, 21140E3, 21140E4)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

“Community” is the central theme at Grade 10. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for tenth grade.

There is a continued emphasis on reading comprehension by comparing fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will analyze the cultural and social function and universal themes of fictional texts from different cultures. Tenth grade students will analyze and synthesize information from nonfiction texts to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge.
The student will continue development of vocabulary using roots and affixes, with attention to connotations, idioms, classical allusions, and figurative language.
The student will use the writing process to write/compose with an emphasis on persuasion and analysis while showing relationships among claims, reasons, and evidence from reliable sources.
Students will create media messages and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends. Students will continue to use multimodal tools to create presentations both independently and in small groups.
The student will continue to build research skills presenting information gathered from diverse sources, identifying misconceptions and possible bias while crediting sources using MLA or APA style.
Students will continue to become skilled communicators, working both independently and in collaborative groups while presenting alternate views and working toward common goals.

English 11

Full Year (21150E1, 21150E2, 21150E3, 21150E4)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

“National Perspectives” is the central theme at Grade 11. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for eleventh grade.

There is a sustained emphasis on reading comprehension of fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will conduct comparative analyses of multiple texts that address the same topic to determine how authors reach similar or different conclusions. The students will examine and analyze fiction texts by American authors describing the contributions of other cultures and identifying prevalent themes and characterizations, which are reflective of American history and culture.
The student will continue development of vocabulary, with attention to connotations, idioms, classical allusions, and figurative language.
The student will continue to use the writing process to write/compose with an emphasis on persuasion and argumentation for multiple purposes and audiences to create focused, organized, and coherent writing.
Students will create media messages and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends. Students will create persuasive multimodal presentations that address alternative perspectives.
The student will produce a research product synthesizing information from primary and secondary sources while maintaining ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information.
Students will continue to build communication skills working both independently and in collaborative groups. Students will continue to demonstrate the ability to work within collaborative groups while presenting alternate views and working toward common goals.

Notes: There are two end-of-course (EOC) SOL examinations taken during Grade 11 for English. These tests are cumulative, and cover Grades 9, 10 and 11. Passing both SOL tests and the course earns two verified credits: End of Course Tests in English include Writing (March) and Reading (May).

English 12

Full Year (21160E1, 21160E2, 21160E3, 21160E4)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

“iPower” is the central theme at Grade 12. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for twelfth grade.

There is a sustained emphasis on reading comprehension of fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will review multiple texts to identify and evaluate resources to make decisions and solve problems. The students will examine and analyze fiction texts by British and world authors evaluating how authors use key elements to contribute to meaning and interpreting how themes are connected across texts.
The student will continue development of vocabulary, with attention to connotations, idioms, classical allusions, and figurative language.
The student will continue to use the writing process to write/compose with an emphasis on persuasion and argumentation for multiple purposes and audiences to create focused, organized, and coherent writing. Students will write to a standard acceptable to both the workplace and postsecondary education.
Students will create media messages and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends. Students will create persuasive/argumentative multimodal presentations both independently and in collaborative groups.
The student will produce a research product synthesizing information from primary and secondary sources while maintaining ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information.
Students will continue to demonstrate the ability to work within diverse teams and collaborative groups working toward common goals.

English Language Development 1

Full Year (20787)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Development, Elective

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

This elective course focuses on English language development for students at English language proficiency (ELP) level 1 and supports language development, focusing on social and academic English. Through authentic, relevant content and sequenced lessons, students will use and develop language while engaging in activities that integrate the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students will enhance their critical thinking skills through the use of language when interpreting and accessing information, ideas, and concepts from a variety of sources. This course is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework. English learners (ELs) enrolled in English 11 are also eligible to enroll in English 11 Extension. English 11 Extension will serve as their English language development course.

Prerequisites: Placement based on composite WIDA score and other performance data.

English Language Development 2

Full Year (20791)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Development, Elective

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

This elective course focuses on English language development for students at English language proficiency (ELP) level 2 and supports language development, focusing on social and academic English. Through authentic, relevant content and sequenced lessons, students will use and develop language while engaging in activities that integrate the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students will enhance their critical thinking skills through the use of language when interpreting and accessing information, ideas, and concepts from a variety of sources. This course is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework. ELs enrolled in English 11 are also eligible to enroll in English 11 Extension. English 11 Extension will serve as their English language development course.

Prerequisites: Placement based on composite WIDA score and other performance data.

English Language Development 3

Full Year (20794)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Development, Elective

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

This elective course focuses on English language development for students at English language proficiency (ELP) level 3 and supports language development, focusing on social and academic English. Through authentic, relevant content and sequenced lessons, students will use and develop language while engaging in activities that integrate the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students will enhance their critical thinking skills through the use of language when interpreting and accessing information, ideas, and concepts from a variety of sources. This course is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework. English learners (ELs) enrolled in English 11 are also eligible to enroll in English 11 Extension. English 11 Extension will serve as their English language development course.

Prerequisites: Placement based on composite WIDA score and other performance data.

English Language Development 4

Full Year (20797)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Development, Elective

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

This elective course focuses on English Language Development for students at English language proficiency (ELP) level 4 and supports language development, focusing on social and academic English. Through authentic, relevant content and sequenced lessons, students will use and develop language while engaging in activities that integrate the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students will enhance their critical thinking skills through the use of language when interpreting and accessing information, ideas, and concepts from a variety of sources. This course is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework. English learners (ELs) enrolled in English 11 are also eligible to enroll in English 11 Extension. English 11 Extension will serve as their English language development course.

Prerequisites: Placement based on composite WIDA score and other performance data.

Math Foundations

Full Year (23111)

Level: High School

Content Area: Mathematics

Elective Credits: 1.0 Elective

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11

This course is intended for English Learners (ELs) who have been identified as students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE). Students will develop their understanding of whole number, fraction, decimal and percent computation and estimation. These concepts will be applied to practical problem solving in the areas of measurement, probability, statistics, and geometry.

Prerequisites: None

Notes: This course will not fulfill the mathematics credits requirement; it does provide one elective credit.

Principles of Physics Laboratory course

Full Year (24500-21)

Level: High School

Content Area: Science

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10, 11, 12

The course is designed to be an introduction to the important ideas in physics. Topics will be addressed on a conceptual level. The first semester emphasizes the study of motion and forces. The second semester emphasizes the study of light, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear physics.

Prerequisites: None

World History & Geography: 1500 AD to the Present

Full Year (22216)

Level: High School

Content Area: Social Studies

Credits: 1.0

This is a chronologically and thematically organized study of world history and geography. Students study the world from 1500 CE through the present. The course weaves together the skills and content of both history and geography so that students may learn how both affect the world around them. Regions of study include North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Students continue to refine and expand critical thinking skills, practice decision making and problem solving, and formulate questions to guide research. Additionally, students will apply social science skills -historical thinking, geographic analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship – to course content.

The course is aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning for World History and Geography: 1500 A.D. to the Present.

Students in need of a verified credit in social studies will engage in a local process to include performance assessments in lieu of the end-of-course SOL exam. In specific cases, the student may be eligible to take the end-of-course SOL exam in addition to the local process.