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Oakland Unified School District

Teacher Resources

Welcome Teachers!

The foundation for serving ELL students is English Language Development (ELD) using Integrated and Designated ELD.

ELLMA helps OUSD to develop curriculum and professional development materials based on the California English Language Development Standards and the California ELA/ELD Framework which provides guidance for for implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the CA ELD Standards.

Integrated ELD is the practice of developing academic language in all subject areas in order to provide students access to the core academic program. Designated ELD is a protected time each day for instruction tailored for each student's language proficiency level. English Language Learners need both in order to progress and reach the goal of reclassification within their first six years in U.S. schools.

Learn more about Integrated and Designated ELD in Chapter Two of the ELA/ELD Framework and specific requirements for ELD in OUSD Elementary Schools.

Read on for how to use ELD strategies in your classroom.

What Designated ELD material should I use?

Based on review of the available curriculum, we have identified these supplementary Designated ELD materials to support your Designated ELD instruction. Over time, our goal is for sites to build proficiency and instruction aligned with the ELA/ELD Framework Vignettes.

See the Stages of Integrated and Designated ELD to help you and your site self-assess where you are on the continuum of implementation.

Elementary Secondary
K-5:
ELD lessons aligned to El Education
6-8:
ELD lessons aligned to El Education
Newcomers:
Systematic ELD
Long Term ELLs:
English 3-D
Get started then grow
ELD Blog

What high leverage ELL strategies are recommended?

The high leverage strategies for ELLs are grounded in the Big 3:

  • Fortifying Complex Output: the guided practice as well as written and oral rehearsal of complex language production.
  • Academic Discussion: explicit teaching of discussion skills while ensuring equity of voice through language supports and structured talk protocols. Academic discussions increase engagement, deepen content understanding, and develop students' language skills.
  • Using Complex Text to develop complex language ie. close reading, language play (Unpacking Juicy sentences, text reconstruction)

Check out our collection of classroom strategies below. These can be used across all subjects and grade levels to engage English Learners, as well as other students, in grade-level content.

Writing

Language of the Text Types

The Teaching and Learning Cycle Overview

Asset-Based Cards

Asset based cards

Inspired by Berkeley Unified's Equity Cards, these are themed strategies for leveraging the strength of ELLs and ALLs (Academic Language Learners).

Click on the image to download! If you'd like a printed set, please email nicole.knight@ousd.org and specify the quantity.

Classroom Strategy Reference Sheets

vignettes

The vignettes provide examples of instruction at each grade level.

toolkit

A straightforward guide to developing academic language for all students in all content areas.

Big 3 graphic

Learn about the BIG 3: high impact language and literacy strategies for all learners.

Understanding Language

Resources and lesson plans from educational research institute at Stanford:

reclassification
Timeline

Overview of ELL Milestones: how to support students month by month

ELLMA PD

Elementary PD Pathways

Secondary PD Pathways

Report Card Translations

Download a Kindergarten - 5th grade report card translation in the following languages:

Spanish

Chinese

Vietnamese

Cambodian

Arabic

For middle and high school, families should ask front office staff to change their Correspondence Language in order to receive a translated report card.