WOODBRIDGE — For ESL — English as a Second Language — students, the district’s new Learners of English Achievement Program (L.E.A.P.), allowed extra time in the classroom in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
“These kids are coming to school and having fun,” said Maria Anan, a language arts teacher at Avenel Middle School and an elementary and ESL certified teacher.
Dara Kurlander, supervisor of intervention and referral services, ESL and bilingual programs, said she was looking through Board of Education (BOE) agendas back in March, and saw a need for extended year programs for ESL students as well as preschool students getting ready to enter kindergarten in the fall.
She said with the support from the BOE, the program was created with Title III funding and an allotment of immigration funding.
Ninety-two students, from rising kindergarteners to rising fifth-graders, participated in the inaugural L.E.A.P. program, held from July 7-31 at Kennedy Park Elementary School No. 24 in Iselin.
Each staff member and student received a T-shirt for participating in the program.
“This is an authentic program for the district that was created this year,” Kurlander said. “Students had to qualify as English language learners and had to meet multiple measures to be eligible for the program.”
Kurlander said there are seven ESL magnet elementary schools in the district, and that parents expressed a strong desire for the program.
“We had a waiting list, and unfortunately, we had to turn students away,” she said, explaining that individualized instruction and small class sizes were her goals in creating the program. “Our largest class size was 16 and our smallest class size was eight.”
The theme for the program was “We are the World,” which was formulated by the eight classroom teachers and two reading teachers working in the program.
The program also had four aides/interpreters assisting in the classrooms.
The days started with a morning meeting around 9 a.m., with students singing songs, and then they were off to their 45- minute classes. The day ended around 12:45 p.m.
“There was a curriculum and textbooks were used, but the teachers had the ability to infuse their own creativity into the lessons,” said Kurlander, adding that iPads and computers were used to make videos.
Sarah Higgins, instrumental teacher, infused music into the lessons, and Courtney Cuevas, who will be teaching a pilot program at Woodbridge High School this fall where juniors and seniors can intern with Apple, put technology into the lessons.
“The students created their own iMovies and used the iPads,” Kurlander said.
Students were able to leap into other environments through a green screen in Anan’s classroom. Some said they desired going to Disney World and Antarctica, and Anan was able to make happen through photos on the Internet enlarged on the green screen.
Kuntal Desai, ESL and Bilingual elementary certified teacher at Kennedy Park School, said she believes the program is vital for ESL and bilingual instruction.
“The students going into kindergarten come here and are exposed to the English language before the school year starts,” she said. “This gives them a cushion of continued learning with hope of bridging the gap, that is now until September, so they can start the new school year with ease.”
Desai said she often observes anxiety from kindergarten ESL students who have to experience new people and a longer school day on top of a different learning environment, which involves something as small as holding a pencil or crayon, something to which some of the students may not have experienced before.
“With the students exposed to this friendly and fun learning environment, I anticipate less anxiety,” she said.
Kurlander said without lead teacher Melissa Domingues, who managed the logistics of the program from lunch to bussing, the program wouldn’t have run so smoothly. She said she hopes to expand the program next year.
“I hate to turn anyone away,” she said. “This was our first year, and we have a large population of ESL and bilingual students. The absolute goal is to expand the program with ideal class sizes.”