The SmartClass Blog

Implementing SmartClass' ELL Newcomer Curriculum

Written by Melissa Arndt | August 2, 2024 1:03:17 PM Z

Does this situation sound familiar? You are in a room surrounded by students who do not all speak the same language and also do not understand what you are saying. For most people, this would be a stressful situation. For you, it is your job to educate and support your students, and SmartClass is here to help with a flexible and adaptable ELL Newcomer Curriculum.

Whether you support pullout groups for a couple of hours a week outside of the regular education classroom or have a classroom that gets new students added randomly throughout the year, our language teaching platform will help you differentiate your instruction to meet the needs of your ELL Newcomer learners. 

“The teacher has a very detailed record of the results for each student, for each skill worked on, as well as the time spent on the platform. This makes it possible to keep a close eye on students' progress and identify areas where they need more help to continue improving and progressing.” 

- Déborah Daval, English Professor at Toronto French School 

ELL Newcomer Curriculum: Start at the beginning

The SmartClass ELL Newcomer curriculum ranges from CEFR A1 to C1/C2. Your newcomer English language learners would begin work learning the letters of the alphabet, basic greetings, and numbers. What is great about these activities is that they can be edited to increase support and/or challenge. There is also an instruction box where you can offer tips, add translations, and reinforce concepts taught during instruction. 

One of the most valuable aspects of the platform is that teachers can create activities using the same templates used in the ready-to-use content. Whether students need additional activities to review a concept or there is a topic that you would like to introduce your students to, teachers can easily create activities to improve students' understanding and confidence in the language.

Planning instruction

No matter the classroom scenario, teachers use the SmartClass teacher handbook to plan instruction and then assign activities in the corresponding L2 platform to be completed in class or as homework. The variety of activities engages students and provides opportunities to interact with real-life situations and repetition needed for beginner language learners. With a variety of auto-graded activities, students receive immediate feedback, and teachers can even allow automatic redo for additional practice. Pronunciation and speaking activities increase students’ confidence and fluency, while listening activities increase comprehension. 

The SmartClass L2 Teaching Platform allows teachers the flexibility they need to address the needs of each individual student. The complete ELL Newcomer Curriculum brings structure to instruction, and the ability to create their own activities ensures teachers that they are meeting the requirements necessary for success. No matter the native language of the students, SmartClass is here to support both teachers and students on the road to proficiency.