Is there any discussion about grouping ESOL functioning levels for instruction?
The 6 ESOL functioning levels are fixed by the NRS. It is important to keep the levels separated for reporting purposes of movement from level to level. However, the content standards are written as a continuum so they can be used in multi-level classes. The strands are the same in each level. For example, the first strand in reading is information. Level 1: Comprehends Simple Words, Level e: Comprehends Simple Phrases, Level 3: Comprehends Simple Paragraphs. In a multi-level class, the lesson could be on medical information with low level students working on emergency words, level 2 working on phrases and forms, level three working on reading simple health information. Also, the speaking/listening and reading/writing mirror each other and can be taught simultaneously. For example, listening level 1: Comprehends simple emergency words, while speaking is: produces simple emergency words. Charts showing the progression of the levels and sample activities are available through the NE ABLE
