WMS Multilingual Learners
English Language Development 1 - 4 and Foundational Reading
March 2025
To translate this newsletter, click on it then use the link to the right. (English)
Para traduzir este boletim, clique nele e use o link à direita. (Portuguese)
Para traducir este boletín, haga clic en él y luego use el enlace a la derecha (Spanish)
لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين. (Arabic)
Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը: (Armenian)
Чтобы перевести этот бюллетень, нажмите на него, затем воспользуйтесь ссылкой справа. (Russian)
Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın (Turkish)
Ms. Rix
zara.rix@watertown.k12.ma.us
ELD 1 (Entering)
Welcome to English Language Development class Level 1!
In this class, we learn the academic skills expected across all classes - vocabulary and sentences to describe or explain or compare characters or science experiments or historical periods - by applying them to the everyday vocabulary we need in order to grow our English language skills.
All March we have been working on a unit on Endangered Animals and the language of science. We learned to explain why animals are endangered and to explain what will happen if an animal goes extinct. Students are currently working on their book projects. This is a report on an endangered animal of their choice. Students are choosing animals as diverse as the blue whale, tigers, and the black-footed ferret. I am proud of them because they are using difficult texts in English in order to research their animals and report on them. The unit also includes a technological component as they learn to typing and how to upload and format documents on the computer. When our project is done, we will have a full class book reporting on the endangered status of multiple animals.
Ms. K
diana.karamourtopoulos@watertown.k12.ma.us
ELD 2 (Emerging)
I am Diana Karamourtopoulos, your student's ESL teacher. In this class, we work on improving our English in all 4 domains: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We finished a unit about animals that live in dark places. Students learned new vocabulary, practiced describing these places and animals, and made a poster to describe a place that experiences the Polar Sun. We are working now on how humans and animals can live together peacefully, and will continue to work on our writing through a "CER" (claim, evidence, and reasoning).
Foundational Reading Red
Foundational Reading Orange
Foundational Reading Purple
Mr. McCourt
Robert.McCourt@watertown.k12.ma.us
ELD 2 (Emerging)
In foundational reading, students are diving into the study of root words to strengthen their vocabulary. This week, they are exploring the meanings of roots like Thermo (heat), Mem (memory), Dem (people), Ology (study of), and Vac (empty). Understanding these roots not only improves their vocabulary but also enhances their ability to decode academic language across subjects. By recognizing these common roots, students can more easily understand complex terms in science, social studies, and other classes, making them more confident and capable learners.
Ms. Campos
keila.camposdeoliveira@watertown.k12.ma.us
ELD 3 (Developing)
ELD 3 has worked very hard over the last few weeks. We finished our unit on the development of Flight where we learned how to write a classification essay. Right before February break we started a new unit called Know the World Around You. This unit has the objective of reviewing and introducing concepts of geography through the use of maps and other related resources so students can feel more confident in what they know about the world, and also develop a curiosity to research things they find interesting.
We will continue to practice our oral skills through content discussions while developing new vocabulary and language structures to support students’ writing and reading skills. While listening is already a great part of our daily routine, we will also use videos to enhance students’ ability to draw information they are hearing. Students have been very interested in learning about North America geography and some historical information about that region.
If you wish to get in touch with me, you can email me at keila.camposdeoliveira@watertown.k12.ma.us
Foundational Reading - Blue Block
Our foundational reading class has made significant progress over the last few weeks. Our class is small which means students have plenty of opportunity to practice their reading and spelling skills every day. We are currently working on learning “Power Words,” or words that have irregular spellings, but are high frequency words. Students are also improving their vocabulary through learning meaning from the texts we read as a group.
If you wish to get in touch with me, you can email me at keila.camposdeoliveira@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Gilmartin
ELD 4 (Expanding)
… expressing interpretation and understanding
… identifying genre and point-of-view
… discussing other literary terms such as protagonist, setting, conflict, and theme.Also, students have been reviewing these and other literary terms and test-taking strategies for the ELA MCAS in early April: trying to expand their academic vocabulary, reading and interpreting poems, short stories, excerpts from novels and essays, and informational texts.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns at sheila.gilmartin@watertown.k12.ma.us.
ESL Writing WIN
Please contact me with any questions or concerns at sheila.gilmartin@watertown.k12.ma.us.
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact:
ELE/ESL District Coordinator
Watertown Public Schools
68 Waverley Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
617-972-4297
