English as a Second Language Program
Ryan Elementary School provides an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program for students who speak another language and are not yet proficient in English. The English Language Develop,ment Standards for the State of Colorado, as well as the Boulder Valley Schools ESL Curriculum are used to guide instruction in the aresa of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students receive services until they are performing at grade level with minimum modifications of instruction from the regulas classroom teacher.
At Ryan Elementary, ESL is delivered exclusively in English in small grade level groups to better meet the needs of individual language needs of each student. The ESL teacher uses specific techniques to make instruction comprehensible for students. These techniques include hands-on activites, using visuals, providing demonstrations and repetition, incorporating song, graphic organizers, gestures, drama and much more, Instruction addresses specific language skills through the social studies, science and literacy themes that are being taught in relevant to and supportive of the regular classroom instruction.
Currently, there are thirty five students participating in the Ryan Elementary ESL Program. The home languages spoken by our students are Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Cambodian, Indonesian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese and Punjabi.