Lincoln Junior High English as a New Language (ENL) teacher, Ryan Ahlrich, and four of his students presented ways they are meeting goals in reading, writing and organizational skills to the Plymouth School Board on October 2.
Ahlrich said, “I begin every year telling my students that this is a class of survival. “ “They will face immense challenges and I think about how they will be successful academically.” He said the students focus on their own specific language skills. Students are placed a different levels depending on their reading skills and vocabulary.
Fernel Lemus Castellanos told the board members that he is from Honduras and has only been in the United States for a year and a half. He said he works on writing and speaking goals by using a high frequency vocabulary and writing compound sentences. Ahlrich said Fernel is a level 2 student, but set his own goals at level 3 for the project he was demonstrating.
Karla González Alvarez is a 7th grader who has been in the USA for one year. She showed how she uses a graphic organizer to complete her work. Each of the students were required to put together a video that will be linked to the school board minutes.
Alan Sosa Pedro is also a 7th grader. He demonstrated how he wrote a summery using compound sentences along with a graphic organizer. He has been in the US for one year and one month.
Fernando Pacheco Zelaya is originally from Honduras, has been in this country for five years and is working at a level five skill set. He said he is working on reading, writing and speaking goals so that he will be able to state his opinion.
Larry Pinkerton, board member, said their presentation was very impressive. Brooke Busse, who works throughout the schools on curriculum, said the class is high energy whenever she visits in the classroom. She said, “They are intentionally developing language skills.”
Carol Anders Correspondent
Photo: Lincoln Junior High students in the ELL class shared how they are learning reading, writing and organizational skills.
L to R: Karla Gonzalez Alvarez, Fernel Lemus Castellanos, teacher Ryan Ahlrich, Alan Sosa Pedro and Fernando Pacheco Zelaya.
