Whitby Lower School English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program

Welcome to Whitby's EAL Program

Whitby's EAL Program is designed for students who are acquiring English as an additional language to their mother tongue. The goal of the program is to prepare students to become academically proficient in English and successful in their mainstream classes. EAL students receive specialized instruction in English language acquisition from a qualified EAL instructor.

Lower School EAL Program Structure

Lower School EAL students in phases 1 and 2 will attend EAL classes with an EAL teacher, in place of Spanish. Concepts from the classroom units of inquiry will be reinforced in these classes, while strengthening and building on students’ existing language skills across the domains of language acquisition: reading, writing, oral language, and viewing language.

Lower School EAL students in phases 1- 4 will receive language support in their classrooms, as well. The EAL teachers will work with classroom teachers of EAL students to provide language development support for EAL students.

Lower School Program and Reporting Procedures

EAL students receive Conference Notes, Report Cards, and Progress Report comments that reflect their effort, growth and understanding in each content area. Growth in the language acquisition of phase 3 and 4 EAL students is reflected in the Language Arts comments.

Phase 1 and 2 EAL students, receiving extra support in EAL classes, in place of Spanish, will receive reports from the EAL teacher.

Unit Samples

Grades 1 and 2 Unit: I Know Myself

Areas of exploration:

Nature of the self
Human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures
Rights and responsibilities

Key Concepts: Perspective, Responsibility, Reflection

Grade 3 Unit: Sharing the Planet

Communities and the relationship within and between them
Access to equal opportunities
Peace and conflict resolution
Causes of conflict in American history
Consequences of major U.S events in history
Examination of different points of view around the conflict

Key Concepts: Causation, Change, Perspective

Grade 4 Unit: Weather (How the World Works)

The natural world and its laws 
The interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies 
How humans use their understanding of scientific principles 
The impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment

Key Concepts: Form, Causation, Function

Mother Tongue Program

Mother Tongue Development

We believe that maintaining and developing language skills of our learners, whose mother tongue is other than English, is vital. Developing a child’s mother tongue can accelerate the acquisition of English and increase academic achievement across the curriculum.

Whitby works with ABC Languages, a local language agency, to assist with the provision of mother tongue class, when possible. ABC Languages works with parents to find teachers for the Mother Tongue Program. Classes are offered during WECCP and Co-Curricular time with fees varying by the number of sections offered and students enrolled in the program.

Parents may contact Nicolette Dekens at ABC Languages: nicolette@abclang.com to inquire about options for enrolling students in the program. For Upper School students studying in the English as an Additional Language program, Mother Tongue courses may be required to satisfy MYP requirements.

Mother Tongue Resources

Whitby’s library includes a collection of of books that represents the mother tongue languages of our international community. We encourage families to maintain mother tongue development by keep books and materials in you mother tongue at home, as well. Students are welcome to bring in books in their mother tongue for independent reading time in the Lower and Upper Schools.

Transitioning Information

Supporting Your Child Through This Transition

Here are some ways you can help support your child through this transition:

Provide a language-rich environment at home
Continue to develop your child’s first/home language by reading to your child, sharing books, telling stories
Talk with your child in your first language about routines, vocabulary, topics and other activities done or going on at school. (Having a strong and developing first language will help your child to acquire English)
Enroll your child in a Mother Tongue Program to continue to develop your child’s first language.
Join after school sports clubs or WECCPs at school.
Visit our School Library and the World Language Book section to find books in your home language.

Transition Period

When arriving please expect varied transitions depending on your child’s age, language proficiency and unique personality. During this time, here are some behaviors you may observe:

Many children who are at an early stage in their learning of English go through a 'silent period' when they first enter a new school or an unfamiliar setting. This can last for up to six months or longer. This is not a 'passive' stage. During this time, the child will be watching, actively listening, and exploring their environment to understand new experiences and to develop new meanings.
Children may begin to use non-verbal gestures to communicate.
There will be an adjustment period to learning the culture and expectations of a school.