German School of Washington, D.C.

Revised in November 2011 by

Ingrid Wrausmann and Heike Hoover

English Curriculum Elementary School

This curriculum is developed for newcomers/lower intermediate and intermediate/advanced
students of English. Newcomers with no previous or limited knowledge will attend the Entry
Level/Lower Intermediate courses. The more advanced students will attend the
Intermediate/Advanced courses. (Advanced Level courses with a separate curriculum are part of
our program as well.) The variety of courses offered accommodates learners from every
background.
A student new to the school will be evaluated by several English teachers and then placed in the
course which matches her/his skill level. The various courses are scheduled at the same time
throughout the week. Transition to a higher level course takes place at pre-established intervals
after careful testing and grading. The competencies in this curriculum are listed in ascending
order of difficulty in each category.

Basic Outline
Competencies
1. Reading and Critical Thinking
2. Vocabulary and Spelling
3. Language/Grammar/Mechanics
4. Writing
5. Speaking and Listening
6. Research and Study Skills
7. Crossing the Curriculum
8. Learning for Life
Textbooks and Resources
1. Required Textbooks and Workbooks
2. Outside reading/Recommended Texts
3. Electronic Media: DVDs, CDs, Computer Programs
4. Longer Projects
5. Field Trips
6. Specialists
Instruction
1. Class Time
2. Grading

English Curriculum Elementary School

Entry Level/Lower Intermediate/Intermediate
Grades 2- 4
Competencies: 1. Reading and Critical Thinking
The student should be able to
read letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, and simple stories
follow written instructions
identify rhyme words
find the main idea and supporting details
read out loud with expression
read silently for meaning
read books for short reports
read for literary appreciation (folk and fairy tales, classic fiction,
historical non-fiction, poems)
predict outcomes
distinguish real from imaginary
understand cause and effect
draw inferences
compare and contrast
classify information
sequence
read books independently

Competencies: 2. Vocabulary and Spelling

The student should
acquire and expand vocabulary at appropriate level
present "show and tell" objects and answer questions and comments
use songs, rhymes, and poems, especially those with motions and refrains
craft picture collages and murals of word families, e.g. animals, fruits, etc.
listen to stories and fairy tales and identify new words from context clues
retell stories and compare and contrast with similar literature
tell time
work independently in level appropriate spelling book

Competencies: 3. Language/Grammar/Mechanics
The student should be able to
replace missing vowels and consonants
write complete sentences
identify nouns, verbs, adjectives, and pronouns
study the above in their various forms, e.g. singular, plural, etc.
capitalize proper nouns and I
use prepositions of place
ask questions with to do/does

 learn present, past, and future tense, and continuous form of regular and
irregular verbs
analyze contractions

Competencies: 4. Writing
The student should be able to
write simple sentences
formulate headlines and captions
put questions and answers in writing
compose simple paragraphs
express likes and dislikes (opinion)
compose stories from word or picture clues
describe objects, seasons, special days
write journal entries, e.g. Watch Corn Seeds Grow

Competencies: 5. Speaking and Listening

The student should be able to
practice Total Physical Response (move and speak simultaneously)
describe simple objects (show and tell)
draw picture answers after listening to questions
listen to fellow students comments
express an opinion
acquire and expand active vocabulary at appropriate level
answer in a complete sentence
pronounce correctly difficult sounds of the English language,
e.g. th and r
distinguish between a statement, a question, and a command
talk about current events
retell a logical story sequence
create dialogues and role-play
listen to childrens literature

Competencies: 6. Research and Study Skills

The student should
alphabetize
use the dictionary
use the Internet
show the ability to find facts for a written report/oral presentation,
e.g. Buildings of the World

Competencies: 7. Crossing the Curriculum

The English Department co-operates closely with class teachers and
integrates the arts, social studies, and geography topics into the curriculum,
for example The City of Washington in grade 3.

Competencies: 8. Learning for Life

The student should
know his/her name and address
handle an emergency call
have some knowledge of American geography and major holidays
identify American coin values and bills
know the four seasons and what clothes to wear
deal successfully with dangerous objects such as cigarettes, fire,
guns, electricity, violent storms, and aggressive dogs
follow important current events

Textbooks and Resources: 1. Required Textbooks and Workbooks

Newcomer Book: Accelerating English Language Learning
by Anna Uhl Chamot, 2-5, Scott Foresman, 2001

Sunshine Edition: Accelerating English Language Learning

by Anna Uhl Chamot, 2-4, Scott Foresman, 2001

Spelling Workout by Phillip K. Trocki,

Level A, B, C and D Student Editions, Modern Curriculum Press, 2002

Weekly Reader, The largest newspaper for kids in the world

The Weekly Reader Corporation, 2011

Scholastic News, A large newspaper for children in the U.S.

The Scholastic News Corporation, 2011

Textbooks and Resources: 2. Outside Reading/Recommended Texts

The English Elementary School library provides a large variety of
up-to-date trade books for all reading levels and interests. During
one weekly 10-minute visit to the library students are encouraged
to choose books and take home outside reading.

Textbooks and Resources: 3. Electronic Media: DVDs, CDs, Computer Programs

A large variety of video tapes is available, e.g. How the Leopard Got
his Spots, The First Thanksgiving, Patrick's Dinosaurs, A
Midsummer Night's Dream, etc.
A collection of books with the matching books-on-tape is on hand in the library.
Muzzy the BBC Language Course for Children, British Broadcasting
Corporation.
We Sing Around the Campfire
We Sing for Christmas
We Sing America

We Sing and Play

We Sing Childrens Songs and Finger Plays
Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers
Fun Phonics by Steven Traugh poems, songs, and fun activities on
tapes and in books that teach basic phonic skills.
Creative Teaching Press, 1993

Textbooks and Resources: 4. Longer Projects

Student interest determines the topics picked for more extensive
projects. Animals are popular in this age group and so in the past the
curriculum included projects on horses, dogs, cats, snakes, and
crocodiles. Buildings of the World and The American States are also favorites.
School-wide projects focused on unusual, but very
successful presentations titled: Shoes, Colors, and Egypt.

Textbooks and Resources: 5. Field Trips

Field trips are mostly in the hands of the class teachers. The English
teachers act as advisors and prepare the children for the English
language part of the excursion. They introduce difficult English
vocabulary, and explain and familiarize procedures to the children, etc.

Textbooks and Resources: 6. Specialists

For an interactive exchange, the English teachers may invite parents who are
specialists in their field. In the past, a father who works at NASA
(planets and stars), another from Intel SAT (communications), professor
Eugenie Clark ("The Shark Lady"), a Navy captain (Christopher Columbus'
anniversary in 1992) and a professional from the Nature Conservancy (rainforest)
spoke to the students, showed them experiments, and engaged them in lively debate.
Parents who have a different ethnic background are encouraged to share their
culture in all its diversity. Examples are: Norway, Japan, Great Britain, and Japan.

Instruction: 1. Class Time

Second grade meets four times a week for 45 minutes. Third and fourth grades meet
five hours a week for 45 minutes. Some sessions maybe double periods.

Instruction: 2. Grading
In second grade the English teachers may choose from three different assessments:
1. Hat am Englischunterricht teilgenommen
2. Hat mit Erfolg am Englischunterricht teilgenommen
3. Hat mit groem Erfolg am Englischunterricht teilgenommen
Numerical assessments are given in grades 3 and 4. A single grade appears on the students
report card. This one grade is composed of four partial grades oral and written expression,
spelling and reading of equal value.