The Illustrated Page: Medieval Manuscripts to New Media

Rationale

The unit will focus on developing writing skills for fourth grade, Stage Three (3^rd – 5^th grade), English Language Learners.  The ELL students in my class are considered ELL only because someone in their household is identified as a Navajo language speaker. The students themselves use English as a primary language.  In retrospect, these students should probably not be labeled as English Language Learners, and should be in mainstream classes.  Despite the discrepancy, the students still have to be served as English Language Learners, until they are reclassified as proficient when they take the Arizona English Language Learners Assessment.  Sometimes, the parents have the choice of Opting out of the SEI program, which means that a parent can choose to have their child join a mainstream classroom.

Writing has always been a challenge to teach to Navajo students, and it is especially hard for students who are labeled as English Language Learners.  The students have learned enough English to communicate effectively, and have developed basic writing skills.  Their basic skills include 5 word sentences with a verb and a noun.  However, the students do not want to move out of their comfort zone when it comes to writing.  In this unit, English Language Learners will use art by three prominent contemporary Navajo artists to expand their writing skills beyond basic sentence syntax to more complex sentence structures, and work up to paragraphs. 

One of the goals of an English Language Development teacher is for students to become proficient listening and speaking, reading, and writing so they can be reclassified into mainstream classrooms.  In order for a student to become proficient, they must pass the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA).  The one weakness that prevents students from passing AZELLA is their inability to write.  The standard for a student to be considered proficient in writing at stage III (3^rd-5^th grade) is to show competency in Writing based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities specified in the Performance Indicators at the High Intermediate level.  The English Language Development Proficiency standards indicate that the student has to access grade-level academic content including selecting accurate specific words to express ideas, produce two or more paragraphs including introduction, supporting details, and concluding statement. At the same time, students have to use various sentence constructs that include correct grammar and parts of speech, and show competency in subject verb agreement.

The purpose of the unit is for students to develop writing skills, especially on syntax and sentence structures.  The plan is for students to use Navajo artists as inspiration to improve sentence structures and developing paragraphs.  The integration of Art and writing will develop student interest in art as well as development of vocabulary, especially the use of adjectives.