The Standard Deviants - Learn English as a Second Language (ESL) - Possessives, Verb + Infinitive, and the Past Maranda Alcala coordinates the United Nations — that’s what some staff at Salish Ponds Elementary School call it. Alcala is one of two full-time English language teachers at the Fairview school, where about 35 percent of students are learning English as a second language. She teaches a combined class of 45 first-, second- and third-grade students in an extra large classroom — one of her own innovations. They use songs, dance, reading, writing and chants to learn the foundations of English.

Alcala, who was honored by the U.S. Department of Education for her work with ELL students earlier this year, said she has seen a clear change in the Reynolds district’s program. “Eight years ago, we knew we had these students, but we didn’t know exactly how we were supposed to serve them,” she said. “It’s nice to see the shift from just ‘doing something’ to having a curriculum, materials and teaching strategies.”

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