Welcome to Austin High School! This is a list of courses we offer for our English Language Learners at AHS. We will use transcripts and other testing scores (if applicable) along with a Scantron test to appropriately place each student. Please contact Mrs. Thompson or your counselor with any questions!
EL Language Arts
Reading and Writing Support
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 0.5/semester
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP Level 1 or 2. Recommendation based on WaPT, Scantron Reading, and/or ACCESS tests. Scantron Reading score below 2000, Lexile level below 500, or an inability to take the leveling tests due to lack of proficiency in English indicate a student may benefit from this class.
- EL Reading/Writing Support is designed for the student who is new to English. This course provides the student with survival English for everyday conversation as well as a focus on entry-level academic English. By the end of the course, students will be able to participate in a conversation that expresses their thoughts and needs and they will be able to write simple English sentences to form a short paragraph in response to academic questions. Vocabulary building plays a significant role in this course as well as decoding English words and analysis of English sentences to increase comprehension when reading.
EL Language Arts Level A
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 1 ELA credit and 1 elective credit per year (2 hour block class)
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP Level 1 or 2. Recommendation based on WaPT, ACCESS, and/or Scantron Reading scores and teacher recommendation. Scantron reading score between 2000-2500, Lexile reading levels between 500 and 800, and comparative writing skills may indicate a student would benefit from this class.
- This Language Arts course is a 2-hour blocked, blended class. Students will work on improving reading and writing skills as well as focus on phonics and academic reading skills. Four credits of Language Arts are required to graduate in the state of Minnesota and this is the first level of content credit for English learners.
EL Language Arts Level B
- Grade(s) offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 1 ELA credit and 1 elective credit per year (2 hour block class)
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP Level 3 or 4. Recommendation based on WaPT, Scantron Reading, or ACCESS tests. Scantron reading score between 2501-2800, Lexile reading levels between 801 and 1000, and comparative writing skills may indicate a student would benefit from this class.
- This Language Arts course is a 2-hour blocked, blended class. Students will work on improving reading and writing skills as well as focus on phonics and academic reading skills. Four credits of Language Arts are required to graduate in the state of Minnesota and this is the second level of content credit for English learners.
EL Language Arts Level C
- Grades offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 1 ELA credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP Level 4 or 5. Recommendation based on WaPT, Scantron Reading, or ACCESS tests. Scantron reading score 2700+, Lexile reading levels 1000+, and comparative writing skills may indicate a student would benefit from this class.
- This Language Arts course uses a modified version of StudySync, our secondary level Language Arts curriculum. Students will work on improving reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Four credits of Language Arts are required to graduate in the state of Minnesota and this is the third and final level of content credit for English learners.
EL Social Studies
EL Human Geography
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12 every 3 years (this course will be offered next in the 2024-2025 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP.
- In this course, students will study how humans impact the physical geography of the world and how the world’s physical geography has influenced the development of human populations and their cultures. Students will study the political, cultural and economic patterns and distribution of humans on the earth’s surface. Particular attention is paid to the Language of Social Studies.
EL United States History
- Grade(s) offered: 9-12 every 3 years (this course will be offered next in the 2022-2023 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP.
- United States History is a two-semester course that offers a general survey of United States history from Reconstruction to the present. The students will identify the major themes in United States history and explain their importance at each stage in development of the United States. The students will gain a sense of understanding of experiences and influences that have helped shape the United States, its development of democratic principles, and its role in the global community socially, economically, and politically.
EL World History
- Grade(s) offered: 9-12 every 3 years (this course will be offered next in the 2023-2024 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP.
- World History is a one year course that offers a general survey of the history of our world from ancient times to modern times. The students will study events, people, and ideas of the past and be able to explain the impact they had on shaping the world we live in today. The academic language of Social Studies will be emphasized.
EL United States Government
- Grade offered: 12 (this course is offered 1st semester every year)
- Credits/Length: 0.5/semester
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP.
- This course is a study of the United States national government. Special emphasis is placed on how the government affects daily life and major governmental institutions. There will be extensive attention paid to the role of the different government branches and bureaus. We will emphasize the language of Social Studies as we explore national political culture and practice.
EL Economics
- Grade(s) offered: 12 (this course is offered 2nd semester every year)
- Credits/Length: 0.5/semester
- Prerequisites: Student must be identified as LEP
- This course explores principles and methods of making and spending money - economics. These principles and methods are then applied to the micro‐economy, the macro‐economy and the global economy. In addition, personal finance issues are addressed. The language of Social Studies will be emphasized throughout the course.
EL Math
EL Algebra
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 1 elective credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP.
- EL Algebra is designed to provide students with skills required for success in subsequent mathematics courses. The language of Mathematics is featured as are skills including basic arithmetic and foundations of Algebra such as solving equations, inequalities, functions, and graphing linear equations.
EL Intermediate Algebra
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 1.0 math credit per year
- Prerequisites: Student identified as LEP and student's history with mathematics courses including evidence that basic Algebraic skills have been mastered.
- Course Description: EL Intermediate Algebra provides students with the skills required to receive the first of three required math credits. There is a focus on the language of mathematics while learning necessary skills. The skills mastered will include: data analysis and probability, quadratic, exponential, radical, and rational functions. Students will be expected to participate in classroom learning as well as completing additional work outside the classroom.
EL Geometry
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12 every other year (this course will be offered in the 2022-2023 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 math credit per year
- Prerequisites: Student identified as LEP, and student’s history with mathematics courses including evidence that Inter. Algebraic skills have been mastered.
- Geometry is the science of applied Algebra. Algebraic principles and reasoning are applied to 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional figures. Students will be able to calculate measurements of angles, lines, arcs, etc., based on information given and accepted Geometric theorems. The skills taught mirror those in other Geometry classes in the school but there is a strong focus on the language of mathematics, reasoning, and geometry. This course is required course for graduation from Austin High School. Students will be expected to participate in classroom learning as well as completing additional work outside the classroom.
EL Algebra II
- Grade(s) Offered: 10-12 every other year (this course will be offered in the 2023-2024 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 math credit per year
- Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra
- In EL Algebra II, students will expand and enhance their mathematical skills as they solve a wide range of equations and inequalities algebraically and graphically. They will represent data and use various measures of data to draw conclusions and identify trends, write equations and graph relations, and use trigonometry to solve problems. There will be emphasis on the Academic language of Mathematics as we master the skills necessary to receive this required math credit.
EL Science
EL Physical Science
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12
- Credits/Length: 1.0 Science credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP.
- This science course includes relevant topics drawn from chemistry, physics and topics in earth and space science. Within the course, students will develop skills in problem-solving, deductive reasoning, and collaborative learning. Topics include: scientific method, atomic structure, patterns in the periodic table, chemical equations, interaction between forces and motion, energy and its transfers, and Earth’s systems within a dynamic universe. This course follows the standards of all other General Science courses at Austin High School; however, there is considerable time devoted to the language of Science and accepted patterns for discussing scientific concepts.
EL Biology
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12 every other year (this course will be offered in the 2022-2023 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 Science credit per year
- Prerequisites: Student identified as LEP. Recommendation based on WaPT, Scantron Math, or ACCESS test. Successful completion of General Science course.
- Course Description: In EL Biology, students will complete laboratory activities and text work to gain a solid foundation in the basic concepts of biology - the study of life. Topics covered are the nature of science, characteristics of living things, energy cycling processes such as photosynthesis and cell respiration, cells, cell division, ecology, biochemistry, genetics, biological change over time, and the human body. In addition to these scientific concepts, strategies will be used to enable students to read and write in the language of Science.
EL Everyday Chemistry
- Grade(s) Offered: 9-12 every other year (this course will be offered in the 2023-2024 school year)
- Credits/Length: 1.0 Science credit per year
- Prerequisite: Student identified as LEP, Recommendation based on WaPT, Scantron Math, or ACCESS test. Successful completion of General Science course as well as Biology and Algebra.
- Topics in EL Chemistry will include chemical laboratory safety and procedures, organic chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and industrial chemistry.
Credits:
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