English Language Development

Grades Eleven and Twelve

The final two years of high school are full of plans—plans for college, for careers, and for their

future lives. Students are now at their most independent and are poised to make yet another

momentous transition. In ELA and other content areas, students are increasingly sophisticated in

their thinking and performances displaying a critical and thoughtful stance toward their coursework

and the problems of the day. Their reasoning and debating skills never better, they welcome the

opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and debates. Expectations for the volume, pace, and

depth of reading and writing increase to new levels. Students in grades eleven and twelve feel the

pressure of big choices, college entrance exams, and increased rigor in their courses. Schools and

teachers at grades eleven and twelve provide autonomy for students’ emerging young adult identities

while helping them maintain focus and sustained effort through the last months and weeks before

graduation.

This grade-span section provides an overview of the key themes of ELA/literacy and ELD

instruction in grades eleven and twelve. It offers guidance for ensuring ELs have access to ELA and

content instruction, including integrated and designated ELD instruction. Snapshots and vignettes

bring several of the concepts to life.

Key Themes of ELA/Literacy and ELD Instruction in Grades

Eleven and Twelve

In this section, the key themes of ELA/literacy and ELD instruction are discussed as they apply to
grades eleven and twelve. These include Meaning Making, Language Development, Effective
Expression, Content Knowledge, and Foundational Skills. See figure 7.23. These themes are
largely overlapping and consistent with the call for the integration of reading, writing, speaking and
listening, and language in the CA CCSS for ELA Literacy and the CA ELD Standards. Inextricably linked
to every area of the curricula, the two sets of standards promote an interdisciplinary approach. Each
of the snapshots for grades eleven and twelve that follow are presented in connection with a theme;
however, most snapshots could illustrate several themes. The two vignettes at the end of the section
for grades eleven and twelve depict integrated ELA and ELD instruction and designated ELD instruction
based on the same topic and/or readings.

Figure 7.23. Circles of Implementation of ELA/Literacy and ELD Instruction

768 | Chapter 7 Grades 11 and 12