English Language Development

Vignette 7.3. Reading, Analyzing, and Discussing

Complex Texts in American Literature

Integrated ELA/Literacy, ELD, and History in Grade Eleven (cont.)

samples of student writing during collaborative planning time helps teachers ensure that students

are on track for the end-of-unit writing performance tasks, which the teachers will analyze in

depth.

Resource

American Experience. 2009. We Shall Remain. PBS Television Series. http://www.pbs.org/search/?q=we%20shall%20

remain&producer=PBS

Brown, Dee. 1970. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West. New York: Holt Rinehart

Winston.

Additional Information

To read more about discussing the language of complex texts, see

Fang, Zhihui, and Barbara G. Pace. 2013. “Teaching With Challenging Texts in the Disciplines: Text Complexity and

Close Reading.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 57 (2): 104–108.

Schleppegrell, Mary J. 2013. “Exploring Language and Meaning in Complex Texts.” Perspectives on Language and

Literacy 39 (3): 37–40.

To read more about discussing historical texts, see

• American Historical Association (http://www.historians.org/): Statement on Standards of Professional Conduct
  (http://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/governance/policies-and-documents/statement-on-
  standards-of-professional-conduct)


• California History–Social Science Project: History Blueprint


• Cal Humanities (http://www.calhum.org/): Searching for Democracy (http://www.calhum.org/programs/searching-
  for-democracy)

Designated ELD Vignette

Vignette 7.3 illustrates good teaching for all students, with particular attention to the language
learning needs of ELs. English learners additionally benefit from intentional and purposeful designated
ELD instruction that builds into and from content instruction. Vignette 7.4 provides an example of how
designated ELD can build from and into the types of lessons outlined in vignette 7.3. Vignette 7.4 also
illustrates how teachers can show their students to deconstruct, or unpack, the language resources in
complex texts in order to understand the meanings of the sentences and appreciate how the writers’
language choices shaped these meanings.

Vignette 7.4. Unpacking Sentences and Nominalization

in Complex History Texts

Designated ELD Instruction in Grade Eleven

Background

English learners from different eleventh-grade English classes come together in Mr.

Martinez’s designated ELD class, which is designed to support ELs who are relatively new to

English. The students are at a range of English language proficiency levels, from late Emerging

through early Expanding, and have been in U.S. schools for about two years. Some students

spent their first year at a newcomer school where they participated in an intensive program

specifically designed for high school students learning English as an additional language. Other

students were placed directly in mainstream classes and in a designated ELD class like this one.

All EL students at the school have a zero period where they take an elective, thereby extending

Grades 11 and 12 Chapter 7 | 803