top of page
Writer's pictureMr. Bob

Mastering English Step-by-Step: The Importance of Standardizing ESL Lesson Curriculum for Grades 1-

Updated: May 31, 2023

The Importance of Standardized Lessons

It is very important to me that I standardize lessons. It is very important for me to give you clear measurements of where your student is, what we can and should expect of them, and how they are progressing. It's my responsibility to provide clear benchmarks of a student's proficiency, outline realistic expectations for them, and regularly assess their progress. Having observed various teaching methods and curriculums, I've found that some students are often advanced to higher-grade levels without fully understanding the subject matter. To counter this, I've designed a comprehensive and standardized curriculum.


Grade 1 ESL Lessons


Vocabulary:

Students are expected to study A1-A2 words at this level.


Grammar:

Students should know how to make simple sentences with the simple present when they begin classes here.


Course Structure:

A typical Grade 1 class starts with a warm-up, followed by phonics exercises focusing on 2 or 3 letters. Next, we practice High Frequency (HF) words through short stories or songs. We then progress to a level-appropriate story with guiding questions and vocabulary, leading to the day's grammar or writing lesson. A post-reading exercise involves summarizing the story. The homework is often to write 5-10 sentences about the day’s topic.


For Grade 1, students should begin with a basic understanding of English and can respond to simple questions. They're familiar with the most common A1 words and will learn A1-A2 vocabulary throughout the course. Students will learn new words through pictures and good guiding questions. Our focus is to ensure students understand the application of words rather than just memorizing them. They'll also learn the simple past and future tenses.


Grade 2 ESL Lessons


Vocabulary:

Students are expected to study B1-B2 words at this level.


Grammar:

Students will expand their grammar knowledge to include the progressive tenses, hypotheticals, active vs. passive voice, and noun phrases. They will get an introduction to the perfect aspect but mastery of this concept will be expected in later grades.


Course Structure:

The format of a Grade 2 class changes a little bit depending on the series they take. I have three grade 2 series students can take. They are ranked easier to harder. - Reach Higher (RH), The Oxford Reading Tree (ORT), or Wonders (WON) - each slowly increasing in difficulty. Each series includes a mix of warm-up questions, phonics or HF words, level-appropriate stories, post-reading exercises, grammar or writing lessons, and homework assignments.


Grade 3 ESL Lessons


Vocabulary:

Students are expected to study B2-C1 words at this level.


Grammar:

Students should have a strong foundation in English and be proficient in simple, past, present, future and progressive tenses. They'll be introduced to noun phrases and perfect aspect, along with essay writing skills, imagery and other rhetorical devices.


Course Structure:

There are three types of lesson series: Reach Higher, The Magic Treehouse and Roald Dahl reading course. Each is progressively more challenging. Lessons typically include warm-ups, vocab exercises, comprehension questions, grammar or writing tips, and homework that usually involves writing 1 paragraph or more.


Grade 4 ESL Lessons


Vocabulary:


Students are expected to study C1-C2 words and beyond at this level.


Grammar:

Students should be familiar with the simple, progressive, and perfect aspects. The focus is on refining their understanding of these aspects, along with learning about the perfect progressive, commas, and more advanced literary devices.


Course Structure:

The format follows the same structure as Grade 3 with warm-ups, vocab exercises, comprehension questions, grammar or writing tips, and homework. However, the content is more advanced, the stories are longer, and there are more serious essay topics.

For all grades, a key part of the coursework is the homework writing assignments. These are often simple, and very good ways to reinforce the lesson we learned today outside of class.

It's crucial to understand that these lessons demand a commitment to consistent learning and completing assignments, which will be a significant part of the learning experience.

Your child's progress is my utmost priority. I've carefully crafted this curriculum to make sure each lesson is fruitful, engaging, and brings your child closer to mastering English. I look forward to sharing this journey with your child and you.


The Role of Homework in our ESL Curriculum

Homework is not just extra work. It's an important way to practice and understand the lesson better. For each grade, homework is carefully matched with the day's class. This often involves writing. By doing homework, students learn to think for themselves, remember the language better, and get better at writing. The aim is to help students learn more, even after class. Homework helps students learn English in a deeper and more active way.


Your Child's Progress is Our Priority

Our ESL program focuses on your child's learning. Every part of our course - the words we study, the grammar we learn, and how we structure our lessons - is made to help your child learn better. Regular checks make sure that your child is learning and getting better. This shows your child how they can become great at English. We believe that every child can do well, and we want to help them on this journey. Our goal is to make every lesson enjoyable and helpful for your child.






5 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page