ENLACE: Engaging Newcomers in Language and Content Education

As featured on the Confianza collaboration with Teaching Channel:

ENLACE in the news:

ENLACE’s mission is to provide newcomers with the academic and linguistic foundation and socio-emotional supports that will allow them to transition successfully and quickly into the mainstream high school environment, on track to pursue a college or career of their choice. To reach these goals, students take a full load of content classes each day, with teachers who are receiving ongoing professional development, including weekly coaching and observation cycles, that prepares them to effectively teach language through content and meet the needs of newcomer ELLs.

Language and social-emotional supports are abundant to foster a meaningful, language-rich learning environment. An ENLACE student’s daily schedule includes ESL, World Studies, Algebra, Foundations of Biology, and Theater. Each student also participates in a daily Academic Lab that provides differentiated support and a small-group Advisory block. As a city with a deep immigrant history, Lawrence, Massachusetts welcomes newcomer English Language Learners (ELLs) in its classrooms and provides them with a world-class education. ENLACE (Engaging Newcomers in Language and Content Education) opened within Lawrence High School’s 9th Grade Academy this fall to serve 9th grade Newcomer ELLs who have been in the country for less than two years and are brand new to the English language as well as SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education).

ENLACE believes that in order to successfully serve our students, a “two-generation approach” is necessary, which means that the school must play an active role in supporting students’ families by helping them navigate the U.S. educational system, connecting them with valuable community resources, and actively engaging them in their child’s education. To this end, ENLACE staff has conducted numerous home visits and family meetings with ENLACE families during the summer and have a full-time Student and Family Engagement Specialist who serves as a family liaison and advocate. All teachers also conduct Advisory groups and make regular phone calls to families to share updates on their child’s progress. Additionally, a "funds of knowledge" approach is enacted by capitalizing on the strengths students bring to school which include their linguistic and cultural diversity.

--Allison Balter, ENLACE Program Director, allison.balter@lawrence.k12.ma.us, and Sarah Ottow, Confianza Director supporting ENLACE's growth, at sarah@ELLconfianza.com

Follow us on Twitter @ENLACE_Lawrence & @ELL_Confianza!

We have presented at the MATSOL Conference in May 2016 (with students!) and at the WIDA National Conference in October 2016. Plus we will be featured on the upcoming .

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