2024-25 Course Catalog

In their ESL classes Shattuck-St. Mary’s students practice, demonstrate, and evince clear thinking, writing, and speaking. ESL teachers are committed to our school’s mission of nurturing global citizens of integrity for an ever-changing world.

Our comprehensive ESL program offers a scaffolded curriculum that nurtures the further development of English speaking, reading, listening, and writing and to help students develop academic and conversational English. Initial ESL placement is determined by a transcript and Admissions packet review by the ESL Chair and the Academic Dean, including incoming Duolingal scores, and an Admissions interview. Placement for subsequent years is evaluated each spring. All ESL classes are year-long with the exception of the Academic Seminar, Public Speaking, and Culture and Conversation.  English credit is granted for ESL, but all students must exit ESL and complete one year of mainstream English to meet graduation requirements. There are no fees for our ESL program.

UPPER SCHOOL ESL

Culture and Conversation
Culture and Conversation is designed to widen the contacts and support International student acclimation to campus life in Minnesota, USA. Guest conversationalists include a rich array of community members including our bus drivers, the Head of School, our faculty, Facilities and Finance staff, COE directors, and, often, other students, often veteran international students who have found their second home and are happy to share their experiences. This is a one-term class offered every Fall Term and occasionally Winter Term.

ESL Academic Reading and Writing II – Upper School
This English class is designed to answer the needs of students whose academic English is actively developing and needs intensive and focused support at the low-intermediate to intermediate level. Sustained silent reading is a major component of this class. Fall term is dedicated to the immediate building of math, science, and history vocabulary and academic study skills.  Throughout the course, students will read a wide variety of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Reading strategies are explicitly taught and rehearsed to encourage deeper reading comprehension. Vocabulary and grammar instruction is integrated into reading and writing activities. The writing focus of ESL Academic English II is on the development of sentences, paragraphs, and the essay. Speaking and listening are practiced in large and small group discussions and through oral presentations.
Requirements: Selected readings; 5-7 written works per term; 1 oral presentation; term assessments; and a final exam. A Spring Term Duolingo test, overall academic progress, and a Spring Term writing assessment are used to determine placement into the next level of ESL or for ESL exit.

ESL Academic Reading and Writing III – Upper School      
This class is offered to students at an advanced intermediate level of English proficiency in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The course focuses on using academic English to understand, analyze, and evaluate ideas explored through reading, writing, class discussion, and other activities. Academic, active, reasoned, rhetorical debate and discussion are nurtured. Students receive significant individualized feedback to support the development of their language skills, with an emphasis on academic reading and writing.
Requirements: Selected readings; 5-7 formal writing exercises per term; 1 oral presentation; 1 research paper; term assessments; and a final exam. A Spring Term Duolingo  test, overall academic progress, teacher recommendation, and a Spring Term writing assessment are used to determine placement, including exit from the program.

ESL Seminar – Upper School
This full-year tutorial course focuses on each student’s weaknesses in order to best support him or her at S-SM. ESL Seminar is a companion class for students who have been given entrance to World Literature.  Focus is on writing the well-developed essay, but also stresses mastery of grammar, syntax, diction, and semantics. Students who have exited ESL may not use this class as a substitute for an English class. At the discretion of the Academic Dean, a previously exited student may be required to enroll.

Introduction to Historical Studies – Upper School
Introduction to Historical Studies introduces low to intermediate proficient English language learners to United States History while developing English language skills and historical studies skills. The students will begin with the earliest Americans and travel through United States History up to, but not limited to, the Civil Rights era. While studying the content students will concentrate on utilizing primary sources to contextualize, corroborate, source, and critically think about the continuity and change of the human experience throughout the history of the United States. Assessments will include a variety of activities with a variety of sources. Students will be asked to take Cornell Notes, engage in discussion, collaborate with peers, perform presentations, write academically, research, complete quizzes, tests, and final exams, as well as learn content specific vocabulary and analyze primary sources.

In their ESL classes Shattuck-St. Mary’s students practice, demonstrate, and evince clear thinking, writing, and speaking. ESL teachers are committed to our school’s mission of nurturing global citizens of integrity for an ever-changing world.

Our comprehensive ESL program offers a scaffolded curriculum that nurtures the further development of English speaking, reading, listening, and writing and to help students develop academic and conversational English. Initial ESL placement is determined by a transcript and Admissions packet review by the ESL Chair and the Academic Dean, including incoming Duolingal scores, and an Admissions interview. Placement for subsequent years is evaluated each spring. All ESL classes are year-long with the exception of the Academic Seminar, Public Speaking, and Culture and Conversation.  English credit is granted for ESL, but all students must exit ESL and complete one year of mainstream English to meet graduation requirements. There are no fees for our ESL program.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ESL

Culture and Conversation
Culture and Conversation is designed to widen the contacts and support International student acclimation to campus life in Minnesota, USA. Guest conversationalists include a rich array of community members including our bus drivers, the Head of School, our faculty, Facilities and Finance staff, COE directors, and other students, often veteran international students who are happy to share their experiences. This is a one-term class offered every Fall Term and occasionally Winter Term.

Middle School ESL Academic Reading and Writing I
This class is offered to Middle School students with low to intermediate English proficiency. The goal is twofold: to support all ESL students’ enrollment in mathematics, science, and history classes; and to further and foster the development of academic and conversational English. The course focuses on reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary, grammar, and various types of academic writing, beginning with the simple sentence. Requirements include text readings and exercises; core course readings; authentic literature readings; formal Spring Term writing exercises; the creation of a PowerPoint  and oral presentations; and a Winter Term project or exam. A Spring Term Duolingo test, overall academic progress, and a Spring Term writing assessment are used to determine placement into the next level of ESL or ESL exit.

Middle School ESL Academic Reading and Writing II
This class is offered to Middle School students with intermediate English proficiency. The course focuses on reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary, grammar, and various types of academic writing, beginning with the simple sentence and ending with the academic essay. The academic paragraph and content-response to instructional prompts is stressed. Requirements include selected text readings; authentic readings from the literature discipline; formal writing exercises; presentations; a major project; term exams and a final exam. A Spring Term Duolingo test, overall academic progress, and a Spring Term writing assessment are used to determine placement into the next level of ESL or ESL exit.

Middle School ESL Academic Reading and Writing III
This class is offered to intermediate and advanced ESL students to nurture proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course focuses on reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary, grammar, and various types of academic writing. Further, academic, active, reasoned, rhetorical debate and discussion is nurtured and rewarded. Requirements include selected readings, formal writing exercises, presentations, a short research paper, term exams, and a final exam. A Spring Term Duolingo test, overall academic progress, and a Spring Term writing assessment are used to determine placement into the next level of ESL or ESL exit.

Middle School Introduction to Historical Studies
This survey class offers students a preview of American, ancient, and European history.  In addition, the class covers Minnesota history to give students an understanding of their new home. Designed to offer low to intermediate English proficient students the opportunity to learn about history in a sheltered environment, this class is a full survey class and fosters development of note-taking, listening, reading, and academic discussion. MS IHS is offered to 6th through 9th grade. Entrance is determined by the ESL Director and the Academic Dean. Requirements include selected readings, writing exercises, class presentations, map quizzes, reading assessments, a major project, term exams, and a final exam.

The Center for Academic Achievement is designed to meet the learning needs of our student population.  Our goal is to foster the academic success of students by providing them with the academic skills and learning strategies that will help them make the most of their time at our school and become independent and confident lifelong learners.

Academic Skills Program Tutorials
The Academic Skills Program is designed to recognize and enhance the potential of students with learning differences.  The program provides support and limited remediation within the traditional academic curriculum.  Students learn academic skills and strategies that will help them realize their potential and meet the expectations set by the school, their families, and themselves.  Enrollment is through permission of the program director only, and tutorials are taught by the Learning Specialists.  Tutorials have a 3:1 student to teacher ratio; this program requires an additional fee.