Advantages of ELL Curriculum

Here is a list of advantages of having a standardized ELL curriculum

• According to Sleeter, multicultural curriculum has as its purpose social improvement and equitable conditions for learning that can close achievement gaps. (Sleeter)
  

 

• Setting national standards allows for equal pupil opportunity. All pupils are compared to the same standards. If there are no common standards and every teacher sets his or her own standards, schools’ demands on their pupils will be different. Since there is nothing for schools to compare with, both instruction and assessment cannot be consistent.

• If national standards are set, it is clear what pupils should know at different levels of their education. Exams given by the state can measure pupil progress towards attaining the standards. Pupils who are not achieving the standards can be provided with early, effective assistance. 
  

• Setting standards is an important and effective learning tool because they express clear expectations of what all pupils should know and be able to do with the language. They can be helpful to different populations, such as the state, districts and schools, teachers, pupils and parents. The following describes how setting standards can help these different populations (Harris & Carr, 1996).
  

• Standards in and of themselves are meaningless. What counts are the steps that educators and others take to help pupils reach them. (Fiske, 1998). If the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport decides to embark on the implication of standards-based education, there are different areas that they will need to be addressed regarding pupils, teachers, assessment and the setting of standards.
  

• The state. For the state, standards are a common reference tool and provide a defined framework for national testing. 
  

• Districts and schools. For districts and schools, standards provide a focus for developing new ways to organize curriculum content, instructional programs and assessment plans.
  

• Teachers. Standards help teachers design curriculum, instruction and assessment on the basis of what it is important to learn. They also enable teachers to make expectations clear to pupils, which improves their learning.
  

• Pupils. For pupils, standards set clear performance expectations, helping them understand what they need to do in order to meet the standards.
  

• Parents. Since standards communicate shared expectations for learning, they allow parents to know how their children are progressing in their education.