Curriculum & Instruction
- Department Overview
- Assessment
- AVID
- English Language Arts
- Health & Physical Education
-
High School
- Advanced Placement & Dual Credit
- Graduation Requirements
-
Program of Studies
- Agriculture
- Biomedical Sciences (CTE)
- Arts: Performance & Visual
- Business Management & Education (CTE)
- Driver's Education
- English Language Arts
- English Learner (EL)
- Family & Consumer Science
- General Electives
- Graphic & Digital Communication
- Health & Physical Education
- Health Science (CTE)
- Information Technology (CTE)
- Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC)
- Marketing (CTE)
- Mathematics
- Music
- Science
- Service Learning
- Social Studies
- Special Services
- Supplementary Services
- Technology Engineering / Project Lead the Way (PLTW) (CTE)
- Trade & Industry (CTE)
- World Languages
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- The Arts
- World Languages
English Learner (EL) Curriculum
-
The EL program is for students who are acquiring English as a new language. The program will provide students interpersonal communication skills, practical life skills, literacy skills, and grammatical skills. In addition, students will be taught about the American culture. Students will accomplish these goals in the language, reading, social studies, and resource classes that are offered in the EL program. Courses for the EL students are assigned by the EL teacher.
Course Descriptions
-
EL Biology
This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language. It examines the basic principles of biology through lectures, discussions, labs, cooperative group work and hands-on learning experiences. This course meets one of the three science credits required for graduation.
-
EL Creative Writing
Creative writing offers students the opportunity to develop and improve their technique and individual style in poetry, short story, drama, essays, and other forms of prose. The emphasis of the course is on writing; however, students may study exemplary representations and authors to obtain a fuller appreciation of the form and craft. Although most creative writing classes cover expressive forms, others concentrate exclusively on one particular form (such as poetry or playwriting).
-
EL Earth Science
Semester 1: This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language. It examines earth’s tectonic plates to better understand earth features such as mountains and volcanoes. Students will identify different types of rocks and how erosion impacts the earth. It will give a brief overview of how to read and use maps and understand weather. This meets 0.5 elective credit.
-
EL Economics
This course is designed as an introductory explanation of basic economic principles and the American free enterprise system. It will focus on how economics affects the individual, the nation, and the world, with an emphasis placed on personal investing and the United States economy. This course is designed for seniors who are acquiring English as a new language and meets the graduation requirements.
-
EL Environmental Science
This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language. EL Environmental Science is an applied lab course. Students will study the earth and the processes that affect it. Students will study current environmental problems involving Midwest soil, forestry, wildlife, water conservation and other issues. Students will learn map and compass techniques, population study techniques and environmental decision-making skills. Students should exit the course with a deeper understanding about how natural resources are obtained and the effects of their use. They should gain skills to help them become a more active part of the environmental solution and obtain a deeper appreciation for their natural world. This course meets one of the three science credits required for graduation.
-
EL Geography
This course is designed as an introduction into the study of location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and regions. Emphasis is placed on map reading, interpreting, and geographical locations around the world. This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language and meets the graduation requirements.
-
EL Health
In this course, students will be provided the knowledge and skills necessary to make responsible life choices. This is a required course that includes lessons on communication, decision-making, physical, emotional, and social well-being and human sexuality.
-
EL Language Arts I - IV
EL Language Arts I - IV courses are designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language and meet the requirements for graduation. It will emphasize basic language skills including grammar, spelling, and composition. Students will exercise several different forms of writing.
-
EL Language Development I - V
These courses area designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language. They are structured to allow students to move to the next level of reading as the gain new English proficiency skills. The main focus is on comprehension skills, reading fluency, and vocabulary.
-
EL Physical Science
This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language. EL Physical Science is a lab based course that introduces the student to the fundamentals of chemistry and physics. Topics covered include measurement, periodic table and basic chemistry, Newton’s Laws of motion, speed, acceleration and friction. The student will use formulas and mathematical manipulation to develop and demonstrate their science knowledge. EL Physical Science meets one of the three credits of science required for graduation.
-
EL Speech
This course is an introduction to various types of oral communication situations: conversation, group discussion, and problem solving, interpersonal communication, nonverbal communication, and public address. Exploration and application of skills such as: gathering information, speech planning, speech organization, delivery techniques, listening skills, communication theory, and understanding persuasion.
-
EL U.S. Government
This United States government course will cover and introductory explanation of the historical backgrounds, composition, and operations of the U.S. government. The course is designed to create awareness in the student about our government system, how it functions, the important people, and the role of the citizen in the democratic process. This course is designed for seniors who are acquiring English as a new language and meets the graduation requirements.
-
EL U.S. History
This course discusses the U.S. from the discovery of America to the Civil War in the first semester. Second semester focuses on the United States during Reconstruction to the present day. This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language and meets the graduation requirement for junior social studies.
-
EL World History
This course, first semester will survey ancient and medieval history and relate it to today. Topics covered will include Ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean, Asia, America, as well as Medieval life, the Renaissance, and the reformation. Second semester will include topics such as colonial life, revolutions, industrialization, nationalism, and the World Wars. This course is designed for students who are acquiring English as a new language and meets the graduation requirement for sophomore social studies.
-
Foundations of Art
Foundations of art is an introductory art course that gives an overview of basic art procedures, concepts, materials, techniques and appreciation. Students will explore the elements of art and the principles of design and learn how to develop an effective composition. Perspective, color theory, drawing, and art techniques will be taught. Art appreciation of famous art and art from other cultures will be examined. Also, sketchbook assignments will be completed throughout the class. Art is taught to strengthen creativity, craftsmanship, techniques, and art knowledge in production, aesthetics, art history, and self-critiques.
-
Foundations of Discovering Foods
This half credit class is a beginning foods class for students who have not been exposed to family and consumer science in the middle school or ninth grade. The course will move at an appropriate pace for students who are learning English and experiencing a new culture. Class material will focus on language and cultural skills as well as nutrition and measurement. Students will have lab experiences that are designed to focus on kitchen safety and cooking skills in a modern kitchen.
-
Foundations of Living on Your Own
Are you new to the English language and interested in developing the skills for living on your own in the American culture? Then Foundations of Independent Living may be the course for you. Students will learn about decision-making, banking, budgeting, savings, checking accounts, credit, identity theft, car buying, home buying, renting apartments, insurance, career planning, and decisions about food, buying food, and food preparation. You will experience learning from a variety of guest speakers and field trips, as well as many hands-on activities.
-
Newcomer Business
This is a foundational course designed for students just starting to learn English. There is an emphasis on keyboarding skills as well as basic computer functions which includes but is not limited to: creating a word document, saving a word document, how to operate the district’s learning management system (Schoology), as well as using Office 365 to create and save computer generated materials.
-
Newcomer Business Writing
This is a foundational course designed for students new to the country and just starting to learn English. There is an emphasis on different career domains, keyboarding skills as well as basic computer functions which includes but is not limited to: creating a word document, saving a word document, how to operate the district’s learning management system (Schoology), as well as using Office 365 to create and save computer generated materials.
-
Newcomer English
This is a foundational course that focuses on developing everyday English vocabulary and conversational skills. Students will learn how to write using basic sentence structures in English. This is designed for students who are just starting to learn English.
-
Newcomer Reading
This is a foundational course that includes phonics, basic word and sentence comprehension as well as reading skills designed for students just learning to read in English.
-
Newcomer Resources
This class is for students that have been placed in the newcomer program at WFHS. Students will work on basic math skills, social studies skills, life skills, as well as study skills. There will be a focus helping students become acclimated to a new life in America and at West Fargo High School all while working on social and academic language in English across content areas.
-
Successful School & Life Skills
The course will focus on learning social skills allowing students to successfully navigate their school and the community in which they live. The course will consist of five areas: community, health, finances, understanding the home, and safety. By organizing skills through these five areas, students will be able to access many of the services that allow them to be successful as they transition to living within the United States.