• Intensive English Acquisition Program
     
    Las Americas Newcomer School offers an intensive English curriculum that seeks to educate students as they are learning the English language.  Student classrooms reflect stations that allow the small group instruction that is needed for immigrant students.  Students rotate in ESL stations that develop comprehension, listening and speaking, technology, independent reading and group reading.Teachers employ Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol.  The Houston Independent School District Refugee Department assigns an academic tutor to our campus. This academic tutor is instrumental in bridging the learning for our students.
     
    Level placement for LAMS students is based on ELL standards, not mainstreamed classroom standards.  Students will move through the proficiency levels at varying rates based on classroom performance, motivation, and assessments. As a student’s performance increases, an assessment will be given to the student during tutorial class. Students may move up (or down) the proficiency levels weekly or at the beginning of each grading cycle based on:
    1. Student’s prior education / knowledge,
    2. Student’s acquisition of English in native country,
    3. Student’s illiteracy in native language.
    The Level Breakdown for Las Americas New Comer Middle is below:
    • Level P—Intensive English. Students are given 6 hours of English, 1 hour of Math, and 1 hour of Physical Education.
    • Level A—Intensive English. Students are given 5 hours of English, 1 hour of Math, 1 hour of Physical Education and 1 hour of Study Hall (tutorials)
    • Level B—Academic English acquisition with content area inclusion. Students are given 4 hours of English, 1 hour of Math, 1 hour of Physical Education or Technology, 1 hour of Science/Social Studies introduction, and 1 hour of Study Hall (tutorials).
    • Level C—Academic English acquisition with content area inclusion. Students are given 3 hours of English, 1 hour of Math, 1 hour of Technology, 1 hour of Science, 1 hour of Social Studies, and 1 hour of Study Hall (tutorials).
    • Level D—Prepare to mainstream. Students are in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, and Technology. Students at this level are preparing for mainstream classes and may attend Kaleidoscope Middle School. Students are able to attend some Kaleidoscope classes and remain in other Las Americas classes. Students are able to return to the original classes if the mainstreamed KMS class is too difficult or a student needs additional support to be successful in Kaleidoscope. Modifications are still given to students based on student needs.
     Las Americas Newcomer Middle School continues to be an ESL pioneer.