Step-by-Step Curriculum for Schools

An adapted version of the existing Step-by-Step Curriculum covering the same language but using themes and content appropriate for students in US secondary schools.

How is it different from the Step-by-Step Curriculum?

The Step-by-Step Curriculum for Schools covers a similar sequence of language and skills to that of the Step-by-Step Curriculum, albeit with some differences in vocabulary. The main differences are changes to the content (texts, tasks) and the visual presentation to make them more suitable for secondary school learners.

Significantly, the Step-by-Step Curriculum for Schools is also fully mapped to WIDA, including both

language expectations and language functions for each lesson.

Target students

1. Grade 6-12 students: Students in school settings who are in grades 6-12.
2. Low-proficiency learners: Students who may have some prior knowledge of English but still need to start from the basics (‘false beginners’). This might include newcomers, LTEL or SLIFE. Those with absolutely no prior knowledge (‘true beginners’) should start with the Newcomers and Literacy Step-by-Step modules.

Key features

All lessons in this series are based around the following elements:

1. Sequenced content: A comprehensive curriculum that provides lesson content in sequence with all necessary tasks and exercises to allow a student to progress from WIDA 1 Entering to WIDA 2 Emerging (CEFR A1 to A2), or from beginner to upper beginner proficiency.
2. Engaging content: Lessons cover a broad range of relevant and engaging topics for secondary school students.
3. Practice with receptive skills (reading and listening): Reading texts and listening activities feature vocabulary and grammar suitable for the proficiency level of the students. Each audio and text is placed within a meaningful context.
4. Practice with productive skills (speaking and writing): Each lesson in the series provides students with opportunities to respond to question prompts, both orally and in writing, and develop meaning, building proficiency for school-based contexts.
5. Internationalism and cultural sensitivity: Content will provide students with an insight into a wide range of cultures. Lessons will contain points of view, articles, and exercises that are written to promote an internationalist view point and avoid stereotyping.
6. Comprehensive assessment for tracking student progress: Each lesson has full homework activities assessing students’ proficiency with the language skills introduced in that lesson. Additionally, there are unit checks at the end of each unit assessing students’ knowledge of the key grammar and vocabulary introduced in the preceding unit.