Over the last decade, researchers, teachers and governmental agencies have endeavored to create content standards in order to shape instruction both in K-12 and in adult education. Standards provide rationale and support for curriculum including the instructional strategies teachers carry out in the classroom and the goals that teachers establish for their students. The EL/Civics Online Initiative has developed foundations for each of its courses based on these nationally recognized standards.
The ESL Foundations
The ESL Foundations developed as basis for this online course were based on accepted ESL practices, in particular TESOL 2003 Standards for Adult Education ESL Programs (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages based in Alexandria, Virginia). The specific Standards for Instruction used in this course are reproduced here with permission. A copy of this book can be ordered directly from TESOL at http://www.tesol.org. The specific Standards for Instruction are reproduced here with permission.
Download TESOL_Standards.pdf »
The U.S. History Foundations
The U.S. History Foundations have been adapted from the K-12 U.S. History/Social Studies Standards published individually by Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia. These are accessible on the Internet at the following websites:
