Elementary Designated English Language Development (ELD)

"Designated ELD is a protected time during the regular school day when teachers use the CA ELD Standards as the focal standards in ways that build into and from content instruction in order to develop critical English language skills, knowledge, and abilities needed for content learning in English. "
English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework for California Public Schools: Transitional Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, California Department of Education (2014) Chapter 2
​Designated ELD Resources:
  • Wonders ELD one page resources
  • Designated ELD Lessons K-5
  • Designated ELD Lesson Template and Guide to Plan
  • Academic Conversations drawings for Moves and Norms 
  • Academic Conversations Slides (reasoning and use for posters)
  • Elementary ELD Modules and Resources for Designated ELD
  • Newcomer Toolkit K-5​
  • CA ELD Standards K-5 and Proficiency Indicators (Standards are divided by grade level)
  • Interdisciplinary Curriculum Maps and Units with Designated ELD lessons (Spirals 1, 2, and 3)​
  • Designated ELD Framework Reasoning
 You can access all documents using your SFUSD Goggle Account and create copies of the documents (Select File - Make a Copy)
Scheduling and Grouping:
Curricular focus of Designated ELD:
  • Designated ELD should be connected to, reinforce and/or enhance content learning in SFUSD Core Curriculum and tied specifically to expected student learning outcomes in language arts, mathematics, and/or science.
  • The main emphasis in Designated ELD should be collaboration and interaction, articulated in SFUSD's 3 Goals and 8 Talk Moves for Interacting in Meaningful Ways. In addition, students should have opportunities in reading and writing aligned to the Core Curriculum.
  • ELD instruction should explicitly teach forms of English (e.g., vocabulary, syntax, morphology, functions, and conventions.)
  • ELD instruction should emphasize academic language building from conversational language.
  • ELD instruction should integrate meaning and communication to support explicit teaching of language.

Instructional Guidelines for Designated ELD:
  • ELD instruction should be planned and delivered with specific language objectives in mind.
  • Use of English during ELD instruction should be maximized; the primary language should be used strategically.
  • ELD instruction should include interactive activities among students, but they must be carefully planned and carried out.
  • ELD instruction should provide students with corrective feedback on form.
  • Teachers should attend communication and language-learning strategies and incorporate them into ELD instruction.
Below are two videos:
​Participation Protocol and Talk Moves in Academic Discussion.

Interdisciplinary Curriculum Maps and Units

Grade-Level Resources and Sample Lessons
Interdisciplinary Curriculum Maps and Units with Designated ELD lessons
Grammar Gallery
What is it?
  • An supplemental online instructional resource aligned to the CA ELD Standards and the Common Core Standards.
Who is the target audience?
  • English learners at all proficiency and grade levels.
What does it do?
  • Provides teachers and students with a wide range of resources to support oral language, reading, and writing for Designated and Integrated ELD.
How do I get started?
  • Click here to access the district login information.