About Us
Our Program
The Bell Oaks English as a Second Language Program is designed to develop the reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills of students who enter the school and are not proficient in the English language. All new entrants to the Middle School are evaluated upon entry into the school to determine their eligibility for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program. This program provides English Language Learners (ELL) with the appropriate support services needed to achieve and maintain a satisfactory level of academic performance and eventually ensure a smooth transition into regular classes.
New Jersey regulations determine eligibility requirements for this program. Students in the program receive either one-one or group instruction in either a Pull-Out or Push-In setting. Their initial English lanugage proficiency assessment determines the type of support and services the student will receive. A variety of materials and activities are utilized to develop students' linguistic skills. Students in the program also take the ACCESS for ELLs language assessment test in the Spring each year to determine if they have achieved proficiency in the English language.
About Me
Jessica C. Dennsteadt
This is my twelfth year teaching. I graduated New York University's Steinhardt School of Education and St. John's University with a degree in History Education and Political Science. I have taught in various schools and educational settings, such as, New York City, Long Island, New York, Paris, France, Red Bank, NJ. I started teaching Social Studies but after spending two years in France teaching English and History to English Language Learners, I returned to pursue my certificate in English as A Second Language at St John's University so that I could continue teaching English Language Learners in New Jersey.
My favorite part of my job is seeing students blossom in their ability to communicate with their teachers and peers and tackle challenging academic skills in their newly acquired language. Another enjoyment is meeting students from different countries and learning about their culture and customs. Our ELL students come from many different countries like, Pakistan, India, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam, The Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Puerto Rico.