The program is adapted to the needs of the sites using these materials. These language development strategies are integrated throughout the school day with regular classroom content rather than as a separate language focus. The language development approach creates a positive learning environment through classroom arrangements, instructional organization, and management. Language forms the core for both the strengths and weaknesses of students. While ascribing to the notion that language is thought, the language development approach operates under the assumption that language is key to communication, as well as a carrier and expresser of culture.
Research shows that children acquire language best through meaningful experiences.
SEDL's language development approach has built-in provisions for integrating the language of the child into content areas traditionally disassociated from the study of English. Math and science lessons, for example, may be held in the language the child brings to the classroom or in English. There is always a language objective as well as a content objective. Through professionals strive to ensure that the student receives and internalizes concepts. Because the development of thought processes is essential to learning, and coping goes hand in hand with language acquisition, language development approach teachers are trained to create ways of communicating new concepts that can be understood and learned in any language.