Module 1 Reflection: Getting to know ELs by Teresa Cross

Module 1 Reflection: Getting to know ELs by Teresa Cross https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem Create 4 short responses that describe how you learn more about your EL students and support them in your class. Include APA citation and at least one resource from Module 1. Type your name in the Padlet box with each of your comments so you can get credit. Include an audio or visual component in one at least one of your posts. en-us 2018-07-01 19:21:49 UTC 2025-03-15 07:15:32 UTC hello@padlet.com Tech Tip: How to Add Audio, Video, and Picture Notes to Padlet Walls teresamcross https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/287409305 Ed Tech Leader, Richard Byrne, demonstrates how "Padlet makes it easy to collect multimedia notes from students. In this video you'll learn how to use the latest Padlet feature, audio recording, as well as the tried and true video and picture note options." ]]> 2018-10-01 01:10:23 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/287409305 12 Ways to Support ELs agroff1 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288780540 This is one of my favorite blogs/podcasts. I keep it in my PD presentation each year!]]> 2018-10-03 17:22:34 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288780540 WIDA Screener agroff1 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288781409 One way I check for my EL's language ability is by using the WIDA screener. If they have never been in ESL before, this helps all teachers have an idea of their English Language Proficiency. ]]> 2018-10-03 17:23:58 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288781409 Works Cited agroff1 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288785170 12 Ways to Support English Learners in the Mainstream Classroom. (2018, September 21). Retrieved from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/supporting-esl-students-mainstream-classroom/

A. (2017, January 11). Creating a Welcoming Classroom Environment. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/creating-welcoming-classroom-environment

WIDA Screener. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/screener

Get the Global Edge. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.globalroadwarrior.com/]]> 2018-10-03 17:29:44 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288785170 Welcoming EL's to the Classroom agroff1 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288792793 I think this is a great "reminder" resource for making our ELs feel welcome in our classrooms as well as our school.]]> 2018-10-03 17:40:29 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288792793 Global Road Warrior agroff1 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288797986 While I don't have culturegrams, (and am certianly going to look into getting it for my district) I am able to use GRW to learn more about the culture of my EL to better prepare me with any sensitivities or accommodations needed. ]]> 2018-10-03 17:48:25 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/288797986 Assessing ELL's Levels swordsal92 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289553965 Have the students write something for you in their native language. This gives a really good baseline of what level they are in their current language. Look for sentences, grammar, and punctuation. Even though the language isn’t the same you can see how advanced their writing is from the grammar. ]]> 2018-10-05 11:47:02 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289553965 Every Student Wants to Communicate swordsal92 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289559183 My students come to me and sometimes are nonverbal. A good way to find out about them is to have them draw pictures, allow them to have access to colorful paper, colored pencils and other items. They draw things like family, friends, where they live and you can use that information to get to know them. Every student wants to communicate, so the student will use any knowledge they have to communicate effectively.]]> 2018-10-05 12:02:16 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289559183 The Universal Language swordsal92 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289559711 To get an understanding of academic needs, I usually start with math. Math is the universal language. I start with counting and work towards more complex addition and subtraction to get to know where students are academically. I use picture schedules to help students identify wants and needs within the classroom, such as going to the bathroom. I really like how one of the goals from “A Quick Start Guide for Teachers” mentions asking yourself what is essential for the students to get from today’s lesson. It’s how I do a lot of teaching with my students!

]]> 2018-10-05 12:03:43 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289559711 Culturegrams swordsal92 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289559980 We do not have access to Culturegrams. Our resources for ELL’s are greatly limited. The ELL teachers which are brought in to help our students are from outside organizations and typically have never worked with a student as low functioning as ours, which can be frustrating. ]]> 2018-10-05 12:04:29 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289559980 References swordsal92 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289576141 Himmele, P., & Himmele, W. (2011). Total participation techniques: Making every student an active learner. Alexandria, Va: ASCD.

Pillars, W. (2018, June 27). A Quick-Start Guide for Teaching English-Language Learners. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2017/09/06/a-quick-start-guide-for-teaching-english-language-learners.html

]]> 2018-10-05 12:41:11 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289576141 ELL Resources to Succeed in School laura_m_walser https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289924633 This seems like a comprehensive site that includes a lot of great resources and information to access when you have ELs in your classroom!]]> 2018-10-06 16:22:45 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289924633 ELs in My Classroom laura_m_walser https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289926240 I am currently a Spanish teacher, so the EL students that I usually receive are native Spanish speakers. When I have an EL student coming, our ESL teacher in the building sends out an email containing information about their current level of proficiency and different strategies that we can use in the classroom. I also have them fill out an "About Me" sheet to access a glimpse of their proficiency in their native tongue and to learn more about them. My hope is that I can learn additional strategies to take back to other teachers in my building to help them!]]> 2018-10-06 16:34:23 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289926240 Culturegrams laura_m_walser https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289926878 We currently do not have Culturegrams in my district. Our resources to help EL students can be very limited at times. However, I am going to share this program with our ESL department and administration!]]> 2018-10-06 16:39:17 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289926878 Everybody's Kids laura_m_walser https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289927585 This is a resource that I am going to share with my colleagues that they can sign-up for to help them to access more information and strategies to help EL students in their classrooms!]]> 2018-10-06 16:44:38 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289927585 References laura_m_walser https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289927957 ESL Newsletter Archive: Everybody's Kids. Center for Schools and Communities. Retrieved from https://newsletters.center-school.org/esl-newsletter-archive/

Udovitsch, A. (2018). ESL/ELL Resources to Succeed in School: Helping English Language Learners Succeed in School and Beyond. Community for Accredited Online Schools. Retrieved from https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/esl-ell-resources-for-teachers-parents-and-students/]]> 2018-10-06 16:47:23 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/289927957 Getting to know My Kids jmonn21 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290507378 This is the first year I have had ELL's in my classroom. I also started off this year on maternity leave and did not begin the school year until a week ago. I am in the process of getting to know all of my students. So far, I have received information about who my ELL students are and their levels from the ESL teacher . I have also had conversations with her about expectations for each student and what type of accommodations I should make for them in the classroom. Other than that, I have tried my best to communicate with my students and ask them questions about themselves. For my level 1 and 2 students, I have used student translators to communicate for me or I have used Google Translate. We usually share a good laugh when I try to speak in their native language. ]]> 2018-10-08 22:29:34 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290507378 Support in the Classroom jmonn21 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290509469 Being this is my first year with ELL students in my class, I find it quite overwhelming adapting every lesson to meet all of the students needs. I want to make sure that I am challenging every student in my room but I also do not want to overwhelm them or have unrealistic expectations for them. I found the WIDA Can DO Descriptors to be extremely helpful. I feel more confident looking at my lessons and creating realistic activities my ELL students can complete.

Resource:

MPLS-ESL-tools-student-friendly-can-do-descriptors.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dfx99oeIBSJM5FicAUBuJCDVxG5Pgixe/view]]> 2018-10-08 22:45:55 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290509469 Library Resources jmonn21 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290511710 We do not have access to Culturegrams in our library. We do, however, have a few resources that I found will be beneficial to help my ELL students when we have to complete research. Our students have access to Cavendish Square Digital, which gives them access to resources they can use for research projects. An important feature for the Cavendish Square Digital is that it can translate the information into a student's native language. Students also have access to Country Reports where they can login and learn about information pertaining to countries all over the world.

http://cavendishsquaredigital.com/%3Bjsessionid=26262E901E12B91D60237DE5BF34CF42

]]> 2018-10-08 23:05:02 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290511710 Language Objectives in the Classroom jmonn21 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290515079 My biggest struggle as a content teacher is making sure to reach every student. I found this article very validating of my current feelings and struggles and an excellent resource to use as I go forward. I like the idea of creating language objectives as a means of supporting my ELL students in the classroom.

Resource:

A. (2015, December 01). Language Objectives: The Key to Effective Content Area Instruction for English Learners. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/language-objectives-key-effective-content-area-instruction-english-learners

]]> 2018-10-08 23:31:13 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290515079 Incoming Kindergarten Students-J. Sutton jsutton16 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290523615 As an ESL teacher in a K-2 building, I spend the first five-ten days of school meeting kindergarten students. My ESL team and I screen each student that has a language other than English spoken in the home. We use the Listening and Speaking portions of the WAP-T. Depending on how the students perform, we will give the Reading and Writing portions if necessary.

Kindergarten W-APT. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2018, from https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/kwapt]]> 2018-10-09 00:35:46 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290523615 EL Parent Involvement-J. Sutton jsutton16 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290525826 It is so important to involve your EL's parents! My district has an ESL Back to School night each September where we invite our students and their families. There are light refreshments and the ESL teachers spend time explaining how the program works for our building. Then several representatives from community programs (including La Comunidad Hispana) come and offer support for our families. The last two years we've also have the building tech coach come and we help parents sign up for Schoology so they can stay involved with their child's school.

Home. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2018, from https://lacomunidadhispana.org/

K. (2018, August 16). Encouraging and Sustaining ELL Parent Engagement. Retrieved October 8, 2018, from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/encouraging-and-sustaining-ell-parent-engagement

]]> 2018-10-09 00:49:45 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/290525826 Communicate with the ESL Teacher terrones412 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291019789 I am an ESL teacher and I find that I have the most information about my student's. When ESL teacher's and classroom teachers work together, the ESL teacher can provide a lot of helpful information to the classroom teacher.

]]> 2018-10-09 22:25:53 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291019789 Find ways for parents to become involved terrones412 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291020573 Get creative and find ways for parents of ELLs to become involved in the school. This will provide opportunities to to make connections and support success for not only the student, but for his family. It can also expose other students to the ELLs culture and promote understanding.
"Encouraging and Sustaining ELL Parent Engagement | Colorín ...." http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/encouraging-and-sustaining-ell-parent-engagement. Accessed 9 Oct. 2018.]]> 2018-10-09 22:31:31 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291020573 terrones412 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291021668 2018-10-09 22:39:22 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291021668 Perspectiv terrones412 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291021999 I moved to another country as an older teen and I did not speak the language. Given this perspective changes the way one approaches ELLs. It is important to attempt to understand how they perceive things. They often are dealing with much more than just a language barrier. Although not as obvious to most of us, the differences in culture, losing friends and even different foods impact a child's ability to easily assimilate. ]]> 2018-10-09 22:41:50 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291021999 Kelsey Matuszak- GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291407171 Have students explain to other students and to the teacher about their traditions, hobbies, and family. Students who are from other countries can share their traditions with other students. This allows not only ELL students to share their traditions, it also lets all students learn about each others different cultures and traditions.

Reference

A. (2018, August 23). Getting to Know Your ELLs: Six Steps for Success. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/getting-know-your-ells-six-steps-success

]]> 2018-10-10 18:10:38 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291407171 Kelsey Matuszak-COMMUNICATE WITH THE ESL TEACHER. (From Module 1) https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291407650 Our school is fortunate enough to have an ESL teacher because our population of ESL students is high. It is crucial that teachers keep in communication with any teacher they work with, whether it be learning support, autistic support, emotional support, or English Language teacher. If teachers are not on the same page with skill being taught, content knowledge, and ways we are assessing all our students. Consistency between all teachers will allow students to be successful. I am always talking to other teachers on ways I can help those students when they are in my classroom. At the end of the day, it is all about student success and growth.

Reference from Module 1

12 Ways to Support English Learners in the Mainstream Classroom. (2018, September 21). Retrieved from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/supporting-esl-students-mainstream-classroom/

]]> 2018-10-10 18:11:25 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291407650 Kelsey Matuszak- GOOGLE VOICE (From Module 1) https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291408002 I have found in the past, communicating with families who do not speak English is extremely tough. I have been in situations where I needed to call home for behavior or academic concerns and can not communicate with any adult on the other end of the phone. Often times, their child is their interpreter and they are still learning the language. In the future, I will try Google Voice. From what I read, Google Voice allows you to send an electronic message to the parents in their language, and they can send it back in English. Google Voice can bridge the language gap between the teacher and home.

Reference

Jurca, L., & J., L. (n.d.). Tech Tip Tuesday: Using Google Voice to Communicate with ELL Families. Retrieved from http://esolodyssey.learningwithlaurahj.org/2016/04/tech-tip-tuesday-using-google-voice-to.html

]]> 2018-10-10 18:12:03 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291408002 Kelsey Matuszak- PICTURE: Recognize the AnxietyThis poster is hung in our staff room as a reminder to all teachers what it is like to be an ESL student. I love this because this makes you put yourself in their shoes and it's a great reminder to have extra patience on those rough days. https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291408348
As for a reference, i am not sure where they person found this quote or if they created it themselves. I tried to research the source but could not find the exact poster. ]]> 2018-10-10 18:12:37 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291408348 Culturegrams-J. Sutton jsutton16 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291496936 Our district does not have this resource but it sounds very informative and beneficial. I work in a district that has predominantly Spanish-speaking ELs. Approximately 95% of our ELs are from either Mexico or Guatemala. We discuss both countries and use the Spanish language if needed. I'm very lucky that I can speak Spanish because it usually helps my newcomers feel more comfortable.

Bienvenidos Illustrations & Vectors. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2018, from https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/bienvenidos.html

]]> 2018-10-10 22:18:03 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291496936 TalkingPoints.org-J. Sutton jsutton16 https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291499019 This is a great website that will help you communicate to parents in their native language. One of the administrators just brought this resource up at a meeting this week. I'm lucky because I speak Spanish but my grammar is horrible. This website would help me to be more accurate.

Reach all your students' families in their home languages, using text messages for Free. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://talkingpts.org/

]]> 2018-10-10 22:31:33 UTC https://padlet.com/teresamcross/1zyzhd5x7aem/wish/291499019