Hermine Garabedian by https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine Key Issues for ESL Teachers in Louisiana en-us 2017-10-16 00:29:02 UTC 2026-04-29 04:50:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Manbag.png Spike in Central American immigrant students posing challenges in Jefferson Parish serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197187686
A Problem for Some School Districts and ESL Teachers in Louisiana
]]> 2017-10-16 01:08:49 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197187686 According to the article in New Orleans Metro Education News, in 1980, Jefferson had almost 22,000 Hispanic residents, according to the Data Center, a New Orleans demography think-tank.  serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197189109 2017-10-16 01:17:47 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197189109 Now, with nearly 54,000 Hispanic residents, Jefferson has the largest Hispanic population in the metro area. serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197189206 2017-10-16 01:18:33 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197189206 National Center for Educa on Sta s cs (NCES) reports show that Louisiana’s rate of English learner enrollment increased by about 40 percent between 2007 and 2009, before leveling at at about 12,000 students. serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197189675 2017-10-16 01:21:46 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197189675 serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197190689 2017-10-16 01:27:42 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197190689 But, the problem with that is our school districts are not ready to meet all these students needs because of lack of federal and monetary assistance. Dr. Meza in his article to The New York Times (A Problem in school districts). Discusses the challenges the districts and the students are facing. serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197192944 2017-10-16 01:43:48 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197192944 - Lack of qualified ESL teachers and paraprofessionals serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197193478 2017-10-16 01:47:40 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197193478 - Providing extra support to the immigrant students who are behind learn faster. serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197193810 2017-10-16 01:50:02 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197193810 - Having an open accepting culture serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197193971 2017-10-16 01:51:07 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197193971 The alternative is not to stop immigration. But we should recognize that the stress on our students, who have plenty of challenges of their own, is greater in districts with limited funding and so many undocumented children. Teachers can’t fix the budget and bureaucracy problems but, we as teacher should do our part to make those students feel welcomed and accepted in our society by offering high quality education and support. serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197194507 2017-10-16 01:54:51 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197194507 References: serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197194681 Williams, J., & Drapkin, J. K. (2014, August 22). Spike in Central American Immigrant Students Posing Challenges In Jefferson Parish. Retrieved October 4, 2017, from http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/08/spike_in_immigrant_students_po.html
 
Meza, J., Dr. (2015, September 3). A Problem for Some School Districts. Retrieved October 4, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/09/03/is-immigration-really-a-problem-in-the-us/a-problem-for-some-school-districts
 
Williams, J. (2015, January 27). Kenner School Sees High Surge in English Language Learners, New Enrollment Figures Show. Retrieved October 4, 2017, from http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2015/01/kenner_school_sees_highest_sur.html
 
State Performance Standards. (2014, May 5). Retrieved October 4, 2017, from http://www.sreb.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/louisiana2014sps.pdf
]]> 2017-10-16 01:56:06 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197194681 Exit Ticket serliess https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197194886 What are the Three main challenges pointed out by Dr. Meza?]]> 2017-10-16 01:57:21 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/197194886 Linda Sanchez's Reply https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198064832 The three main challenges pointed by Dr. Meza are
1. We need to find extra money to fund extra teachers and counselors, extra classrooms, and transportation costs for extended instruction.
2.]]> 2017-10-18 01:02:07 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198064832 Victoria Cajina https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198068651 The 3 challenges that Meza speaks about in the NY Times article are:
1.  To fund the need of extra classrooms, teachers and counselors, money for transportation costs and extended year programs to accelerate instruction to bring students to grade level.
2.  The need to help immigrant children who are behind learn faster.  
3.  The desire to have an open and accepting school culture for ALL students.

(BTW, there is no reply button on the discussion board, so I replied on your padlet and after directions.)
 

]]> 2017-10-18 01:23:38 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198068651 Linda Sanchez's Reply (Part 2) lmcsanchez08 https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198071019 2. We need to help new in coming children learn faster. They are already behind so it's imperative to get them caught up.

3. Schools need to work on a safe and accepting culture. Build and open relationships and increase a positive culture.]]> 2017-10-18 01:37:33 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198071019 Julieta Llamas julieta_llamas https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198085679 These challenges that Dr. Meza referred to are  our reality.  Schools have the obligation to accept ELLs but it is sometimes difficult for the schools because of reason number 3 and the lack of facilities to open a class for ELLs. There are no qualified ESL teachers. Most of the time, they assign someone in the ESL class without any idea on how to approach the needs of ELLs and this teacher is not receiving any training on somehow to differentiate the lessons according to the students' language proficiency. I have observed some that never even simplify the language they use in class or model the work expected of the students. So, what quality of education do they receive? Yes, they will always be behind and will always get the lowest scores in standardized test.

]]> 2017-10-18 03:36:14 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198085679 Norma Azurdia https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198095970
Reply to Hermine Padlet


Since Dr. Meza's article was published a few years ago, referring to the increase enrollment of ELLs, I personally  think that some of the challenges mentioned are being met. The district has taken action in incentivizing teachers on becoming ESL certified so they can help students learn and become successful. I can also add to this, that more teachers are being hired as inclusion teachers to give academic support to ELL's in there regular classrooms (Math, Science ,English and Social studies). According to the administration this kind of support can help students achieve passing scores on the standardized tests. Another challenge that is being met at my school these past two years is that we have extra classrooms to serve our ESL population. Yes, I will admit that we need extra funding for enrichment programs after school  in order to help the students who are behind. There is also another very important challenge that needs to me met, the creation of culturally responsive schools and classrooms. This is an essential element in the strong and healthy growth of an increasing diverse community. This is definitely one of the challenges that needs to be addressed more seriously in order for students to be more relaxed and receptive to learning

]]> 2017-10-18 05:19:12 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198095970 Danielle DiVincenti Martin ddivinc1 https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198342147 Exit Ticket
What are 3 challenges pointed out by Dr. Meza?
1. Having an open accepting culture is one challenge that faces our schools.
2.  School are challenged because extra support to the immigrant students who are behind to learn faster.
3. There is a lack of qualified ESL teachers and paraprofessionals. 
I have found it interesting how there are the same key issues that face ELL students that travel from topic to topic. I think it is sad that these issues seem so close to being resolved but still are not being fixed.
]]> 2017-10-18 16:35:36 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198342147 Reply to Hermine Padlet https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198379451 Mr. Meza pointed out three challenges  that students' face during their school year.  
The first one is having an open accepting culture. I totally agree with Mr. Meza, if students find that]]> 2017-10-18 17:39:54 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198379451 Ricardo Hernandez-Dolmo https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198452169 In this Article Dr. Meza is very clear and concise of the three challenges ELL's go through during the school year. First of all, having an open and accepting culture is not an easy task when an individual has not been exposed to others. Oversees, it is not a new concept but in America there are a lot of adjustments to be made. Every one is different regardless of language, ethnicity, race , gender or country of nationality. Second, the district needs to provide extra support to ELL students who are behind so they can learn faster. Finally, since there is a lack of qualified ESL teachers and Paraprofessionals, the district is already helping through PD and offering financial aid to hired ESL teachers so they can be better prepared to start giving a solution to this challenge. ]]> 2017-10-18 20:22:28 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198452169 Ofelia Cubas https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198484939 Reply to Hermine Padlet
Dr. Meza mentioned several challenges that are taking place in schools with ELL's .  One of them is having an open and accepting culture.  I have been working in this field for many years and I feel that the students that are coming to the classroom are way different from the students that came years ago.  Many of the students we have in our classrooms are struggling with many issues (social, psychological, economic..etc) sometimes they are leaving their love ones back at home (country of origin) and they are having a hard time adapting to a new school culture.  If students don't feel welcome and their classrooms are not nurture with understanding in our behalf, they are not going to be able to perform and achieve.   Dr. Meza also mentioned a support system that will help students to  learn faster.  In the last two years, my school have been able to employ bi-lingual teachers and paraprofessionals but, we still have a large demand for teachers as we can not accommodate every ELLs student needs.  Students at high school levels face many challenges as they struggle with the language barrier, they have to be able to successful achieve their cohort courses in order to graduate.  As Mr. Meza mentioned these issues seem so close to being resolved but still are not being fixed.
Great Padlet, Hermine]]> 2017-10-18 23:24:41 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198484939 Sidney Coleman's Comment inkandpaper1107 https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198485366 There were three main issues with funding. First, there is a need for bilingual and qualified teachers, counselors, and paraprofessionals. Having these staff members available to ESL students is essential for their development. Second, there is a need for additional materials to help ESL students catch up to their peers as quickly as possible. Finally, what I think is the most important and what others here have called the most difficult, is the need for a positive school culture. It takes a lot of work and it takes the effort from everyone to create a culture that is inclusive and compassionate for others. ]]> 2017-10-18 23:27:40 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198485366 Katherine Houin's Response to the Exit Ticket katherine_houin https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198489183 In this article Dr. Meza points out many of the challenges that are trying to be met by the Jefferson Parish Public Schools. The three main challenges Dr. Meza mentions are:
  • lack of qualified ESL teachers
  • an open accepting culture
  • lack of extra support for ESL students that are behind
This article was written a few years ago and I do think that JPPSS is trying their best to now meet ESL students' needs. I do think JPPSS is more open minded when it comes to the influx ESL students. They now realize the influx of ESL students is a reality that is not going to to go away. I feel that JPPSS is trying their best to keep up with the influx of students and they are attempting to provide more support to ESL students. One of the things JPPSS has offered is to pay for teachers of ESL students to get certified. 
]]> 2017-10-18 23:53:01 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198489183 Heather Steve's Response heather_steve https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198489671 In this article, Dr. Meza addresses three challenges that many teachers face when teaching ESL. Those challenges are: Lack of qualified teachers, an accepting culture, and lack of support for ESL students that are behind.]]> 2017-10-18 23:57:42 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198489671 Janelle Johnson https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198523124  DR. Meza shared many challenges that most schools encounter. One challenge is that the school system are in need for more teachers  in order to accommodate the growing population of ELLs ( English Language Learners). The second challenge is that money for resources are limited which schools are unable to ensure that lower level students are getting the help that they need. A third challenge is that teachers are unable to get a clear picture of undocumented students previous academic history in order to further assist them.

]]> 2017-10-19 04:13:05 UTC https://padlet.com/serliess/hermine/wish/198523124