https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential Summer 2021 Book Club! en-us 2021-05-19 14:29:05 UTC 2023-01-23 18:51:08 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/396746023/7f3eccc08b93e929c8abbe31668e2570/51zQ_DXRiUL__SX258_BO1_204_203_200_.jpg byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1539895177 Tan is an incredible EL educator that shares so many free resources on his website and blog. Check it out!]]> 2021-05-19 14:54:25 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1539895177 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1539992251 2021-05-19 15:14:32 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1539992251 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1539996839 Below is a link to an AMAZING podcast led by Carol Salva, a leading expert in teaching ELs. "Carol Salva and her guests explore ways to empower language learners and the teachers who teach them. We're not just closing gaps, we're growing leaders."]]> 2021-05-19 15:15:30 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1539996839 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1541089903 2021-05-19 19:15:35 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1541089903 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545165896 2021-05-20 18:33:37 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545165896 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545191882 2021-05-20 18:40:24 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545191882 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545276197 Who's up for a challenge?!]]> 2021-05-20 19:02:55 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545276197 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545333161 2021-05-20 19:18:23 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545333161 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545346381 2021-05-20 19:22:08 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545346381 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545352782 As teachers, we need to make it a priority that we pronounce our students' names correctly. I took the pledge, you should too!]]> 2021-05-20 19:24:00 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1545352782 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1589801535 2021-06-07 12:46:00 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1589801535 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1589867815 2021-06-07 13:10:06 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1589867815 rungel https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1590431489 Lisa Runge - Spanish Bilingual Resource - Elmwood
Summer is when I finally get to read what I want - I have a huge pile of books to dig into for the summer. ]]> 2021-06-07 16:14:04 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1590431489 horvathk2 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1591625666 Kelsey Horvath - Second Grade EW

Moving to Bucktown, brother getting married in July, traveling to Virginia end of July!]]> 2021-06-08 02:13:37 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1591625666 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1592702403 Dominique Byrnes, Language Coach. My plans are...... no plans! I look forward to catching up on sleep!]]> 2021-06-08 12:37:49 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1592702403 loffredol https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1592967570 2021-06-08 14:07:49 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1592967570 loffredol https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1593275801 Here is a very short article by Valentina Gonzalez that could be shared with ALL teachers, as we are ALL language teachers because we ALL serve our EL students. It would be a great beginning of the year activity.]]> 2021-06-08 15:47:22 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1593275801 uhlerp https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595628510 2021-06-09 12:56:42 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595628510 uhlerp https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595690115 Larry has written a lot books and has a great blog/website that has a lot of great EL Resources that he is constantly updating. ]]> 2021-06-09 13:17:56 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595690115 fioritor https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595696386 2021-06-09 13:19:46 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595696386 fioritor https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595702300 2021-06-09 13:21:27 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1595702300 ciezkowskai https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596209368 Well, I am leaving to Poland this Saturday and staying there for 7 weeks. I am looking forward to seeing my mom, my siblings, and all my family and friends there. Please be patient with me posting/commenting since I will be in a different time zone :) ]]> 2021-06-09 16:11:44 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596209368 ciezkowskai https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596222924 2021-06-09 16:15:45 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596222924 rippes https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596273164 This summer we are going to Florida for a relaxing week at the beach. Looking forward to catching up on my reading and spending time with family and friends. ]]> 2021-06-09 16:33:24 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596273164 lernerm1 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596512615 I am the principal at Elmwood.  Small trips and laying around the pool. 

]]> 2021-06-09 18:02:13 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596512615 uhlerp https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596544399 The guiding principle that resonated with me was Principle #2 "Els learn best when they are taught in a welcoming and supportive school climate." I know in working at Elmwood the staff and especially the EL teachers would go above and beyond to create a welcoming school culture to support ELs and their families. They would bring in clothes for students in need, bring families food, communicate in many different ways and support them in so many ways above and beyond! In working at the district level this year I've seen even more examples of EP401 teachers supporting ELs to make them feel connected to the EPCUSD401 community. ]]> 2021-06-09 18:15:42 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596544399 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596771770 Vanessa Woof- Instructional Coach for Math/Science. We are heading to Fort Lauderdale in July- can't wait!! Looking forward to doing fun activities with the girls and meeting up with friends and family. It's long overdue.]]> 2021-06-09 20:04:13 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596771770 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596888857 Chapter 1: The guiding principle that resonated most with me is #4, ELs benefit when their teachers collaborate to share their expertise. When co-teachers work alongside each other, that's where "the magic happens." In a true co-teaching experience, teachers build on each other's strengths to best fit the needs of their students. EL teachers utilize tried and true methods that, when combined with the content area teachers expertise in their subject area, can be a true powerhouse of benefits for our students. I also would like to add that I strongly align with the authors' belief that all teachers are language teachers. "ELs are everyone's kids." (p. xvii)]]> 2021-06-09 21:17:59 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1596888857 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1598685808 This summer is going to be awesome! We are traveling and staying in Florida for a couple of weeks. I look forward to having great family time and going for long and relaxing walks along the beach.]]> 2021-06-10 14:21:46 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1598685808 rungel https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599298700 I agree with Dom. The guiding principle that most resonated with me is that ELs benefit when their teachers collaborate to leverage their expertise. I had the magical gift of coteaching with Carol Durkin in third grade language arts this year (Mills, she's coming to you and I'm so jealous). We were truly a team, and our students reaped all the benefits. We were able to flexibly group the kids, really focus on writing, and incorporate tons of vocabulary. Roxanne Rickenbrode is another co-teaching rockstar. It makes a huge difference - for the kids, yes, but also for teacher job satisfaction.]]> 2021-06-10 18:08:45 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599298700 loffredol https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599348463 The guiding principle that resonated with me most was that EL's bring many strengths to the classroom. So often, sadly, the focus is on what they don't know but this needs to change. Our EL's are filled with experiences and are rich in culture that should valued, as well as incorporated into instruction. This asset based approach will lead to EL's making metacognitive connections, building confidence, and allowing students to become more comfortable language learners. As teachers value the strengths that EL's bring to their classrooms, classmates or other students begin to see the value in diverse cultural perspectives and see the strength in bilingualism.]]> 2021-06-10 18:31:15 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599348463 loffredol https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599398095 The Name Jar
by Yangsook Choi
Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week.
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This book really speaks to me. We get so many students with very unique names and it is soooo important that we pronounce their names correctly. I grew up at a time that we "Americanized" names so now, as an EL teacher, it saddens me. It is truly important as teachers we learn to pronounce students names correctly, be an example for our students and honor their beautiful and culturally unique names. ]]> 2021-06-10 18:56:07 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599398095 herreram19 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599740801 This summer I will be visiting my family in Texas. I'm also excited to reunite with my childhood friends of 28+ years. Lastly, having lots of fun with my furry babies.🐾]]> 2021-06-10 22:48:10 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599740801 herreram19 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599770208 It is important to build relationships not only with our students but with their families also. I liked: The Family Welcoming Checklist. As a district and especially at Mills who houses our dual/biligual programs, this would be a great place to start and reflect if we have these strategies in place or not and build from it. "Educators don't have to be bilingual or biliterate  to advocate for language learners."-Dr. Jose Medina. Every student EL or not should feel welcomed. ]]> 2021-06-10 23:16:38 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1599770208 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1601678861 Figure 1.6 really stood out to me as I was reading this chapter. For me, being in a new position this year- it became very evident that there isn’t much equity when it comes to our EL/bilingual students. This really stood out to me when we were doing PD for staff. “Is this available in Spanish?” “Is this going to be translated for our families?” The list of questions and concerns goes on and on but what is being done? As teachers, we TRY to do the best we can for students but there’s only so much we can do, sooner or later everyone will be tired of “making it work.” It’s frustrating to us, our students and their families.]]> 2021-06-11 18:08:01 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1601678861 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602689142 2021-06-12 17:44:04 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602689142 hagstromk https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602689706 While I do agree with all of the principles, Guiding Principle #2 resonated with me the most as well.  ELs do learn best when they are in environments that are welcoming and supportive.  As educators we are quick to focus on academics and closing the gaps, but providing the students an environment that is comfortable and familiar allows them to access their learning.  In addition, it provides other students the opportunities to expand their learning of other cultures they may not be familiar with.  As others have stated, the checklist is a great resource, while we do many of these things, I think we could probably do a better job at more of them, especially the visible signs in multiple languages!  Can you imagine a welcome sign in our schools that include ALL of the languages spoken in our school? ]]> 2021-06-12 17:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602689706 hagstromk https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602694993 This summer I have no major plans, I am just looking forward to spending time with my family! I'm ready to enjoy pools, parks, zoos and many other long overdue activities we missed out on last summer! ]]> 2021-06-12 17:53:21 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602694993 herreram19 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602729931 Book: My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada

Saying/trying to say a student's name properly can mean a lot to them. First impression is important,  especially if we don't know much about their background and experiences. I understand that there are staff members who don't speak another language but we ask so much from my our students. This is another example of making them feel welcomed...when WE also try. 

Reading this book to students (or for all classroom libraries of 2-4th grade) will help them understand that their names have meaning. It also shows them that it is okay to correct us (educators) to pronounce their names correctly. 😊]]> 2021-06-12 18:48:07 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602729931 feiereisell https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602748328 This summer, I don't really have anything super fun that has been planned. I am just excited to finish my last grad school class and receiving my Masters in Special Education. ]]> 2021-06-12 19:16:20 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1602748328 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1603913721 Agnes Bozek

One classroom, Many cultures
by Elizabeth Massie
illustrated by Jill Dubin
This is a great multicultural book that introduces different students within the classroom and their cultures. This book is a wonderful resource that shows what diversity within the same classroom may look like. It can spark a discussion about diversity or can get students excited about Multicultural Night.]]> 2021-06-14 01:05:06 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1603913721 rippes https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1604042756 The importance of school climate and the classroom environment can't be overlooked. EL students and their families also hold an important place in our school community. I liked the figure 1.3 EL and Family Welcoming Checklist because of the practical ideas offered. One thing I am going to work on this summer is adding a few bilingual books to my classroom library. ]]> 2021-06-14 02:17:05 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1604042756 rippes https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1604073290 I want to add this book to my classroom library because middle school students can understand the feeling of being pulled in many directions. They are trying to find out who they are and can identify with a character who feels caught between the expectations of two cultures. ]]> 2021-06-14 02:35:02 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1604073290 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1604940769
Traci Krueger- 3rd Grade ELA Teacher 

This summer I plan on growing two humans. :) AKA I’m pregnant with twin boys and due in September. ]]> 2021-06-14 12:31:42 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1604940769 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1605041439 Chapter 1- The guiding principal that resonated most with me was #2: ELs learn best when they are taught in a welcoming and supportive school climate. This I feel is the basis of any student succeeding in school. The checklist on page 16 is a great start for teachers and administrators taking a hard look at things we are doing well and areas that we can improve on. 

Chapter 2- I thought about lots of titles that I would love to add to my classroom library but then I had a different idea. What if instead of the teacher always deciding what books are in the classroom we ask students and their families to suggest culturally diverse books... I think this would go a long way in adding books that students grew up reading and make them feel welcomed and accepted in the classroom.

Book recommendation: The Know My Name Campaign mentioned in Chapter 1 made me think of a book we read in class every year. It is called My Name is Maria Isabel. It is about a girl who moves to a new school and the teacher decides to call her Marie because they already had another girl named Maria. It is a beautiful book and it sparks conversations for how students in the classroom got their names. ]]> 2021-06-14 13:16:42 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1605041439 boehme8 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1610745390 The Guiding Principle that resonated the most with me was #3: "EL's should be taught language and content simultaneously." As a Spanish Teacher, this principle could not prove to be more true in my classroom. Introducing new vocabulary and language structures in a communicative and authentic context has definitely increased my students' abilities to communicate effectively in the target language. For example, in our Spanish 1 curriculum, we teach students vocabulary words related to food/meals as we explore different breakfasts and meal times in Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Here, students are able to build connections to their lives rather than just memorize a list of vocabulary words. ]]> 2021-06-16 19:58:08 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1610745390 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1612136454 I have never used Socratic circles in the classroom, but after working with high school staff this year, I would love to try this. Paul Uhler gave a PD on digital circles this past school year, and high school staff reported in their feedback that they have used them frequently. The supports on page 105 highlight some very important scaffolds that would ensure a more successful circle for ELs. I'd especially like to highlight the idea of providing students with graphic organizers in order to help them frame their thinking. Graphic organizers, when used consistently, can certainly help ELs organize thoughts. I'd even include sentences frames in the organizer for students that would need this scaffold. 

In my role, I think that Socratic circles would be great to use... maybe even for discussing the EL Advocacy Equity Audit from our previous chapters! I myself would even use a graphic organizer to arrange my thoughts. Let's do it!]]> 2021-06-17 12:42:36 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1612136454 rungel https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1614679385 Another great books about students and names - I think we've got enough collected here for a whole week of read-alouds! This one's available in Spanish and English.]]> 2021-06-18 17:00:51 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1614679385 herreram19 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1614690191 I like this activity for the start of a science unit. In STEMscopes, for primary (not sure other grade levels), the APK activities start off with a group of students (who we don't know) having a discussion on a particular topic. In the past, I've printed out kid clipart and posted them around the room pretending that they were the students in the APK discussion. I read aloud each statement and students stood next to each "student" who they agreed with. In the beginning, students gave simple responses but as we continued the unit, and referred back to "our clipart friends", students began to use the academic language necessary to understand the content. I loved hearing them refer back to an imaginary person and giving reasons why they would agree/disagree with them.🙋🏽‍♀️]]> 2021-06-18 17:07:43 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1614690191 jamiekanas https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1614845350 Hey everyone! I'm Jamie Kanas, instructional coach - late to the party because I got my book late. :) 

Planning on swimming, gardening, and doing a little fishing in the Northwoods this summer!

]]> 2021-06-18 19:09:02 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1614845350 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1615561029 I love the idea of using the 1-3-6 activity for math time. What I really appreciate about this activity is that it starts with each student working on their own. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, asking students to start a task independently (instead of jumping right into group or partner work) gives both the student and teacher a chance to walk around and observe who is confidently starting, and who still needs support/just doesn’t get it yet. I see this being especially great for open ended youcubed activities that stretch students’ thinking because the problem has many answers. It can also be useful to tackle challenging multi-step word problems that we see in 3rd grade. Even if students aren’t confident in what they’re doing during the “1” part of the activity, they get to then work with two others to discuss ideas. I’ve had ELs in the past who have the math correct but lack the language to correctly share what they did. Those students can feel proud when they meet with two others and see “yes, I have the right numbers/ideas!” while having the chance in a low-stress small group to practice how to verbalize how they solved. Finally, the group of 6 is big enough that students should be able to complete the problem and dispel any misconceptions while still remaining in a pretty low risk situation when it comes to sharing. I’ve found with problems that require very high levels of thinking that student collaboration is the best tool, and this slow addition of support in 1-3-6 can be a great way for students to build understanding. I’m excited to try this next year! ]]> 2021-06-19 16:12:06 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1615561029 hagstromk https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1616338613 An activity I'd like to try is the Each One Teach One!  Students love to take on the role as a teacher and often they explain things in better ways than we can.  I've done this where I'm the student and the whole class gets to be the teacher, but I think trying this out with pairs will be even more beneficial.  To support all learners, I think this strategy requires some heavy modeling, the students will need practice in both roles.  To support those students that may be struggling with either the concepts, or those that may need extra support with language, instead of having two different concepts to teach, I may start with just one.  If one student plays the part of the teacher to teach, for example the life cycle of a plant, the second student would learn from the teacher, but when it was time to switch, that student would have 'learned' about the life cycle from a peer and then also be able to practice teaching the concept to the same student.  This adds another level of easy differentiation to the activity too.  ]]> 2021-06-20 18:30:39 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1616338613 rippes https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1616562023 This strategy is something that would lend itself to the middle school ELA classroom. I could use this when discussing any of our anchor texts. I think it would be best implemented later on in the year after a strong classroom culture has been built. Students would need to be comfortable in order to speak and question their classmates as well as have a deep understanding of the topic/text. Much scaffolding would need to be in place not only for my EL students, but for students who are reluctant to speak in class or those who struggle with comprehension. The chart on page 105 lists many scaffolds that would support this strategy. I really like the idea of modeling a Socratic seminar so that student will become comfortable in the process and expectations. I also like the idea of using sentence stems for practice not only in the Socratic Seminar, but in daily class discussion. By practicing asking and answering questions about text, students would develop the independent internal dialogue they need to analyze text for deeper meaning. ]]> 2021-06-21 00:30:06 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1616562023 kruegert1 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1617758290 I love the idea of implementing the Socratic Circle in my ELA class. The ability to have an inner circle that discusses the content while the outer circle observes is a valuable took for all students to be able to have a model for how they can participate. 

In order to implement this I think it would be a fun idea to get a group of teachers who can be the inner circle for the first run. Getting myself, co-teachers and specialist to come in for one day and do this would show students how it can be done. Additionally I think explicitly teaching the different roles and having cards explaining it with sentences starters would be a good way to help EL students be successful with participating in this strategy. ]]> 2021-06-21 14:26:14 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1617758290 reppent https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618211693 I have noticed a lot of you have chosen Guiding Principle #2 and I am in total agreement about creating a welcoming and supportive classroom for EL students. Guiding Principle #1 also resonated with me. Whenever possible, I try and allow students to share their experiences whether it is related to science or another topic we may be discussing. I enjoy learning from students from different cultures their experiences with topics being discussed. When possible, I like for them to share their knowledge with their classmates, however this only happens every so often because the EL student, needs to feel comfortable speaking n front of others.]]> 2021-06-21 19:10:38 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618211693 reppent https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618223787 We ended the school year with an egg-drop challenge and this story would combine what students did in class with ideas on how to cope and help someone suffering from depression. Depression seems to be on the rise this book may help students realize there are friends, family, teachers, etc. out there who want to help.]]> 2021-06-21 19:20:25 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618223787 horvathk2 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618484406 Two of the guiding principles really stuck out to me. Guiding Principle 2: ELs learn best when they are taught in a welcoming and supportive school climate. So much of student learning comes from the environment that they are in, and feeling supportive from their teachers and classmates. Especially for our younger students, they need an environment that makes them feel safe, supported, and confident in taking risks. There needs to be strong relationships between the school, teachers, and families. 

The other guiding principle was #5: ELs excel when their teachers leverage advocacy and leadership skills. I definitely want to improve upon my leadership skills and become a better advocate for my ELs and their families. ]]> 2021-06-21 23:58:27 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618484406 horvathk2 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618527905 I Love Saturdays and y Domingos

p. 31 "There is great variability of cultures within social groups (Erickson, 2007)" - Many of our EL families are from second generation immigrant families and are being raised simultaneously with their home culture and the culture they are experiencing everyday at school. ]]> 2021-06-22 00:27:41 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1618527905 woofv https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1619444497 I love this idea because it reminds me a lot of a gallery walk. Anchor charts are always a great resource for student to refer back to and this activity gives students the opportunity to add their ideas/answers to share with the class.

In my opinion, when students have a hand in creating and being a part of things in the classroom- they take more ownership of their own learning! The carousel activity could ideally be used in any subject area. Students could help solve math problems, provide evidence/observation for a science experiment, draw/define vocabulary words and so much more.

Another way this could be used is to post “I can” statements or the standard that is being worked on and students can use the anchor chart as their exit tickets. They are able to demonstrate that they have mastered that specific standard.

Tons of possibilities with this activity!! 🙌🏽]]> 2021-06-22 11:09:56 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1619444497 horvathk2 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1619952232 I really liked learning about this activity because it allows students to get up and off their feet and move around the room. This activity also promotes student collaboration and discussion, with built in scaffolding as the students learn from their peers who were in previous groups. 
In order to support ELs and the class as a whole, it may be benificial to provide students with sentence starters or questions prompts to help start their conversations. Depending on the topics being discussed, a word bank and/or visuals at each poster could also help students think about academic vocabulary they could use within their group discussion and responses.]]> 2021-06-22 16:06:19 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1619952232 ciezkowskai https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621265732 Chapter 1: Guiding Principle 1: ELs bring many strenghts to the classroom.
While all the principles are really important and loaded with meaning, principle #1 resonates with me the most. Teachers have to find time and ways to learn about students as much as possible in order to draw upon that knowledge during the teaching/ learning process. In my opinion, teachers need to provide students with opportunities to get to know their teachers as well. Seeing their teacher as a human being helps students feel more comfortable at school and that may lead to more open and meaningful communication. Guiding Principle 1 is closely related to Guideline 1 mentioned in Chapter 2 which states that „culturally responsive teaching is assets based”. 

]]> 2021-06-23 07:34:21 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621265732 ciezkowskai https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621287587 I love how this book is written in English and Spanish! It gives equal importance to both and follows the idea of translanguaging in the communication process. ]]> 2021-06-23 07:50:44 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621287587 ciezkowskai https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621396818 2021-06-23 09:22:05 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621396818 ciezkowskai https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621482693 Debrief Circles
I would like to try the Debrief Circle activity . The activity starts with the independent work that provides sufficient time to answer two questions ( sufficient time being something that teachers have to make sure to include in the lesson). During this first step students are given the opportunity to use any supporting materials ( word walls, anchor charts, glossaries, sentence stems etc.) to answer the questions. They can also practice presenting their answers orally before     sharing their responses with others. During sharing time students are able to use their index cards and eventually may put them away when they gain enough confidance. In my opinion, the activity can be used with all language proficiency levels throughout the grade levels. 
 ]]> 2021-06-23 10:57:58 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621482693 byrnesd https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621683927 The lineup for this year's summit looks amazing! This is a free event that includes wonderful offerings for all teachers of language. Most sessions are prerecorded. There's also links to ALL of the previous years' sessions. I've watched and rewatched many throughout the years!]]> 2021-06-23 13:36:51 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621683927 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621716057 All of the guiding principles are valuable, but the one that resonated the most with me is #2, ELs learn the best when they are taught in a a welcoming and supportive school climate.  All students need to feel comfortable in the classroom to reach their full learning potential. 

Going along with the guiding principle of #2, I would recommend the book All Are Welcome.  It is a book that celebrates diversity and makes all students feel welcome!]]> 2021-06-23 13:53:26 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1621716057 woodsk6 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622181748 Sorry, I am also late to the party, but this summer I am looking forward to movement, movement, movement of any kind...hahaha....and looking forward to catching up with my own four kids, grandson, 9 siblings, and friends while also doing some of my own interesting reading!]]> 2021-06-23 18:43:54 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622181748 woodsk6 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622231736 Chapter 1: All four Guiding Principals really spoke to me since this was my first "official" co-taught EL/ELA class at Elm, and I am incredibly grateful that I co-taught with someone as knowledgeable as Jacek Witkos (Guiding Principal#4) as I learned so much in our numerous collaborations together on the phone or before school (only way to work together with no common planning time as you all discussed above here), and he really taught me all the stats that were presented in this section last August.   
CHAPTER 2: One book I just added to my classroom library this past May was Jacqueline Woodson's Each Kindness which totally fits the theme of Guiding Principle #1: ELs and all students learn best in a welcoming & supportive school climate.]]> 2021-06-23 19:22:30 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622231736 woodsk6 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622261870 2021-06-23 19:48:35 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622261870 woodsk6 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622283730 2021-06-23 20:09:38 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1622283730 woodsk6 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1624308816 How does the location of a reservoir like the one in the picture below help it to collect water during a rainstorm?]]> 2021-06-24 22:32:59 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1624308816 herreram19 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1626087070 Which picture might show a father and son walking together on the banks? Based on the text, explain...]]> 2021-06-26 02:12:27 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1626087070 hongm1 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1626960809 Guiding Principal: I liked #1 about how EL's bring many strengths to the classroom. I was struck with a quote they authors mentioned earlier about how there was no only an achievement gap with EL but an opportunity gap as well. I think carving out time to connect and find their strengths is important.

Ch 2: A culturally diverse book I am curious about is called Clap Where you Land. I have read it yet, but just heard about it recently. Basically it is about 2 sisters, one who lives in the US and another who lives in the Dominican Republic. They have the same father, but their lives are very different. Another one by the same author is The Poet X.]]> 2021-06-27 11:21:58 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1626960809 hongm1 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1626965311 I like the idea of having students take on the persona of another character and interact. I did Socratic Seminars and Role Playing "Panels" this year and the students were more creative and engaged in the panel. They created personas of smaller characters and then discussed things like the main characters, conversations, etc. using and weaving in details (evidence) from the text. 

]]> 2021-06-27 11:34:17 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1626965311 boehme8 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1628805144 I loved the Action Thermometer activity that was listed on page 106. This would be a great activity for both my High School Spanish students [as well as EL students in any content area classroom at the high school level] as it provides a lot of input for students to process before they have to produce the language. While doing the activity, the teacher can put sentence starters or helpful words for EL students to guide them in the discussion phase. ]]> 2021-06-28 18:41:20 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1628805144 boehme8 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1628812825 What is in the canal? Is there a canal in your town? Where may we see a canal?]]> 2021-06-28 18:47:56 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1628812825 kruizengal https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1630100370 I spend a lot of time teaching students how to visualize difficult world problems and draw pictures to support understanding. Some of the questions students get are confusing to visualize or they just don't understand the meaning. This makes it very difficult to solve even if they know the math. Below are two examples from our 3rd grade Go Math chapter tests: 

"Elian is making 36 ounces of punch. He pours the same
amount into each of 6 cups. How many ounces of punch
does he pour into each cup?" 
(What is punch? Like I "punch" someone in the face? What are ounces?)

"Beth saves all her dimes. Today she is getting them out of her coin jar and wrapping them to take to the bank. She finds she has 400 dimes. It takes 50 dimes to fill each paper wrapper and make a roll. How many wrappers does she need?" 
(Who even gets their coins wrapped these days?! And what 3rd grader knows about that??) ]]> 2021-06-29 13:23:18 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1630100370 reppent https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1630590111 I have done a similar activity in science, however, I never included the final group.  This would be a great way to complete conclusion questions in science.  Students would be responsible for answering the questions on their own (they'd have to show that it has actually been completed as some students tend to be sneaky).  Answering the questions allows the student to process their current knowledge of the content. Through small group discussion (all  must share), students will reinforce or correct their understanding of the content.  Once the group of three agrees on a response, two groups of three will come together, share and reach a final answer as a whole.  The final answers will hopefully be a combination of the two groups' original response unless they are awesome and have similar response. :)  ]]> 2021-06-29 20:46:32 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1630590111 kruegert1 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1631752422 In our very first novel they talk about helping frogs get to their habitats by building a culvert. This is something we need to spend time helping students understand what it is because it is such an important word in the chapter.

Questions to ask:
Can you find an image of a culvert?
Do we have any culverts nearby?
How would this help frogs cross the street?]]> 2021-06-30 13:41:56 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1631752422 loffredol https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632099177 I have used so many cooperative learning activities in the past but never this one. This year I will be working with 3rd and 5th grades and think this will be something to implement in 5th ELA. Of course, modeling for all students would be necessary and the class would need to build a level of trust and camaraderie before finding success in this type of activity. Scaffolds are a must, not just for EL's but for all students that may find this new, difficult and uncomfortable. ]]> 2021-06-30 17:46:02 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632099177 loffredol https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632112292 2021-06-30 17:58:16 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632112292 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632142013 2021-06-30 18:25:53 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632142013 woodsk6 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632178511 2021-06-30 19:01:27 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1632178511 kruizengal https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1635185087 This is very basic, but I formatively assess students with white boards almost daily. They bring white boards to the rug during the mini-lesson. Students can write, draw, etc during the lesson. I am also informed by students NOT putting anything on their whiteboard and know to check in with them in a small group or even privately later for confusion and misconceptions. It's an easy and fast quick-check that doesn't put kids on the spot.  

]]> 2021-07-02 18:04:39 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1635185087 berkeryl https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1635379621 I’m very late to the party! We left for Hawaii a couple days after school let out, came home to dance rehearsals/recitals while still adjusting to the time difference. I’m finally catching up! Chapter 1 is done and I’m moving on to Chapter 2. Hope to catch up over the course of the next few days. My apologies I am so behind! -Lisa Berkery ]]> 2021-07-02 23:42:38 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1635379621 hagstromk https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1637500574 Seesaw!  I know last year we used Seesaw as our only platform, but during a typical year, Seesaw is a perfect tool to check in with students.  There are many different tools that allow for differentiation and support our EL learners.  The speaker buttons, as well as the video/audio tools are by far the best! Students can capture any learning whether it's through pencil and paper and they snap a picture, or if they draw and record at the same time.  Being able to listen and see the students' thinking at the same is extremely powerful in seeing where the students are with a specific task.  ]]> 2021-07-05 15:48:40 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1637500574 reppent https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1639183612 In science this word is used with every scope.  The definition: facts or situations that are observed to exist or happen, especially ones whose cause or explanation is in question.  At the beginning of the year, providing the definition along with some examples in nature will be helpful for students to better understand the term.  https://www.bookallsafaris.com/news/natural-phenomena-explained.

Ask the students how these examples are natural phenomena and have them brainstorm what phenomena they have learned about in science already.]]> 2021-07-06 19:22:03 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1639183612 reppent https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1639188919 Things I have used in addition to Pear Deck, Google Forms, and graphic organizers include: thumbs up, down, in the middle. I then ask students why they chose their thumb position. I like to get a variety of responses and this is an excellent time to call on EL learners to see how they are thinking since I make it as fun as can be and it is an awesome tool to see who's getting it and who is not. Additionally, I use BrainPOP to provide additional ways to discuss tough science topics in basic ways. The score on the quiz provides information as to understanding of the content. Same is true for Edpuzzles. Middle school students enjoy BrainPOP videos and Edpuzzles as supplemental resources in science.]]> 2021-07-06 19:28:41 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1639188919 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1640575409 I think that  this activity might be very beneficial not only for  EL but also for  most of the  non-EL students due to the first step, which is the independent work time. Giving students an opportunity to think on their own about what they want to say,  before they share their responses within a larger group can eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress, especially for the shy ones. The second step when students work in the group of three allows for sharing their responses. The  group is still small enough for every student to have a chance to participate in the discussion while the teacher can easily observe and facilitate as needed. The last step of combing two groups together , provides excellent opportunity for language reinforcement almost through repetition of their responses but is a lager group. EL students can definitely benefit from hearing/ sharing the same information several times in different forms especially in the initial phase of language acquisition. ]]> 2021-07-07 16:08:06 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1640575409 berkeryl https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1640982665 Chapter 1: The guiding principle that resonated with me the most was #2. Although I feel I try my best to make my classroom a welcoming and supportive school environment, this got me thinking of how can I make this more welcoming to ELs. I feel this is an area that I need to grow. Even something as simple as displaying the word "Engineering" in different languages could be a start.

Chapter 2: A book I would like to add to my classroom library would be All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall. This book tells the story of middle school students that come together to build the world's largest tetrahedron and how their personal lives and backgrounds play an important role in the success of their group and their community. Each one has a story to tell and the connections these students make because of their differences is very moving. ]]> 2021-07-08 00:16:33 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1640982665 berkeryl https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1641019876 This one really stood out to me. In Engineering, we always begin with a problem statement presented to us and discuss ways to solve this problem. I like this activity because it gets students up and moving, talking/discussing and making more meaningful connections with their peers and to the content. ]]> 2021-07-08 00:39:39 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1641019876 berkeryl https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1641073169 After teaching this for the first time this past year, I learned a lot about what this word actually meant. I learned that engineering is not just electrically items. Even though I knew in the back of my mind that it wasn't, I always just lumped engineering in with anything electrical. Instead, I learned to explore the different areas of engineering further with my students. I would start this year by uploading this picture and asking these questions. 
1. What is happening in this photo?
2. How do you think this community got clean water?
3. Who was responsible for helping them?
4. What type of engineer might have helped? ]]> 2021-07-08 01:11:20 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1641073169 berkeryl https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1641090451 I definitely use Peardeck and EdPuzzles a lot. I also use the Read Aloud features on Quizizz and Factile to help with study guides on vocabulary. I have been been making vocabulary Pixel Art assignments in Google Sheets and I would like to work on making that friendlier for my Els come this school year so I will be reaching out to Paul for some tech help on that. :)]]> 2021-07-08 01:21:46 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1641090451 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1644313807 Crops 
One of the words that students might need some clarification on is crops. Students who come from urban areas might not be familiar with the meaning of this word. A definiton could be provided along with a visual to help them better undestand the word meaning.
Dictionary definition: a cultivated plant that is grown as food especially a grain, fruit or vegetable. 
One of the questions might ask;
What type of crops do you see in this photograph? Do you know any other crops that people grow for food? ]]> 2021-07-11 02:15:51 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1644313807 kruegert1 https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1651278447 I second Kathy's post about using it with EL's and all students. I think it really has all the tools to check in on speaking, listening, reading and writing. I feel lucky to be in 3rd grade after all of the primary teachers do so much work to get students comfortable with the Seesaw platform so we can really utilize it to see where students skills are and things we can work on.]]> 2021-07-15 14:47:39 UTC https://padlet.com/byrnesd/401UnlockingELsPotential/wish/1651278447