English Language Learner (ELL) Program at Island Park

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English Language Learner (ELL) Program at Island Park

October 1, 2013

+ELL Staff

Room 26236-3426

Kristin Kim Mon-Fri (8:30-5:30)

Anne Cameron Mon-Thurs

Kanako Kashima

Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri

+Kristin Kim Occidental College (BA in Psychology, Teacher

Certification) Endorsements: Psychology, Library Media Taught 4 years in CA Taught 7 years in WA (Edmonds SD, MISD) Fourth year as IP ELL teacher/K-12 ELL coordinator Came to the U.S. at age 10 (bilingual) Former IP parent (2 daughters) Love to sing, listen to music, and read

+Anne Cameron

Brigham Young University (BA in Chemistry)UW Bothell (Masters in Policy Studies)7 ½ years working with ELL students at IPWent to school in Germany during 5th & 6th

grade3 children (2 daughters and 1 son)Love to read, sew, paint, and garden

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UW Seattle (BA in Health Educ. and Japanese Language & Lit)

UW Seattle (MS in Kinesiology with emphasis on the elderly)

UW Bothell (Teaching certification 2004) Substitute teaching in Bellevue and MISD 3rd-generation Japanese-American (bilingual) Worked as geriatric mental health specialist for 8 yrs Two sons Love to play “koto”, read, cook, walk, listen to music

Kanako Kashima

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52 students (32 primary/20 intermediate)30 new/22 continuing students17 languages/dialects spoken

Korean (15)

Mandarin (11)

Japanese (4)

Spanish, French, Hebrew, Russian (3)

German, Danish, Finnish, Cantonese, Taiwanese

Farsi, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Tigrinya (1)

IP ELL Student Profile

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Level 1: Beginning/Advanced Beginning Level 2: Intermediate Level 3: Advanced Level 4: Transitional – exit level

Language Proficiency Levels

+Numbers by Grade & Language Level

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Given to new students if their first and/or primary language was not English (foreign born or U.S. born)

Used to determine their general English proficiency level and eligibility for ELL services

Record of testing on the state database

Placement Test

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Third year in use Grade band (K-1, 2-3, 4-5) tests Test in 4 domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)

WELPA - WA English Language Proficiency Assessment

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Taken by eligible students each year to measure progress until they reach exit level (Level 4)

Testing window (February - March)2014 test window: Feb. 3 – March 14

Annual Test

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Much more academic than placement test Longer than placement test (one subtest per

day) Only “speaking” subtest is scored by ELL staff Then the tests are sent for scoring Results come out in June (score/level for each

area and composite score/level) Additional info provided:

Comprehension (reading + listening)

WELPA Annual Test

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Those students who score at Level 4 will exit the ELL Program at the end of the current school year and will no longer qualify for ELL services in the new school year.

Those students scoring at Levels 1-3 will continue receiving ELL services in the new school year.

Annual Test Results

+Challenges as ELLs

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Vocabulary deficit Phonics vs. sight words Multiple meanings Fluency vs. comprehension

Challenges as Readers

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Writing process Generating own ideas for writing

Show, not tell Different types of writing: narrative, expository (informational), descriptive, persuasive

Challenges as Writers

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Math is not an universal language (different symbols, algorithms)

Science – scientific (investigative) method

Social studies – language and culture embedded

Other Challenges

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Mission Statement(of the state TBIP Program)

English Language Learners (ELL) will meet state standards and develop English language proficiency in an environment where language and cultural

assets are recognized as valuable resources to learning.

ELL Program

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Goal

To develop ELL student’s proficiency in English so

he/she can participate more fully in the regular classroom

setting.

ELL Program

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Amount of service and type of support are determined by:

student’s proficiency level classroom teacher observations/assessments

ELL teacher observations/assessments self assessment by the students

Service Delivery

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Ways support is delivered: Small group (pull-out) In-class (pull-in) One-on-one (pull-out) Check in

Service Delivery

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Typically, it takes one year to move up one level

Since many of our students come with skills and experiences in their own languages, the progress is often faster

Most students exit the program within 3 years

Length of Time in ELL Program

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Leveled Readers/Books on many subjects Picture dictionaries/Bilingual dictionaries Educational

games/Manipulatives/Flashcards/ Vocabulary Cards High Frequency Word Lists iPads/iPods/Kindles Online subscriptions : Raz-Kids (4th/5th)

Some Materials Used

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1. The ELL staff knows each student well. We act as the student’s advocate in communication with teachers to provide or suggest appropriate accommodations/modifications in class work and tests.

Benefits of ELL Program Participation

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2. ELL students can receive additional accommodations during state testing (MSP for 3rd – 5th grades)

3rd grade – Reading/Math 4th grade – Reading/Math/Writing 5th grade – Reading/Math/Science

Benefits of ELL Program Participation

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Administration by ELL staff in a small group setting

Frequent breaks Read aloud of directions and/or questions Translated audio CDs in math and science

(in Korean/Chinese/Spanish/Russian/Vietnamese)

Benefits of ELL Program Participation

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Those students who have been in the U.S. schools for less than a year can opt out of taking reading and writing sections of the state tests.

Benefits of ELL Program Participation

+Standards Based Report Card

4 Exceeding Standards:in-depth inferences & applications

3 Meeting Standards at Trimester: simple or complex skills, grade level tasks

2 Progressing Towards Standards:simpler details & processes

1 Below Standards:with help, a partial understanding

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Supplemental progress report by the ELL staff for those students we service regularly

Shows progression of skills in following directions, listening/speaking, reading, writing (whether emerging or competent)

Three reporting periods (November, March, June)

ELL Progress Report

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I’ll be attending many of your conferences to gather and/or share info with parents

If you need an interpreter* for the conference, contact me by email or phone*The Mercer Island School District provides limited English proficient parents with information in their own language so that they can make informed decisions about their children's education. This includes providing interpretation and translation services for vital meetings and communications. If you need assistance, please email Learning Services Coordinator Jan Kentnor.

Parent Conferences

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Provide students books to read for pleasure at one’s comprehension level (Stephen Krashen)

Explain difficult concepts in one’s own language (Jim Cummins: skills, ideas, and concepts students learned in 1st language will be transferred into 2nd language)

Help with homework/projectsKeep up with the first language

(bilingualism is an asset)

How Parents Can Help

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Volunteers: copying, making materials converting cassette tapes into MP3 files

Needs

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District ELL Webpage

IP ELL Website

ELL Websites

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ELL Parent Coffee Gatherings

Thanksgiving celebration in Nov(for 2nd-5th graders)

Look Ahead