Equity and Excellence for English Language Learners

A Balancing Act for AdministratorsDay 3 Session

CESA 4 – December 5th, 2013

2

Equity and Excellence for English Language Learners (ELLs): A Balancing Act for Administrators

Session Three Objectives:• Participants will learn about the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) standards and the ACCESS for ELLs English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment• Participants will examine teacher performance considerations for effectively educating ELLs • Participants will learn about ways to effectively build relationships and bridge communication with families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

3

AGENDA

• Welcome and Introductions• WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards and

ACCESS for ELLs Assessment• Teacher Performance Considerations for Effectively

Educating ELLs• Developing Relationships and Bridging

Communication with Families and the Community• Question and Answer Session• Feedback Form

Welcome and Check In

• Please share:- Name and School/District- Position

• And, What’s On Your Mind? • I’m In!

Key Practice 9: Implementing English as a Second Language Instruction

• Coordinate Academic Content & Language Instruction with Core Content & Language Standard

• Connect Receptive Language Skills & Oral Language of Beginning Level ELLs to Academic English Instruction

• Use a Content-Based ESL Approach for Intermediate & Advanced Level ELLs

• Implement Meaningful Language Learning Activities Using Sensory, Graphic, and Interactive Supports

Key Practice 11: Implementing Comprehensible Academic Content Instruction

• Align Instructional Activities with Curriculum Guides & Standards

• Include Language & Content Objectives in Lesson Planning

• Differentiate Instruction According to ELLs’ Language Proficiency Levels With Strategies for Using Textbooks

• Use Authentic Assessment Strategies to Evaulate ELLs’ Progress and Grading

• Use ELLs’ Primary Language to Support Academic Instruction in English

The Story of WIDA(World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment)

• http://wida.us/aboutus/mission.aspx

• http://wida.us/membership/states/

The WIDA ELD StandardsStandard 1 – Social & Instructional Language

• English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes in the school setting.

Standard 2 – Language of Language Arts • English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts

necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Standard 3 – Language of Mathematics • English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts

necessary for academic success in the content area of Math.

Standard 4 – Language of Science • English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts

necessary for academic success in the content area of Science.

Standard 5 – Language of Social Studies • English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts

necessary for academic success in the content area of Social Studies.

Five Grade-Level Clusters The English Language Development Standards and aligned ACCESS for ELLs Assessment are organized by the following Grade-level clusters:• PreK−K• Grades 1−2• Grades 3−5• Grades 6−8• Grades 9−12

Four Language DomainsListening ─ process, understand, interpret, and evaluate spoken language in a variety of situations  Speaking ─ engage in oral communication in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes and audiences Reading ─ process, interpret, and evaluate written language, symbols, and text with understanding and fluency Writing ─ engage in written communication in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes and audiences

WIDA’s English Language Development Levels 6

ENTERING

BEGINNING

DEVELOPING

EXPANDING

1

2

3

4

5

BRIDGING

REACHING

Criteria for Performance Definitions

Linguistic Complexity: The amount and quality of speech or writing for a given situation

Vocabulary Usage: The specificity of words or phrases for a given context

Language Control: The comprehensibility of the communication based on the amount and type of errors

ENTERING BEGINNING DEVELOPING EXPANDING BRIDGING

54321 6

REACHING

WIDA’s Proficiency Levels and Language Criteria

1 Entering

2 Beginning

3 Developing

4 Expanding

5 Bridging

PIs

L 1

L 2

L 3

L4

L 5Linguistic

ComplexityVocabulary Usage

Language Control

WIDA Performance Definitions – Listening and Reading Grades K-12

WIDA Performance Definitions – Speaking and Writing Grades K-12

WIDA’s English Language Development Standards

• http://wida.us/standards/ELP_StandardLookup.aspx

WIDA’s Can Do Descriptors

• http://wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/

Uses of the Can Do DescriptorsHow might teachers use the CAN DO Descriptors?

As an instructional assessment tool that supplements the English language proficiency standards, language teachers may use the Descriptors to:• share with classroom teachers as a way to describe or explain

the stages of English language development using concrete examples;

• work with content teachers to show language may be integrated within a given discipline or content area;

• use to plan with tutors or mentors who work with English language learners;

• develop or co-develop lessons with differentiated language objectives;

More Uses of the Can Do Descriptors

• set language goals with their English language learners;• explain students’ progress in listening, speaking,

reading and writing to parents/ family members;• suggest language goals to be incorporated into

Individual Education Programs (IEPs) for English language learners with diagnosed disabilities;

• translate English language proficiency test scores (i.e., ACCESS for ELLs®, the W-APT™, WIDA MODEL™) into instructional practice;

• observe and note levels of student performance as a precursor to using WIDA Speaking and Writing rubrics for formative assessment;

• advocate on behalf of English language learners to show what they CAN DO.

Time Out to Turn and Talk

• Let’s Time to Process What You Have Learned Thus Far….

• Turn to a Neighbor and Respond to the Following Question:- What Key Ideas Did You Learn About WIDA’s English

Language Development Standards?

http://www.rippleaffect.com.au/archives/tag/talking

ACCESS for ELLs Assessment

• ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners)

• Secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment given to ELLs in grades K-12 annually

• Used to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English

ACCESS for ELLsGrade Level Clusters & Tiers

• Kindergarten• 1-2• 3-5• 6-8• 9-12

• Tier A = Beginning• Tier B = Intermediate

• Tier C = Advanced(based on results of last

assessment)

Tier Structure of ACCESS for ELLs®

ENTERING BEGINNING DEVELOPING EXPANDING BRIDGING

1 2 3 4 5

Tier A

Tier B

Tier C

6

R E

ACHING

Overall Composite ScoreTest Weights

(Percent)Listening, 15%

Reading, 35%

Writing, 35%

Speaking, 15%

ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

WIDA’s Download Library

• Is FULL of RESOURCES!!! http://wida.us/downloadLibrary.aspx

And Now… Let’s Review an English Language Learner’s Profile

• Student: Mai • Grade: 4th • Home Language: Hmong• ACCESS for ELLs Scores:

- Listening 3.8- Speaking 2.2- Reading 3.5- Writing 4.6

Key Practice 3: Implementing a Balanced Student Assessment

System

• Balanced Assessment System• Consistent Entry and Exit Criteria• Use of Authentic Assessments• Compliment Standardized Assessments with

Classroom Assessments• Review Assessment Data

Key Practice 5: Using Big Ideas to Plan Instruction

• Use Standards to Identify the Big Ideas and Key Concepts

• Structure Comprehensible Learning Activities that Lead to Understanding

• Use Materials that Explain and Exemplify the Big Ideas

• Develop Differentiated Assessment Strategies that Allow ELLs to Demonstrate Understanding

Key Practice 6: Implementing Meaningful Vocabulary-Building Instruction

• Explicitly Teach New Vocabulary, Involving Students in Definition-Getting

• Build Students’ Oral Vocabulary as a Foundation for Expressive Language

• Structure Oral & Written Activities for Students to Use New Vocabulary

• Coordinate Vocabulary Instruction and Practices in All Classroom Settings

Key Practice 7: Activating Students’ Prior Knowledge

• Plan Prior Knowledge Activities that Connect & Build Upon Students’ Knowledge and Experiences

• Use Instructional Supports to Make Prior Knowledge Experiences Comprehensible

• Ask Open-Ended Questions So Students Can Share Prior Knowledge

• Structure Pre-Reading Activities to Build Vocabulary & Increase Comprehension

Key Practice 8: Structuring Student Interaction

• Organize Program Configurations & Classroom Schedules to Promote Meaningful Interactions

• Promote Learning-Centered Classroom Talk that Engages Students & Requires Sharing of Thinking and Problem Solving

• Implement Learning Tasks that Use Target Vocabulary to Share Newly Learned Information

• Structure Small Group Instructional Tasks So Students Can Work Interdependently

Post It Activity – Most Important Point!• As you watch the video,

write down a “Most Important Point” (MIP)on a sticky note

• After viewing the video, turn to a neighbor and share out your MIP

• Be prepared to share out your MIPs to the group

http://wida.us/getInvolved/video/summer2013.aspx

MIPs

Working with Families of English Language Learners to Foster Student Success

Overview

• Partner Conversation• Cultural Identities ~ Navigation Towards Cultural

Competence• Understanding Various Perspectives Around School

Involvement• Reaching Out ~ Building Collaborative Partnerships

with Families

Opening Conversation

• Stand up – and find a partner who you haven’t talked with yet

• What are some ways you are currently working with parents of ELLs?- What’s working well?- What’s challenging?

Culture is….

a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and

attitudes that shapes and influences

perception and behavior.

Transparency of Culture

• Culture is TRANSPARENT to natives (K. Escamilla)• Culture is one lens through which we see the world• There are implications for our interactions with

people from cultures different from our own

The Continuum ~ Cultural Awareness, Competence, & Responsiveness

• Awareness ~ an important first step in gaining knowledge about differences

• Competence ~ implies the completion of a predetermined set of criteria

• Responsiveness ~ an on-going process of taking in new information and responding appropriately

The Goal ~ Cultural Responsiveness

• Occurs as a result of awareness of your own cultural beliefs, values, or biases

• Applying acquired knowledge to interactions with others

• Comes with practice and repeated engagement with others from different cultural backgrounds

Cultural Responsiveness in Action

• Greater awareness of your own race and culture• Awareness of the impact of your behaviors and

attitudes on others• Knowledge of your own biases and limitations

• Remember the Cultural Identity Molecule Activity…

Cultural Identities• Our families come with their

OWN “cultural identity molecule” as well:- Country of origin- Country of residence- Linguistic- Religious- Socio-economic- Ethnicity- Family Structure

Cultural Diversity• Diversity is dynamic and relational

- Interactions and comparisons between others

- Cannot exist independently of its context

- Not the person but who surrounds the person

• NEVER the “PROBLEM”

Issues of Power

• Holding one population as reference point

• The term “minority”

• Beliefs and behaviors are ALWAYS value laden

Culture Bumps

Culture Bumps “Culture bumps occur when an individual has

expectations of one behavior and gets something completely different “

Expectations refer to the expectations of "normal" behavior as learned in one's own culture.

• Remember, culture is transparent to its natives!!!

Culture bumps can be pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant experiences

Possible “Cultural Bumps”??TURN TO A PARTNER &

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

What culture bumps might a child or their family from a different cultural background

have within a U.S. school?

Various Perspectives ~ School Involvement

• Different understandings of school and parent participation exist due to:- Prior knowledge & expectation of school- Various levels of educational background- Confusion about roles- Lack of information about school programs, policies, etc.

What To Do …

• Explore families’ assumptions about school• Initiate contact with families/community members • Clarify roles• Generate ongoing partnerships

Reaching Out ~ Building Collaborative Partnerships with Families

• Use the primary language of the family whenever possible

• Find out about students’ home environment• Host meetings in locations that are

convenient to families & ask them to help build agenda

• Educate parents on US school system

Examples of Ways to Collaborate with Families

• “¿Qué Pasa En Nuestras Escuelas?” monthly Spanish radio program –

https://mediaprodweb.madison.k12.wi.us/node/396• Classes for Parents – English in the Schoolshttp://www.litnetwork.org/learners/index.php?category_id=4480• WISACALD Resourceshttp://www.wisacald.org/parents.phphttp://wisacald.org/community.php

References• Barrera, I., Corso, R., & Macpherson, D. (2003). Skilled dialogue:

Strategies for responding to cultural diversity in early childhood. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes

• Escamilla, K. (2003). Transparency of Culture Workshop, Madison, WI.

• Teaching Diverse Learners: Families & Communities ~http://www.lab.brown.edu/tdl/

• Colorin Colorado – American Federation of Teacher Toolkit for Teachers: Reaching out to Hispanic Parents of English Language Learners (2005) ~ http://www.colorincolorado.org/families/partnerships

• Wagner, Suzanne. Communicating with Language Minority Parents. Illinois Resource Center

• Mexican American Legal Education Defense Fund: Parent School Partnership Program ~ http://maldef.org/leadership/programs/psp/

Best Wishes…

on your journey to build collaborative partnerships with families to support English language learners’ success!

Learned?

Affirmed?

Time for Reflection

Questioned?

Question and Answer

• Share Out New Learning, Affirmations, and Questions!?

• Thank You for Your Participation!

Amy ChristiansonOELA Grant Program CoordinatorEdgewood College, Madison WIAChristianson@edgewood.edu