September 22 2015 English Language Learner ELL Elementary

+ September 22, 2015 English Language Learner (ELL) Elementary Program

+ ELL Staff Kristin Kim Katie Mc. David Mon-Fri (8: 30 -5: 00) Mon-Wed at WM Thursday at LR (8: 30 -4: 00) Kanako Kashima Mon-Fri (9: 00 -3: 00)

+ Kristin Kim n Occidental College (BA in Psychology, Teacher Certification) n Endorsements: Psychology, Library Media, ELL (in progress) n Taught 4 years in CA n Taught 9 years in WA (Edmonds SD, Mercer Island SD) n Sixth year as ELL teacher/K-12 ELL coordinator n Came to the U. S. at age 10 from Korea (bilingual) n Former n Love IP parent (2 daughters - 17 and 20) to sing, listen to music, and walk with friends

+ n UW Katie Mc. David (BA in English Language Learning) n University of Texas (MA in English Language Learning) n Taught 10 years in AZ (as ELL teacher) n Taught 5 years in MISD n First year as ELL TOSA n Family: n Love husband, daughter (10 months old) to read cookbooks and swim with my daughter

+ Kanako Kashima n UW Seattle (BA in Health Educ. /Japanese Language & Lit) n UW Seattle (MS in Kinesiology with emphasis on the elderly) n UW Bothell (Teaching Certification 2004) n 3 rd-generation n Worked as geriatric mental health specialist for 8 yrs n Substitute n Fourth n Two Japanese-American (bilingual) teaching in Bellevue and Mercer Island SD year as ELL paraprofessional sons n Love to play “koto”, read, cook, walk, listen to music

+ Elementary s. ELL Profiles Island Park: 48 students (19 new / 29 continuing students) West Mercer: 25 students (17 new students / 8 continuing) Lakeridge: 9 students (3 new students / 6 continuing) 16 languages spoken (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Cantonese, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Hebrew, Vietnamese, Tegulu, Tamil, Malayalam, Icelandic)

+ Language Proficiency Levels (WELPA Placement Test or Annual Test) Level 1: Beginning/Advanced Beginning n Level 2: Intermediate n Level 3: Advanced n Level 4: Transitional – not qualify for ELL program n

+ Placement Test n Given to new students if their first and/or primary language is not English (foreign born or U. S. born) n Used to determine their general English proficiency level and eligibility for ELL services n Record of testing on the state database

+ Placement Test (WELPA) n Last year in use n Grade band (K-1, 2 -3, 4 -5) tests Test in 4 domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) n

+ Annual Test n Taken by all ELL students each year to measure progress until they reach exit level n Testing window is Feb. 1 – March 11

+ New Annual Test (ELPA 21) ELPA 21 (English Language Proficiency Assessment) will replace WELPA in 2016 n n Will be computer-based test Based on new English Language Proficiency Standards n

+ English Language Proficiency Standards (ELP) – 11 states

+ ELPA 21 Results Overall Level of 5 Overall Level of 1, 2, 3, or 4 • Exit the ELL Program • No longer receive support in new school yr • Be monitored for 2 years • Will continue receiving ELD support in new school year • Will take annual test in the following year

+ ELL Program Mission Statement (of the state TBIP Program) English Language Learners 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 Goals n To develop ELL student’s proficiency in English so he/she can participate more fully in the regular classroom setting n Help new students adjust to the new school environment (academically, emotionally, socially)

+ Program Model: Supportive Mainstream n Students in mainstream classrooms most of the day n ELL teachers provide supplemental English language support (push-in or pull-out) n Use of specific strategies to foster English language development and making gradelevel content meaningfully accessible n ELL teachers collaborate with classroom teachers

+ Support Time and Delivery Amount of service and delivery of support are determined by: n Student proficiency level n Grade level n Classroom teacher observations/assessments n ELL teacher observations/assessments n Self assessment by the students

+ Delivery of Support Ways support is delivered: n Small group (pull-out) n One-on-one (pull-out) n In-class (push-in) n Check in (push-in)

+ Factors that Affect Second Language Acquisition n Motivation and attitude n Age n Access to the language (e. g. immersion, EFL) n Personality n 1 st language development n Quality of instruction (meaningful and authentic? ) n Cognitive ability

+ Length of Time in ELL Program Typically, it takes one year to move up one level n Since many of our students come with skills and experiences in their own languages, the progress is often faster n Most students exit the program within 3 years n

+ E Some Materials Used n Leveled Readers/Non-fiction books on many subjects n Picture dictionaries/Bilingual dictionaries n Educational Games/Manipulatives/Flashcards/ Vocabulary Cards n High Frequency Word Lists/Phonic-Based Word Lists n Translated Books n i. Pads apps n Online subscriptions

+ Common Core State Standards (CCSS) 45 states

+ 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

+ Benefits of ELL Program Participation 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 2. ELL students (3 rd-5 th) can receive additional accommodations during state testing (SBAC and MSP Science) n 3 rd grade –Language Arts/Math n 4 th grade –Language Arts/Math n 5 th grade – Language Arts/Math + Science (MSP)

+ SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) – 22 states

+ Benefits of ELL Program Participation n Those students who have been in the U. S. schools for less than a year can opt out of taking Language Arts sections of the state tests. n All students must take the Math section (all 5 th graders must take the MSP Science)

+ Benefits of ELL Program Participation n Administration by ELL staff in a small group setting n Frequent breaks n SBAC - Text-to-Speech for math and ELA items - Translated test directions (general) in various languages - Translation of math glossary words) n MSP Science – full translated audio CDs in Chinese/Korean/Spanish/Russian/Vietnamese

+ Challenges as ELLs • Basic interpersonal communication • Language skills needed to interact Social Lang socially Academic Lang • Formal language (in subject areas) needed for success in school • Time and support needed to develop

+ Challenges as Readers n Vocabulary deficit (as bilinguals) n Phonics vs. sight words n Multiple meanings n Fluency vs. comprehension

+ Challenges as Writers n Writing process (prewriting, draft, revising, editing, and final) n Generating own ideas for writing n Show, not tell Different types of writing: narrative, expository (informational), persuasive (opinion), how-to n

+ Other Challenges Math is not a universal language (different symbols, algorithms) n Science – scientific (investigative) method n Social studies – reading of long texts, vocabulary, history + culture n

+ ELL Progress Report n Supplemental progress report by the ELL staff for those students we service regularly n Shows progression of skills in following directions, listening/speaking, reading, writing (whether emerging or competent) n Three reporting periods (November, March, June)

+ Parent Conferences n We’ll be attending many of your conferences to gather and/or share info with parents n If you need an interpreter* for the conference, contact Katie or me by email *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 administrative Assistant Mary Newcomer.

+ How Parents Can Help n Provide students books to read for pleasure at one’s comprehension level (Stephen Krashen) n Explain difficult concepts in one’s own language (Jim Cummins: skills, ideas, and concepts students learned in 1 st language will be transferred into 2 nd language) n Help with homework/projects n Keep up with the first language (bilingualism is an asset)

+ ELL Websites n District ELL Webpage n Elementary ELL Website

+ Volunteer Training – required of all volunteers every year n Watch a 15 -minute training video n Fill out Volunteer Agreement Form and Background Check form n Submit to school office

+ Needs Volunteers: Language support at each school (work with students or communicate with parents) n n ELL family outreach rep from each school n Clerical help at IP (copying, making materials, organizing, etc)

+ ELL Family Support Information to new families on school protocol and events n n ELL Parent Coffee Gatherings (ELL updates a few times a year)