This is the official Twitter account for #OklaEd, thehashtag that brings OK educators together. #OklaEd is not political & promotes constructive dialogue.
Shari Gateley, 11th Grade ELA, Putnam City West HS - joining after an exhausting week of senior activities followed by graduation today - we will see how long I last š“š“ #OklaEd
A1: I'm not sure of the actual numbers, but we have majority white, a high percentage of Native American students, a few African American students, and I think 2 EL students. #oklaed
Cindy Johnson moving from Union High School, Tulsa to Collinsville High School. Currently teaching Trig/Alg 3 and ELL Geometry will be teaching AP Calc and Geometry #OklaEd
A1b- My numbers were for my school - not sure district numbers, but know that we are the highest percentage in our district as far as high schools go. #OklaEd
We have over 40 languages spoken at NWC. Being Hispanic doesn't mean you speak a second language. I have several minority Ss who have only spoken English. #oklaed
Newcomers to #cpsreds closer to 1 %. Newcomers should be pulled out and offered services including āimagine learningā,and or āfootsteps to brillianceā #oklaed
#oklaed Q2: Newcomers are in desperate classes for quite a while until they are moved to sheltered classes then are closely monitored until they are ready for regular classes. When in regular classes they continued to be monitored consistently.
So many teachers have no idea who is EL, state and federal guidelines are changing rapidly to ensure identification and services are in place for ELs #oklaed
A1: I donāt have the exact numbers in front of me but it is rather large, given our newcomer program and partnership with agencies like Catholic Charities and Sister Cities, etc. #Oklaed
A2 Not sure how many newcomers but it is interesting to learn how different districts address the needs of their diverse student populations and especially Hispanic learners. #oklaed
A2 - Probably around 5% newcomers (again just my school) & I donāt believe we have a set newcomer program other than just beginning with blocks of ESL instruction. All depends on what they come to us with. #OklaEd
A2 Not sure of the percentage...I had a first grader last year who was new to USA and spoke Farsi. She received frequent individualized tutoring, and resources for practice at home. #OklaEd
A3) Honestly, most are probably in the elementary and Iām not sure how it is handled. It is probably good for us to be thinking about if that plant goes in near us. #oklaed
A3- HS is different for ELās because they still have to live within the credit requirement for graduation. I know they have blocked ESL classes & begin mainstream classes w/electives. We have sheltered instruction in ELA and Math. #OklaEd
A3: They get full immersion as much as possible. If more assistance is needed, the Special Education and the Counselor get involved to determine the best course of action. So far, out ELL has been doing very well. #oklaed
Newcomers to #cpsreds closer to 1 %. Newcomers should be pulled out and offered services including āimagine learningā,and or āfootsteps to brillianceā #oklaed
A3 EL students attend regular classes and are offered the same tutoring schedule as others. We have an interpreter employed at the school that will come and help when requested. #oklaed
A4 - The hardest thing is understanding WIDA levels and truly knowing where each EL is in terms of comprehension. Not all ELās are the same. A S w/no educational background is VERY different than a S w/a large educational background in their native lang. #OklaEd
A4) Communication for starters. There are a lot of EL students who are extremely intelligent but they are simply out of their comfort zone therefore shut down. A good sense of patience and understanding must be established. #oklaed
A3: Newcomers are serviced with a blend of pushin supports in the primary classroom(s) and pull out for direct language acquisition instruction with EL assistants. #oklaed
A4 In K I have students who struggled to benchmark in reading...but STAR is stacked against ELL. They went to Title one tutoring, but what they really needed was ELL. My goal next year...small group for kinder ELL #OklaEd
A4) EL or not, they're still a student. There's still a million layers to peel back to make connections and relay the concepts. But sometimes with an EL kid, I don't even know where to start. A lot of pressure to make their learning count for even more. #oklaed
A4) Through working w/Ts and supporting them, I think a lot of the challenges come from communication, confidence, and opportunities for training/PD. OKCPS has an amazing Language and Culture department that works to support the Ts #oklaed
A4: The language barrier affects the learning process tremendously. They seem to know the content, but they are not proficient enough in English to demonstrate it. #oklaed
A4) I currently donāt but I can imagine it will depend on the Ss level of English and how much of my Spanish I can remember. If it does happen for me, I know Iāll be hitting up some colleagues in areas that have experience in teaching ELās. #oklaed
A4 One struggle that #cpsreds Ts have had in recent years is the number of Ss that have Spanish as their 2nd language and their native tongue has no written language #oklaed
Language Acquisition is Key! The EL students will NEVER acquire a language if they are not subjected to it, they need to be in the classroom. A 2 year old did not receive a grammar lesson to learn English as their first language. #oklaed
A3: Newcomers are serviced with a blend of pushin supports in the primary classroom(s) and pull out for direct language acquisition instruction with EL assistants. #oklaed
A4 Reading through these answers bring memories of my time as an ELL student at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 30 years ago. Thanks for being patient and caring with your learners. #oklaed
A4) another issue is talking the time to understand what they are saying. I could see how many would think they were discipline issue but they have to learn proper diction before getting in trouble for bad words. Oh the stories I have....#OklaEd
A5 - Scaffolding is HUGE with ELās. If you donāt simplify at the beginning, you wonāt ever get to that higher level thinking. I have ELās in AP Lang - we start VERY basic and work our way up. It takes time, but we get there. #OklaEd
My wife always has an EL student write the days instructions and objective on the board early in the year to help other students gain empathy and to allow the EL students a chance at comfort within her class. Breaks the ice for everyone. #oklaed
It is actually important that their native tongue receive the ability and option to develop as well in order to help with the second language acquisition. #oklaed
A4 One struggle that #cpsreds Ts have had in recent years is the number of Ss that have Spanish as their 2nd language and their native tongue has no written language #oklaed
A5 Provide explanation of vocabulary, visual clues, concrete experience...time to think and respond...but itās K all my kiddos need these accommodations. #OklaEd
A5: Scaffolding along with the gradual release of responsibility is needed to help them activate their higher order thinking skills. This means that teacher actually have to do more than what they may be accustomed to, but it's worth it! #oklaed
A6 - B/c of the level I teach, I use a lot of grammar translation strategies (see method if you donāt know what I mean) b/c it makes sense for teaching 11th grade ELA. Iām able to use the Ss native lang to help teach grammar/syntax. #OklaEd
A5 I can still hear Mrs. Rivera (my first English teacher) in the back of my head as it was yesterday. Telling me... "To learn English, you have to think in English" Wise words that ring true to this day. #oklaed
A6: See most all SpEd modifications you have utilized for students not mastering the task/skill/objective/learning target...good remediation is good remediation. #oklaed
A6: Repeat, repeat, repeat. Did I say that I repeat myself? Also, listening to and restating their questions using appropriate sentence structure helps a lot!! #OklaEd
A6: As we move to student devices, @msonenote has an #immersivereader that will help Ts and Ss. Has multiple languages to download and read text to incorporate the lessons or converse. #oklaed@microsoftedu
A6: I had to show an EL student what a glossary was in the back of the book. She had no idea glossaries even existed or what they were used for..so I guess this helped. A lot of times, just let them know that you are there to assist them in any way. #oklaed
A6: Slow down and use other forms of communication, not JUST verbal. Touch the word or explanation, Write it again as you say it, act it out, etc. There are many ways to communicate besides spoken words. #oklaed
#oklaed we have two amazing resources at the #oksde for all questions or assistance with EL, Dan Ruhl and Elizabeth Warren , they will also be at Engage this summer @joy4ok
A6b - The most important āstrategyā is embracing their uniqueness and culture, helping them value the AMAZING talent/ability it is to be bilingual, and being patient. Let them know you are a team. #OklaEd
A6: I haven't used it, but a teacher I met in my travels told me she used joke books with EL students because it allowed her to start conversations about pop culture and increase comprehension if they explained the logic of the joke. Seemed legit.
#oklaed
A6 partner work, having resources in the classroom that are in their native language, allow them to discuss experiences, and I allow them to teach me. š¤·š¾āāļø #OklaEd
A6: Scaffold vocabulary, break the assignment into smaller parts, and ask for help when I need it. I donāt speak Mandarin or Salishan, but Iāve taught Ss who do. Weāve found ways to communicate with each other with limited common vocabulary. Patience & time are necessary. #oklaed
#oklaed A6 In early childhood classrooms, many language experience strategies are beneficial. New vocabulary connected to activities, literature, and play.
A7) We piloted @membean this year for all 7th grade students. It's a vocabulary program and was amazing! We can't afford to buy it for everyone next year, but definitely a consideration for our EL's. #oklaed
A6: We use Footsteps 2 Brilliance in our early elementary schools. It is full of language development for all our early learners, and especially our English Learners. #oklaed
A6) I talk a LOT in my EL class.nd it isn't about the math that I am teaching. The more the students hear English, the more it becomes familiar enough for them to use it. #oklaed
Canāt wait for Engage! Iāll have 4 sessions on career advising, school improvement, trauma, and ICAP which will include the importance of all Ss including EL! #oklaed
#oklaed we have two amazing resources at the #oksde for all questions or assistance with EL, Dan Ruhl and Elizabeth Warren , they will also be at Engage this summer @joy4ok
A7- Again, not sure as a district, but in my HS we have:
1- special ELL graduation coach
2- multiple bilingual TAās
3- resources for SIOP training for Ts
4- library full of high interest novels in multiple languages
5- sheltered classes w/trained Ts
Iām sure thereās more #OklaEd
A7) our district uses Ellevation. It assists with monitoring but also gives recommendations based on students assessment scores. There are lots of classroom activities and strategies available in it, too. #oklaed
A8) I have learned some Spanish, but more importantly THEY have enjoyed trying to teach me. They have a closer community and dependency on others in the classroom than the non-ELs. #oklaed
#oklaed A8 An opportunity for us to challenge how we teach to meet student learning. Diversity, and the opportunity to embrace differences. Chance to involve new families.
A9: One of our Family Nights involves teaming up with SWOSU Pre-service Ts. The Pre-service Ts bring books to read to the students and then the families get to a book home. #Oklaed
A9) all district communication is in Spanish and English, however, that is not the only language represented in our district so OKCPS has many translation services available to engage parents. OKCPS also does Super Saturdays to engage families and provide resources #oklaed
A9) Parent / Teacher conferences; phone calls; notes; letters sent home in Spanish and English; texts; letting them know they matter by using parts of their culture in different areas. #oklaed
#oklaed A9 Staff being able to greet and engage families with a smile and translation app if needed. Translated notes. Welcoming attitude. Parent nights.
A9: One of our Family Nights involves teaming up with SWOSU Pre-service Ts. The Pre-service Ts bring books to read to the students and then the families get to a book home. #Oklaed
A9) Parent / Teacher conferences; phone calls; notes; letters sent home in Spanish and English; texts; letting them know they matter by using parts of their culture in different areas. #oklaed
A10 - Honestly, I wish I was bilingual. I will always research and study best practices, but I truly wish I was able to fully grasp their native language. #OklaEd
A10 - Honestly, I wish I was bilingual. I will always research and study best practices, but I truly wish I was able to fully grasp their native language. #OklaEd
I enjoyed the lively discussion and the sharing of knowledge. Thanks to @MrsHime for moderating tonight and all of you who inspire, nurture, and motivate your EL students as they grow to appreciate the blessing it is to be bilingual. Buenas Noches! #oklaed
A11: Look beyond just EL.... Second Language Acquisition is the same concept, it just involves all languages. The OFLTA (Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers Association) and @actfl have GREAT resources and PD #oklaed
A10) I wish I had a better idea of how much information is too much to try. When I try too complex of ideas, they shut down SO QUICKLY! Sometimes they act as though it is overwhelming and impossible even though I KNOW they can do it. #oklaed
