A1 Good evening! I’m Karen Nemeth, co-host of #ELLCHAT and an author/consultant focusing on #earlyed for young children who are ELLs/DLLs from Bucks County, PA
#ELLCHAT A2 Ss come to school hungry, scared, lacking sleep and worried about their families. My adult Ss work, many at night. I have a S who fainted in class from exhaustion, and then came back to class and kept learning. But grit will only take you so far... #ELL#ESOL#ESL
A2) support from parents and family at home! Every child deserves that extra push of motivation from home. Sometimes thats what keeps them going. #ellchat
#ELLCHAT Poverty, constantly moving, and lack of support at home. Lots of student would make so much more growth if only they stayed with us long enough to allow us to grow together.
A2: lack of encouragement from adults they look up to.
Relationship that hinder instead of supporting them.
Poverty nor life circumstances should be a reason to succeed academically
#ellchat
A2: I don't think we realize what our kiddos go through at home or how much past trauma they have. It's important for us to have a mindset of understanding all students and their lives. #ELLCHAT
3. What is the one thing that you and your school district can control that is most important contributor to the both social emotional growth and academic success of your ELLs? #Ellchat
A2: Everyone has their own baggage in our classrooms. As teachers, we have to help them slowly unpack it by building a relationship with Ss. Once they build that relationship, they can focus on academics. #ELLCHAT
#ELLCHAT A1) Hi, Tammy, Education Specialist. A2) assisting family members with translation, paperwork, child care for siblings, lack of support or resources at home
Q3) What is the one thing that you and your school district can control that is most important contributor to the both social emotional growth and academic success of your ELLs? #Ellchat
A3: It starts first with how we talk to kids. In the past, we the past we used to expect respect. Now we realize that we have to give it to get it. #ELLCHAT
#ELLCHAT A3 I can't control much outside my classroom. But I can be sure that every time a student walks through the door they see my honest delight at seeing them. And I want them to know that I am working with them as hard as I can to ensure their success.
A3) Children need to feel safe and welcome at school. Also, we offer basic needs (food, clothing), pay for field trips, find community partners, camp, afterschool programs #ELLCHAT
A3) Building a good relationship with students will make a real difference in the lives of ELLS.
Every student is one caring adult away from being a success story. (Josh Shipp) #ELLCHAT
A3: our school (@wmirvinelem) supports a lot of our ESL families you sending home a backpack with groceries for Ss to have a meal over the weekend #ellchat
A2 I agree, Paige and I think it goes even further for young children. In #earlyed, we really depend on full partnership w/ families who help support child’s home language development at home & at school as recommended by federal government https://t.co/euMpVWhqqj#ELLCHAT
A3: We must give them comprehensible yet condensed curriculum. The ARE smart, they WANT to learn. Why do we punish them by making them translate EVERY outdated lesson in ancient textbooks?! #personalizedlearning#proficiency#mastery#ELLchat
A3) Providing a warm welcome to all students and letting them know you're there through everything! Positive relationships improve students learning. #ellchat
A3: We also need to understand cultural cues. In the past, I would get firm with kids who were constantly putting their heads down. One day I learned a student got severe headaches from the language input. #ELLCHAT
A2 I agree, Paige and I think it goes even further for young children. In #earlyed, we really depend on full partnership w/ families who help support child’s home language development at home & at school as recommended by federal government https://t.co/euMpVWhqqj#ELLCHAT
A3: One thing we can control is the relationships we build with the students which impact the way we make them feel. If we can show them how much we care, they will feel safer taking risks and work harder. #ellchat
A2 Yes! immigrant families have so many needs, yet much less access to services that could help family thrive in support of their children’s success in school This guide to help families in new country available in 6 languages https://t.co/hIlHZqU3JP@BRYCSinfo#ELLCHAT
A3) The same thing happened to me. A 6th grader had his head on his desk and I found out that he was up until 2 AM trying to finish the homework is teacher had assigned. #ELLCHAT
A3: We also need to understand cultural cues. In the past, I would get firm with kids who were constantly putting their heads down. One day I learned a student got severe headaches from the language input. #ELLCHAT
A3: We also need to understand cultural cues. In the past, I would get firm with kids who were constantly putting their heads down. One day I learned a student got severe headaches from the language input. #ELLCHAT
A3 I think Universal Design for Learning approach can help all tchrs be proactive in creating environment/learning activities with flexibility and responsiveness so wrote this book w/ @pambrillantehttps://t.co/OUFwIbr6Ai#ELLCHAT
#ELLCHAT A3 Or you could get a student who was working, or babysitting a sibling while a parent was working, or there was an emergency and they had to leave where they were staying...
That's great! I'm trying to have some meetings at a neighborhood library, walking distance to their apartments. Have also bribed by providing dinner, translators, daycare but that hasn't worked so well so far. #ELLchat
A4 I love this systems question. So many times, we hear solutions that begin with what a teacher should do - yet teacher changes work best if their system supports them! #ELLCHAT
#ELLCHAT We are lucky that #ps really does support our program and our students. But it would be great to have more classes, more classtimes, more ability to meet our students where they are despite logistical difficulties...
A4 So one system change must be BETTER INFORMED ADMINISTRATORS!!! It is such an uphill battle to help ELLs/DLLs succeed when bosses don’t get it, such a dream when they do! #ELLCHAT
A4) Parent engagement programs that build relationships with parents that are two-way streets. Parents have a real part in their child's education. #ELLCHAT
#ELLCHAT A4) going beyond "festivals, food, and fun" to make cultural connections and relationships with families. We need to rethink what parent engagement is and what it looks like!
A4: I truly believe that more than a systematic change...we need a mindset shift through our schools in general.
✔️ cultural awareness
✔️ language development understanding
✔️ diversity acceptance
✔️ asses own biases
#ELLchat
A4: ESL as an integrated area across the system (e.g. not just "ESL PD" but PD that integrates ESL). When others beyond ESL staff start asking Qs about ELLs, then we're making progress! #ELLChat
A4) bringing more classes to the table that show students more about the real world. I wish I would've learned more about real-life situations back when I was in school. #ellchat
A4 This book focuses on what leaders should know and be able to do: Young Dual Language Learners: A Guide for Prek - 3 Leaders w/ 45 experts writing about system-based changes needed in #earlyedhttps://t.co/AznfXOpLuj#ELLCHAT
A4 So one system change must be BETTER INFORMED ADMINISTRATORS!!! It is such an uphill battle to help ELLs/DLLs succeed when bosses don’t get it, such a dream when they do! #ELLCHAT
A4: Those who are new owners and/or don't attend all 4 years of HS are desperately trying 2 accrue credits necessary to earn diploma. Need 2 look beyond seat time (hours) & use better measures 2 meet them at their level & move them along 2 proficiency & mastery. #equity#ELLCHAT
A3: We also need to understand cultural cues. In the past, I would get firm with kids who were constantly putting their heads down. One day I learned a student got severe headaches from the language input. #ELLCHAT
A4 Many great ideas here! I also say the system must allow adequate time for planning, PD, and collaboration. All the good ideas can crash if not given time to grow! #ELLCHAT
A4) "Systemic change" sounds like admin would play the lead role. In this case, I would say more admin learning about ESL and choosing progm models that benefit their community. Rumors of local distr here moving from BL to all sheltered makes me unhappy. #Ellchat
A4 Consider the whole student when making decisions. It is more than just the data points. It is also finding what the student is good at and passionate about then shifting what we are doing to support. #ellchat
We have to start planning with our ELL/SpEd students FIRST. Not as an afterthought. The whole class will benefit from the language work those st need @slavon79#ellchat
A4 Consider the whole student when making decisions. It is more than just the data points. It is also finding what the student is good at and passionate about then shifting what we are doing to support. #ellchat
A4 - and speaking of that, if we hire all these bilingual teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff because the bring wonderful language talents to our school, shouldn’t we support their continued learning and development of their non-English language with PD/materials? #ELLCHAT
A3: We also need to understand cultural cues. In the past, I would get firm with kids who were constantly putting their heads down. One day I learned a student got severe headaches from the language input. #ELLCHAT
#ELLCHAT A5 When we measure success by a one-size-fits-all model, it really fits no one. Our Ss are successful when they are making progress that is meaningful to and for them.
We have to start planning with our ELL/SpEd students FIRST. Not as an afterthought. The whole class will benefit from the language work those st need @slavon79#ellchat
A5: Exit monitoring supports K-12 college and career readiness. It's not just about filling out a form and saying "hey we're done!". Also, progress reports for EL Ss are important as well. #ELLCHAT
A4: Without question its the “getting to the root” prof. learning experience 4all district, admin&Ts which is being HONEST re:how they truly feel about #ELL & “students who don’t speak English”.We cant do anything until we know how they truly feel.Its tough but worth it #ELLCHAT
A5 One thing that really hurts us is most states have no requirement that #preK teachers have knowledge or skill to support children who are DLLs/ELLs according to @PreschoolTodayhttps://t.co/Vd6NkNZn8y#ELLCHAT
A5) Testing requirements. Come in as a 16 year old sophomore who has only one year exempt from Writing &Reading Standard Assessment: required for Grad. So, two years to pass a test many first Lang English speakers can’t? Ugh! Drives me insane & Ss give up #ELLChat
A5) +Speaking and Listening are included in CCSS+ all teachers should be developing oracy or thinking about the language demands reading and writing place on Ss #ELLCHAT
Sorry #ELLCHAT for not participating 100% ... this guy was born... His name is How Now. Ha ha ha! The Ss will love him! #ELL Can’t wait to read the archive!!!
A5: We used to be able to exempt newcomers from taking the ELA EOG in NC; sadly we don’t have that anymore!
Sad changes not taking into account the frustration students are facing 😖
#ellchat
#ELLCHAT A6 I want us to credit our #ELLs with the skills and knowledge they bring to the table. A S who speaks an L1 should get credit for it. A S who has taken geometry in another country should be able to place out of it. We must work with the Ss to make the rules fit them.
Sorry #ELLCHAT for not participating 100% ... this guy was born... His name is How Now. Ha ha ha! The Ss will love him! #ELL Can’t wait to read the archive!!!
A6: I think we have work to do to ensure our classes & teaching are engaging & relevant to ELLs. If they aren't motivated & connected via relationships, it's challenging to persevere to graduation #ellchat
#ELLCHAT A6) I personally think HS requirements as a whole need to be revamped. More access to Tech schools! Rethinking hours for classes for ELs that work!
A5: Thankfully, CA no longer has an exit exam. It is only the one-size-fits-all grad req'ts. Sadly, most of mine can't qualify for #SealOfBiliteracy bc #competency#exams unavailable in their home language (but a slacker sitting through 4 yrs of HS French or Spanish can) #ELLCHAT
A5 Oh Here’s a worser problem w/ regulations: State regs require kindergarten entry assessment. These are only available in English, so principals mistakenly believe this means young children have to be fluent in Eng. to enter K successfully. No. The TESTS are wrong. #ELLCHAT
A lot of this kind of regulation seems to come from a combination of generalized goodwill and a lack of specific understanding of our Ss' situations. When we paint Ss with too broad a brush, no one wins... #ELLCHAT
A6 Create more avenues for students to connect with peers, teachers, and staff. Allow students to play a role in designing their education
Prioritize family engagement to help parents Provide flexible education options for older students who need to work #ELLCHAT
A6) I would like to see more innovation in teaching for ELs. Thematic teaching needs a place in HS, collaborative grouping on authentic activities/assessments should be required part of units. #ELLCHAT
A6) better guidance counseling for #ELL w/true GUIDANCE (from proper training 4 ELL) but my biggest is better teaching of ELLs by Content Area Ts.There is an epidemic of math,science etc Ts not knowing how 2properly grade &BELIEVE ELLs know content which hinders grades. #ELLCHAT
A6: Empowerment! A diploma does NOT guarantee success - empowerment and self motivated leads to one digging deep for potential and find passion for success.
Our #ELLs need/must be empowered before they step out of our schools
#ellchat
Thank you for another useful and uplifting #ELLCHAT, @KarenNemethEdM and @judiehaynes! Our students may not know we are here, but this helps us be there for them...
