Our mission for our 21st century chat is to create a positive 21st century learning environment for our students by sharing resources and ideas that has worked in our classrooms. Join us every Sunday from 8:00-9:00 PM (EST) on Twitter using the hashtag #21stedchat. All are welcome!
Welcome to #21stedchat w/ @dprindle and I. Tonight’s topic: Discussing English Language Learners. We will be using the abbreviation ELL = English Language Learners to help with characters. We will also do Q & A format. PLS introduce yourself.
A1. I have ELL students in my monthly library classes and during open check out. We have signage in Spanish (most of ELL population at my school) and use Google Translate. I am excited to learn some strategies tonight! #UMEdTech#EDL577UM#21stedchat
A1 My Ss are all ELs so in the same class I have students at different levels of lang acquisition. I use @newsela often for reading. It allows Ss to read the same article at 5 different reading levels. I also allow a great deal of choice to my students. #21stedchat
#21stedchat A1: Since I don't have a classroom of my own, I don't have any examples but from what I learned so far, there are many online resources that can help. Also, personal interactions can go a long way!
Since all students are learners- learners of content and learners of the English language, they should be actively talking to and listening to one another, processing, encoding, and replying in response to the subject. #21stedchat
We have a fairly high ELL population. So we have a dedicated ELL teacher. She helps us figure out strategies that work. I usually try to find ELL written activities online and allow the S to use google translate to help. But generally I get help from our ELL teacher. #21stedchat
A1: I have never had experience teaching ELL students, but I feel like the best way to work with ELL students would be to include visuals and use various online resources, like Google Translate. #21stedchat
A2. We are lucky enough to have 2 ELL T's at my school. I collaborate them and other teachers. They are the best resources! #UMEdTech#EDL577UM#21stedchat
#21stedchat Google translate and other websites can be very helpful, but I feel that people can be the best resources so it is important to have great knowledge of the ELL students.
A2 My go to tools are @flipgrid for oral practice, @newsela for reading and writing, and many of the @MicrosoftEDU tools because of the accessibility features such as Immersive Reader. It now includes a picture dictionary. @msonenote is a great tool as well. #21stedchat
A2: I recently discovered the website https://t.co/yNm4YtKvWA that provides teaching reading strategies for ELLs and offers book suggestions #21stedchat
A2b For practicing vocabulary and content specific topics I like to use @quizlet and @GetKahoot The students see these as games and love to participate. #21stedchat
Yes! It is important to understand that just because they do not know the language does not mean that they do not know the content. Too many people make this assumption. #21stedchat
I am being told that all ELL's are not the same - they come from diff backgrounds academically and may have to unlearn some things. Don't start with a reading book. #21stedchat
True. But it is important that we investigate to determine what they do and don't know. We can't just make the assumption that they don't know it. #21stedchat
I usually get filled in by my ELL teacher of the Ss academic background. But at time may not be all that easy. To get a transcript my wife found someone traveling to a refugee camp in Thailand a long drive from Bangkok. #21stedchat
A3a. This is a struggle for us at my school. We generally look at whether or not the student is progressing in language development not only in the content standards which is challenging because Ss exit the silent period at different rates. #21stedchat
A3a I'm not entirely sure since I have never personally experienced it, but I would say making sure that you are testing and observing enough to get an accurate representation #21stedchat
It definitely requires us Ts to get to know our students asap and track their progress in language and content. It also helps to have great communication with ESL teachers. #21stedchat
A3. I think this is where awesome ELL teachers come in. They go through research based testing/screening. I also believe this is where technology is great! Materials can be given in native language to determine if it's a language barrier. #UMEdTech#EDL577UM#21stedchat
A3a. We have a lot of students who fall through the cracks because we assume for so long that its a language issue. Then we end up with 4th and 5th graders who haven't progressed since K or 1st. And then realize that there is a larger issue. #21stedchat
A3: I don't have experience with either of these terms but I know that learning about them and researching them now will help me in my future classroom #21stedchat
A3 This is one of the most difficult challenges 4 teachers. On occassion I know that a S has issues that go well beyond lang but have 2 wait b4 the student can be tested. The other side of that coin is that Ss sometimes get placed in sp ed bc they don't speak English. #21stedchat
And the way SPED / ELL laws are . written it is very hard to qualify a ELL for SPED services. Their numbers %age wise are drastically lower than those of their Eng speaking peers. #21stedchat
A4: Interpreters are a must. Google translate is not perfect and doesn't have all the languages. In many cultures the school is always right and they may not advocate for their Ss. #21stedchat
A3b As with most modifications the best one is the one that helps the individual S to succeed. Each S is different & as professionals we have 2 make decisions on what will help each S. This can be translations, modified reading levels, reduced vocab demands, etc. #21stedchat
A4: Our district provides access to a phone line where we can call and they can provide an interpreters over the phone for us to communicate. Having about 25 native languages represented at my school, this allows us to communicate with parents. #21stedchat
A4: once again, technology can be super useful when talking to parents who are also learning english, also learning a few words in their language can be a great divider of the wall that seperates #21stedchat
A4 Have you tried face-to-face parent/teacher meetings at a neutral site (not school where they are intimidated or their home where they would want to clean) and communicate through translation apps? #21stedchat
A4: I think that having access to an interpreter or an outside source that speaks their language would be the best way to communicate with parents of ELL students. If you don't have access to a translator, a translation website or technology would work best. #21stedchat
A4 I just learned recently that @Seesaw has a tool to communicate with parents in different languages. @mstranslator is another tool that can be used to translate documents as well as Google Translate. #21stedchat
I absolutely agree with you. Showing parents that we are making an effort to communicate with them in their language, as little as it may be, goes a long way! #21stedchat
I think this is a huge digital divide issue that schools need to try to help with. Many schools have worked with network providers to offer low cost ($10/month) internet access to families such as these. #EDL577UM#UMEdTech#21stedchat
In reply to
@dprindle, @loliveira55, @Seesaw, @mstranslator
Q5: NO! Research shows that academic language takes 5-7 years or longer to acquire. They could be tested but schools should not be held accountable for their scores. #21stedchat
A5. This shouldn't be based on time but progress. Depending on where ELLs are when they come to us will depend on how long it takes for them to get to this level. #EDL577UM#UMEdTech#21stedchat
A5 Currently they are afer they have been in the country for one year. Some accomodations such as extra time are allowed but in my state if a student uses the accomodation on the SAT test they won't count the scores. That just isn't right. #21stedchat
A5: I definitely do not think that ELL students should be expected to be held to the same testing standards as regular education students. I know that if I were in their shoes and I had to take a test after only knowing a language two years, I would not perform well. #21stedchat
A5: In my opinion, 2 yrs is not enough for them to learn the needed academic vocabulary they need to be successful in standardized testing. It takes 5-7 years to develop that vocabulary. In TX, ss can receive linguistic accommodations to offset that disadvantage. #21stedchat
#21stedchat Q5: I don't think so because their schooling experience is much different than regular education students' experience. Each individual will take a different amount of time when learning a new language.
Q6. What is a take-away that you had from tonight’s #21stedchat
Thank you for joining! Make sure to follow and recognize the educators that have most helped you grow professionally!
A5: Every student's situation and leearning progress is different, I do not think it is fair to set a specific amount of time for every ELL student #21stedchat
A6: I learned so many things about a special ed topic I previously knew very little about and am excited to continue to grow my knowledge on this topic using the resources everyone shared! #21stedchat
#21stedchat A6: One takeaway that I have from tonight's chat is that I still have a lot to learn about ELL students before I enter the classroom in a few years. Thank you all for the resources!
They can take the test on the computer and it has pretty advanced features, like rollovers with pictures and definitions for certain words, simplified vocabulary on demand, etc. They can't exit the LEP program until they meet the standard w/o accommodations #21stedchat
RT: Q6। तपाईले आज राति # 21 औं मिनेटमा गरेको थियो कि एक टेक टाढा हो
सामेल हुनको लागि धन्यवाद! सबै भन्दा धेरै शिक्षकहरू छन् जसले तपाईलाई व्यावसायिक रूपमा बढ्न मद्दत पुर्याउन र पहिचान गर्न निश्चित गर्नुहोस्! #21stedchat ;-)
A6: Use all the resources possible, one size doesn't fit all. I'm very thankful to have awesome ELL professionals in my school! #EDL577UM#UMEdTech#21stedchat
A6: Thank you all for sharing your knowledge! I learned a lot about ELL students, but I definitely need to continue learning. In my future classroom, I will be sure not to overlook or give up on these students.
#21stedchat
A6 It takes more than regulations to help ELs. As with all students caring teachers who put the students' needs first are the best supports that students can have. #21stedchat
A6: From tonight's #21stedchat I learned that all students are different and need different accommodations. There is a lot that I need to learn still about ELL students so that I know the best way to accommodate them and their families when I am a teacher in the future.
