Launched an amazing instructional impacting book study on Unlocking English Learners’ Potential with our incredible ELD teachers. So excited to learn together! #successtps@SupportEduc#ellchat
Good evening #ELLCHAT It’s time for our discussion about the hidden curriculum - the things new students need to understand to get along and succeed. This is an extra challenge for ELLs. Are you ready?
Hi! I'm Kanako, I work as a 4th grade EAL Specialist at an international school in Vietnam. Excited to learn about and discuss the hidden curriculum. #ellchat
A1) Hi! I'm Kanako, I work as a 4th grade EAL Specialist at an international school in Vietnam. Excited to learn about and discuss the hidden curriculum. #ellchat#ellchat
A1) What is the hidden curriculum? It encompasses characteristics of schooling that “everybody knows.” It consists of social skills, such as interactions with peers and teachers, and includes the fundamental values and beliefs of a school community. #ELLCHAT
A2) Hidden curriculum is often found within the formal curriculum of a school; this may be partially in what is not taught. i.e. if most of the books read featured white protagonists. #ELLCHAT
A2) Areas of hidden curriculum in our schools that mold perspectives of students are issues such as gender, morals, social class, stereotypes, cultural expectations, politics, and language. #ELLCHAT
A2 The “hidden curriculum” in high school can be everything from how to apply to college to what a pep rally is and how to open a locker. Things that American teens may have been prepping for over the years that can be all new to newcomers #ELLCHAT
A2-The “hidden curriculum” I often see is that “EL” means intervention courses. I have seen few instances where consistent “intervention” led to long term educational fulfillment and success #ellchat
A2: Some challenges in the curriculum for my EL's are that the curriculum does not represent them, their culture, their customs, their view, their beliefs. So not only do they have to learn the content but also have to learn the mainstream culture and make sense of it. #ELLCHAT
A2) Although our school is an international school and we embrace diversity in students and the community, the majority of the teachers are white, native English speakers, and our support staff (TA/cleaners/office staff) are locals. #ellchat
Even though I work at a newcomer school, there are many mundane things that will be totally unknown to my students. Basics such as computer use will be considered as a skill all of them know, but reality is different. #ellchat
A2 The “hidden curriculum” in high school can be everything from how to apply to college to what a pep rally is and how to open a locker. Things that American teens may have been prepping for over the years that can be all new to newcomers #ELLCHAT
A2 Yes. People think this is just a nicety - but there is plenty of research showing students learn better when they see themselves and make cultural connections to models and content. #ELLCHAT
I think that we are all collectively getting better at this. If we know fellow colleagues that work somewhere where this is not the case it’s essential that we advocate for the integration of new texts/materials or alternatives! #ELLCHAT
A2) Most of the history taught in schools contains hidden curriculum esp. when we hide from uncomfortable truths behind excuses of “the kids are too young to understand” when, in reality, the adults are just not prepared to examine other perspectives. #ELLCHAT
A2) At the elementary Level, the hidden curriculum seems to creep in with parent engagement, access to extracurricular activities, and in the literature choices. Is it also prior knowledge? #ELLCHAT
A2) Most of the history taught in schools contains hidden curriculum esp. when we hide from uncomfortable truths behind excuses of “the kids are too young to understand” when, in reality, the adults are just not prepared to examine other perspectives. #ELLCHAT
A2) Another consideration about the hidden curriculum is the ELs' lack of knowledge regarding US popular culture. Even on standardized assessments there are popular culture topics mentioned. #ellchat
A2: 10th grade ELs are expected to work on the IB MYP Personal Project independently. They are provided with a “workbook” and have to figure out what it is, how to do it, & how to write a report. #ellchat
A2 One area that's common in US #preK but other countries consider it backward: Quizzing children on the obvious like “what color is your shirt?” Must be hard to adjust to using less critical thinking :( #ELLCHAT
Reading everyone's replies about the hidden curriculum in the US make me realise how lucky and privileged I am to be at an international school and at a @ibpyp candidacy school where CRT and cultural integration / representation is valued in the planning stage. #ellchat
A3) I once worked with a 1st grade teacher. Her ELLs would come in the morning and not talk to anyone. She taught the whole class how to greet the teacher and classmates and had them practice. A little thing but so important. #ELLCHAT
A3-We send, and continually reinforce, the message that newcomers are outsiders when we fail to provide access to the nuances of our culture and norms as they are represented in the school setting #ellchat
A3 The hidden curriculum tells my newcomers, “you better catch up. This is just the way it is.” The amazing EL dept at my school is trying to adapt the school to our students instead of the other way around, but this is a challenge #ELLCHAT
A3 The hidden curriculum tells my newcomers, “you better catch up. This is just the way it is.” The amazing EL dept at my school is trying to adapt the school to our students instead of the other way around, but this is a challenge #ELLCHAT
A3 Part of the hidden curriculum, especially in #earlyed is to treat services for ELLs/DLLs as a “treatment” to “fix” them. We teach ELLs/DLLs how to greet and interact when we should be teaching ALL young children how to interact w/ peers who speak different languages! #ELLCHAT
A3) There are times when others don’t know that the newcomers/ELs aren’t aware of the nuances needed for success. It can make for difficult times. #ELLCHAT
A3) How many times has a colleague said to you "I think this child has a learning problem....." when no attempt has been made to teach ELLs "what everyone knows." #ellchat
A3 I wrote New Words, New Friends and Nuevas Palabras, Nuevos Amigos to help all children equally learn how to communicate across languages - not just the ELLs/DLLs! https://t.co/Dhx5X9np0g#ELLCHAT
Yessssss! OR they don’t know how to do x, y, z—when it hasn’t even been explicitly taught to them or even INTRODUCED! We must shift from deficit to ASSET mindsets!!!
#ELLCHAT
A3) How many times has a colleague said to you "I think this child has a learning problem....." when no attempt has been made to teach ELLs "what everyone knows." #ellchat
Q2) Students who’ve recently arrived to the US come with their own rules for social interactions. They must navigate a new and complicated system on their own to determine what is normal behavior while the rules they once knew to be universal are being broken. #ellchat
A3 Yes, and add to that: In the U.S., when we talk about the benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy, we seem to only intend that for children who started with a non-English languages. Do we want LESS for those starting w/ English #ELLCHAT
A4) ELLs often invade personal space (the American bubble) by standing too close. I had a 6th grade boy who constantly touched the other kids which wasn't appropriate with American Ss but was o.k. in his culture. #ELLCHAT
A4 Students are used to swearing and using deragatory slurs in L1. They say “it’s normal” & “no big deal” for them. Our dept has made an effort this year to explicitly teach that our school culture values and expects respectful and supportive language in all languages. #ELLCHAT
A4: Acceptable at home: Referencing their teacher as "Teacher"
Not accepted in school: Calling their teacher "Teacher" instead of Mr. , Ms. Mrs. #ELLCHAT
A4: Acceptable at home: Referencing their teacher as "Teacher"
Not accepted in school: Calling their teacher "Teacher" instead of Mr. , Ms. Mrs. #ELLCHAT
A4 I get in trouble when I visit my kids in London. If I make a friendly remark to a stranger like “That’s a lovely scarf!”, my kids will whisper to me “technically we are in a queue” and I’m supposed to understand no chatting is allowed when lined up for anything. #ELLCHAT
A2. That is what makes such a diverse problem, we as teachers need to understand their socially acceptable norms and try to help them understand the value and what is acceptable in our society. The universal rules are not be broken just modified. #ellchat, #edfb4338
Yes! Or when they think a student has a behavior problem because he/she walked out the room to go to restroom. Well, nobody explained to such student the expected behavior.
The reason an EL may sit quietly in the back and not do anything is not because they don’t know the answer, or don’t care, but rather because they know the teacher doesn’t really care (at least enough to have higher expectations) #ELLCHAT
A2 The hidden curriculum can also include school behavior norms that are especially challenging to SIFE and older students. I have 18-22 yr olds who’ve been on their own for years. They have a hard time adjusting to new rules and understanding why they need to follow them#ELLCHAT
A2- procedures, what makes a "good character", not seeing self reflected in staff at school, in what holidays and celebrations are valued. *head starts thinking of everything and explodes* #ELLCHAT
A4 As if the ‘hidden curriculum’ expectations aren’t enough, sometimes teachers have expectations that they don’t realize are just their personal taste! No, it is NOT necessary to call adults “sir” or “ma’am”. just some people like that. #ELLCHAT
A4) My latinx students will greet each other with a hug or kiss on the cheeks, which will be frowned upon by my Asian and African Ss. On the other hand, my Asian and African Ss from same sex will hold hands while walking, which, sadly, has been criticized by Ts. #ellchat
Q5) Do you teach the hidden curriculum directly or hope that ELLs will acquire socially appropriate behavior and language simply by being with native English speakers? #ellchat
Great comments y’all. I gotta get on the road. I’m on the top left of Florida and need to make it to the middle a little South for my flight to #WIDA2018#ellchat Have a great night!
A5: When you put it like that, it's obvious we need to be explicitly teaching the hidden curriculum! I think trick is being cognizant of what isn't so obvious to ELLs. #ELLChat
A5) Definitely teach explicitly-same with code-switching. Giving students the map to find the hidden curriculum is the key to them being able to navigate through new expectations. #ELLCHAT
Q5) Do you teach the hidden curriculum directly or hope that ELLs will acquire socially appropriate behavior and language simply by being with native English speakers? #ellchat
A5) I don't think a lot of this is written out to guide us. The old TESOL K-12 Standards had a social language component but that was dropped in subsequent documents. #ELLCHAT
A5: When you put it like that, it's obvious we need to be explicitly teaching the hidden curriculum! I think trick is being cognizant of what isn't so obvious to ELLs. #ELLChat
A5) There is no way to cover it all. I try to help new students connect with as many people as possible in school who can be helpful. There should be a reasonable expectation that we all adapt as our environment changes. #ellchat
A5) It has to be a combination of both, teaching directly and learning by association. More important is for Ts to be aware that not all the Ss are middle/high class suburban monolingual "American" students. #ellchat
A5 I think it’s important to explicitly teach things kids need for school success. But I don’t try to get them to change harmless cultural habits. Often it’s teachers and schools that need to adapt #ellchat
A5) I spend a lot of time teaching ELLs how to give and receive compliments, to thank someone for something, to ask directions, and to make small talk. #ellchat
A5: I teach it but I also know that some of the social norms and behaviors will come with assimilation. Ex. once a week, a staff member tell jokes during the morning announcements. Many of my students do not understand the jokes, so I try my make that a teachable moment. #ELLCHAT
A5) Role playing, teacher modeling, peer modeling, and video are all good tools for teaching social skills. Also have students learn how to observe their peers for models of correct behavior. #ELLCHAT
A5) I spend a lot of time teaching ELLs how to give and receive compliments, to thank someone for something, to ask directions, and to make small talk. #ellchat
A5: I teach it, but I also know that some of the social norms and behaviors will come with assimilation. Once a week, a staff member tells jokes during the morning announcements. Many of my students do not understand the jokes, so I try to make that a teachable moment. #ELLCHAT
A5) I work with EL1 peers of young ELs but in MS & HSsI feel like an outsider too. I offer explicit advice when a behavior is not acceptable, but try to avoid pushing students to sacrifice too much of their identities for short term gains. #ellchat
A5- a little bit of both? Aspects that will make school navigation or participation easier (ex- in a group discussion this is how we do,what do we do when we have a playground problem)#ELLCHAT
A5) holidays and traditions encountered in school are one place I have taught hidden curriculum, how to act, what to expect, what is acceptable #ELLCHAT
A6) I provide PD to practicing teachers. I find this conversation hard: what is the saying? A fish doesn't recognize the water in which it swims. I have a difficult time facilitating conversations around this point. #ELLCHAT
A6). Preview it like you would for all and then PREVIEW it again. Adaptations are necessary, front loading is necessary, this does not equal decreasing RIGOR! Challenge students, they can do it!
DIfferentiate for students! ELs & EVERYONE ELSE too!
#ELLCHAT
A6 #ELLCHAT The most important thing is to get to know your students well. You will have a better sense of what needs to be explicitly taught. Dialogue journals have helped me address student questions about this hidden curriculum or bring it to their attention.
A6) Until our students have the language & confidence to advocate for themselves, it is up to teachers to make space and accommodate their norms by learning what might cause discomforte so they don’t have to figure out ALL the rules through trial & error #ELLChat
