Good morning #hacklearning! I'm Aubrey, an ed tech specialist from Colorado, and I'm excited to co-moderate this chat with @hackmylearning. In my spare time, I hang out with some awesome ELL families originally from Burma.
Good morning #HackLearning ... Happy Labor Day weekend!
Sylvia, Writing Coach @BrandonHSEagles ... moderator of the #HackLearning slow chat each week 😍 In honor of LD, Q1 will drop in on Tuesday 🤩
Stacie from Georgia. Good morning! May read more than talk. We have a large number of non English speaking students in our school who refuse services. It’s very challenging! #HackLearning
Morning, #hacklearning. I'm Brian. I teach middle-school students English in Colorado. With calendar flipped to September & baseball stakes rising, what better time to get hacky...
A1: You have to meet them where they’re at. Body language and facial expression is 80% of communication. Don’t treat them like they’re incompetent. #HackLearning
A1 One thing to consider is the difficulty of communication. Google translate doesn't take into consideration cultural nuances and it's easy to be misunderstood. #hacklearning
A1: Someone I always turn to and is a huge support for EL communication and leadership is @jnoorjan - lucky enough to interview her and learned a ton, so wanted to share. #hacklearninghttps://t.co/CSoXa0mrOZ
A1: Their perception & experience of "school" might be very different than your own. More than just language barriers, the basic structures of our schools (grades, assessment, etc) may look very different in their culture. #hacklearning
A1: Fams who do not speak English may be nervous about communicating w the school or attending events bc they’re worried about not understanding/being able to communicate.This doesn’t mean they don’t care - it means we need to be more welcoming/inclusive/proactive. #hacklearning
A1: We cannot ignore the sense of uncertainty, fear, and anxiety that the language barrier creates--on both sides. Empathy is essential in schools #hacklearning
A1) Simple as it may sound-we need to make sure that our main offices are welcoming and that we’re inviting families in with a smile. A smile crosses all language barriers! 😀#HackLearning
A1 Things to consider when working with families who speak a different language: ways to communicate the happenings at school via letter, email, newsletters, interviews. Many translation tools available now 😀#hacklearning
A1 The goal is the build a trusting relationship with the WHOLE family. Making sure we take the time to know the families stories. Sometimes that can happen at school but sometimes you need to go visit with them at their home. #HackLearning
A1: @MsSalvac writes a lot of great stuff too. I know I am sharing other people, but their work has shaped my thinking and wanted to pass it on #hacklearning
A1: Fams who do not speak English may be nervous about communicating w the school or attending events bc they’re worried about not understanding/being able to communicate.This doesn’t mean they don’t care - it means we need to be more welcoming/inclusive/proactive. #hacklearning
A1 The goal is the build a trusting relationship with the WHOLE family. Making sure we take the time to know the families stories. Sometimes that can happen at school but sometimes you need to go visit with them at their home. #HackLearning
A1: We cannot ignore the sense of uncertainty, fear, and anxiety that the language barrier creates--on both sides. Empathy is essential in schools #hacklearning
A1 Myquestion is always what can I do to break down the language barrier? What is culturally appropriate so I can change my behavior to meet need of family ? #HackLearning
A1 Communcation is the big one for me here. Many times, the student has to translate and do the communicating between parent and teacher. Also, there are cultural differences that must be respected. #hacklearning
A1: There are a lot of thoughts & feelings that can come with feeling like an "outsider". Check out this blog post for one student's experience: https://t.co/6WtFcFjdjo#hacklearning
A1 Inclusive!! All posters are printed in English & Spanish, class videos have sub captions, & students who are struggling & need translations, I setup the @GoogleTranslate app for #AR translation #HackLearning
I usually cover my mouth (in a thinking style) and take 5-10 steps as I too contemplate the answer ... I am transparent so my sts know what I am doing too ☺️ #HackLearning
A1 The goal is the build a trusting relationship with the WHOLE family. Making sure we take the time to know the families stories. Sometimes that can happen at school but sometimes you need to go visit with them at their home. #HackLearning
Sometimes, I think that it is easy to assume a subconscious attitude of superiority - my culture is better than yours. Respecting their culture is huge for relationships. #HackLearning
I often cover my mouth in a thinking style then take 5-10 steps so that we all can contemplate ... I am also transparent so my sts know what I am doing #HackLearning
Curious what proportion of today's #hacklearning chatters speak languages besides English, whether primarily or additionally. (I'm testing hypothesis that those voices are underrepresented in this venue. Thx for chiming in as willing.) All I've got's rusty 2ndary school French.
A2: #GoogleTranslate is huge for breaking down language barriers!
Ask how they wanted to be contacted - phone/note/email? Is there a contact person who can act as a translator? #hacklearning
Curious what proportion of today's #hacklearning chatters speak languages besides English, whether primarily or additionally. (I'm testing hypothesis that those voices are underrepresented in this venue. Thx for chiming in as willing.) All I've got's rusty 2ndary school French.
A1 Consider the fact they may be nervous because they want to fully understand the message but may misinterpret if we do not provide info in their language. #hacklearning
Unknowing educators alienate families because they dishonor cultural differences. Things like eye contact are not the same in all cultures. Learn about others rather than force them to conform to your beliefs. #HackLearning
Depending on age of students, I've also seen older siblings in this role. So, knowing family structure/dynamics can facilitate more efficient communication. #hacklearning
A1 Communcation is the big one for me here. Many times, the student has to translate and do the communicating between parent and teacher. Also, there are cultural differences that must be respected. #hacklearning
A1:I have used google translate 2 write emails in the native language when sending communications home. I am multilingual, so if I speak the language, I will call home and speak in that language to parents. appreciate their cultural identities. #hacklearning
Had a new student from Ecuador 2 yrs ago. Our class took a day before he came to label everything in Spanish and English. when he arrived, he was warmly welcomed, invited into peer groups, introduced to other, etc. We set the tone by working as a class community.
#hacklearning
A2: I agree with this! It really stinks that at some schools students have to keep their phones away. This tool could be so beneficial for students who need that assistance. Love that students can use translate to translate voice AND writing! #hacklearning
A2: #GoogleTranslate is huge for breaking down language barriers!
Ask how they wanted to be contacted - phone/note/email? Is there a contact person who can act as a translator? #hacklearning
A2: In our district I’ve seen many awesome things. The most impactful seems to be porch visits. Staff and Ts go to the homes of every student with a welcome bag before school begins or right at the beginning. #HackLearning
Any leftist indoctrination is #HackLearning
We’re going to remove leftist indoctrination from our schools, and being again.
Did you know 7th grade math students used to learn how to run a business? Imagine the jobs entrepreneurs would create if that were so now
Many of my go to apps have built in translation tools @Seesaw@ClassDojo@Google which really helps. My school board has many important forms, info available in many languages so I can print a letter in Cantonese or Mandarin etc., #hacklearning
Can I count Southern as a 2nd language? Otherwise, sadly, while I can read music, I only speak 1 language ... I would 💜 to hear/see the results of your theory #HackLearning (@Twitter does offer a translator for tweets) 😍
Despite all of the stress on him, he knew immediately, he was one of us, not the new kid, or the Spanish-speaking kid. He was OUR classmate. That seemed to take an enormous stress off his plate.
#hacklearning
A2) Our teachers have made home visits to share information and develop relationships. This makes family members feel more comfortable and welcome at school. #HackLearning
A2: Google translate, online ldictionaries in their language. Assignments are in both languages but only seen by the student as we use a learning management system that allows for that. #hacklearning
A2: Be sure to identify students’ home languages early on. Make sure all staff has access to that information so they can be sure to communicate with families in the appropriate language from the beginning. #hacklearning
A2 After translating your message, re-translate from the second language back to English to see how it turns out. This can give you an idea of how good/bad your translation is #hacklearning
A2 I once created an Amnesty Day poster writing “amnesty” in all the languages represented in the classroom ... very cool in that one language was not in any of my tools (an Ethiopian dialect) 😍 #HackLearning
Our students shared in our new student's learning stuggle. They learned more Spanish in two weeks than in the year because they learned to help him by letting him help them learn. A shared experience <3
#hacklearning
Can I count Southern as a 2nd language? Otherwise, sadly, while I can read music, I only speak 1 language ... I would 💜 to hear/see the results of your theory #HackLearning (@Twitter does offer a translator for tweets) 😍
A2b Many people on staff at my school are multilingual so I have asked them to speak with parents on my behalf or attend a parent meeting to help with translation #hacklearning
I play in class by speaking in various languages in class which allows ELL's to know that I appreciate cutures and languages which frees all students from judgment. What a teacher values is obvious by what she says and does. #hacklearning
A1: @ChristineBemis2 starts the year visiting families to make them feel welcome before the year starts - is show you value families and welcome them by going to them #hacklearning
A2 After translating your message, re-translate from the second language back to English to see how it turns out. This can give you an idea of how good/bad your translation is #hacklearning
We 💚 flexible spaces. Outside is a favorite learning AND recording place. Nearly 900 @DDEDolphins learners are introducing themselves @Flipgrid. Practicing tools with fun activities now will help us use those same tools to enhance content learning later. #FlipgridFever#ddestem
Great point! Ask students, staff, families, and community members for help. We don’t need to do this alone! There are people and resources around us! #HackLearning
While Spanish is the most prominent language for ELLs, there are many others. Some schools have 30+ languages spoken in one building. What an opportunity! #HackLearning
It has improved over time, but you have to be careful. The translation of "I'm full." to French is "je suis pleine" Which in French slang means "I'm pregnant." - a mistake I made once at a dinner. #hacklearning
A1: @ChristineBemis2 starts the year visiting families to make them feel welcome before the year starts - is show you value families and welcome them by going to them #hacklearning
A2 Teaching students to use web-based image searches can create a helpful, spontaneous visual dictionary. For more abstract terms, results may vary. Keeping universal design for learning (UDL) principles in mind can lead to further hacks. #hacklearning
A3: Both students & families can be invited to share about their home culture - a favorite story (LA), game (PE), food or traditional clothing (SS), photos/drawings (art), song (music), money (math), vegetation (sci), etc. So much to learn for every content area! #hacklearning
A3: Culture bags are my fav! Give every student a small paper bag to decorate. They fill it w/ 3 items from their culture - possibly pictures, flags, toys, candy, etc. A few students share a day. Teacher should definitely model & share, too! #hacklearning
A2 After translating your message, re-translate from the second language back to English to see how it turns out. This can give you an idea of how good/bad your translation is #hacklearning
Also really good to remember - I have talked to students who feel alienated even in their ELD classes because they don't speak the same native language as many of the other ELL students. #HackLearning
While Spanish is the most prominent language for ELLs, there are many others. Some schools have 30+ languages spoken in one building. What an opportunity! #HackLearning
A2 Teaching students to use web-based image searches can create a helpful, spontaneous visual dictionary. For more abstract terms, results may vary. Keeping universal design for learning (UDL) principles in mind can lead to further hacks. #hacklearning
A3 Often students come to school and share their special celebrations with us (customs, special foods, special clothes). As a whole school special celebrations are on announcements, students make announcements explaining the holiday/celebration.#hacklearning
A3: In science class, I try and find contributions and articles from diverse scientists and authors showing that our understanading of the world comes from the collective. #hacklearning
A3: Culture bags are my fav! Give every student a small paper bag to decorate. They fill it w/ 3 items from their culture - possibly pictures, flags, toys, candy, etc. A few students share a day. Teacher should definitely model & share, too! #hacklearning
A3 I ❤️ the idea of using @Flipgrid for responses ... also “all about me” posters or community building activities that help student share in a safe environment #HackLearning
A3 Tuning in a little late. I’ve had kids do mock news reports or commercials to present material. We use a remote to “turn” the channel and they present in their native language. They love it! #hacklearning
A3- i have see a map of glob with a push pin for Home country and a string to photo and QR code. When you use the QR reader. It is a video of the student giving their “story” about their background and country #HackLearning
So many great ideas already ... are you willing to continue the conversation this week? #HackLearning In honor of Labor Day - Q1 will be posted on Tuesday ... 7:30 AM EST
A3- i have see a map of glob with a push pin for Home country and a string to photo and QR code. When you use the QR reader. It is a video of the student giving their “story” about their background and country #HackLearning
A3 Tuning in a little late. I’ve had kids do mock news reports or commercials to present material. We use a remote to “turn” the channel and they present in their native language. They love it! #hacklearning
A3: This would be something I’d like to see on our school’s cross curricular day that we have; maybe a cross cultural day. We also have a lot of empty trophy case space; maybe show off some stuff from our community’s traditions. #HackLearning
Consider the issues refugee students face. Some of these students have never attended formal school and have seen devastation Americans can not imagine. That is likely to impact how they feel about school. #HackLearning
A3-Community wide diversity nights that allow students, parents, and those in the surrounding neighborhoods to come to the school to share their clothing, dances, and food. Its a great way to engage the neighbors who might not have kids in the school. #hacklearning
While Spanish is the most prominent language for ELLs, there are many others. Some schools have 30+ languages spoken in one building. What an opportunity! #HackLearning
A3 We have a cultural night where various members of the school and community gather to celebrate and learn about each other’s cultures. Food, music, crafts, and much more! Huge gathering. #hacklearning
A3 New chance for me to tout book I'm currently digesting: Not Light but Fire by @mattrkay. Just finished chapter w/case study about digging deep into students' names, how to pronounce them & significance of meaning. #hacklearning
Thanks for a great chat @Ms_A_Yeh & @hackmylearning. You’ve provided me with some amazing ELL hacks this morning. Can’t wait to share with my colleagues! #hacklearning
Agreed. We've fostered refugee students, and I called one of them 'warrior queen' They have seen things no child should ever have to, and survived. #hacklearning
Consider the issues refugee students face. Some of these students have never attended formal school and have seen devastation Americans can not imagine. That is likely to impact how they feel about school. #HackLearning
A4: Have a culture map gallery walk. Everyone creates a “map”/illustration/writing that tells about their journey, interests, and background. Love this one for students and adult professional development! #hacklearning
I’d love to find a list of music links from different cultures ... is there a website or list to help with this? Music with clean lyrics 😍 #HackLearning
A3 Tuning in a little late. I’ve had kids do mock news reports or commercials to present material. We use a remote to “turn” the channel and they present in their native language. They love it! #hacklearning
A3- i have see a map of glob with a push pin for Home country and a string to photo and QR code. When you use the QR reader. It is a video of the student giving their “story” about their background and country #HackLearning
Safety is key. Some students may be undocumented or have other reasons they are nervous to share their stories. Have to build a safe environment for all. #HackLearning
A3: Have a culture map gallery walk. Everyone creates a “map”/illustration/writing that tells about their journey, interests, and background. Love this one for students and adult professional development! #hacklearning
Join #HackLearning chat September 9 at 8:30-9:00am EDT when author of Hacking Early Learning, Jessica Cabeen @jessicacabeen will be guest moderator leading chat on the "hacky" topic of Coding and Computational Thinking in the Early Grades.
Thanks, #hacklearning & moderator @Ms_A_Yeh, for spotlighting key community-building topic.
p.s. Take-away from testing my hypothesis: Reach out extra far to connect w/families of varied language backgrounds because they may be reluctant to initiate conversations.
Our elementary and middle schools do this as well. Great way to engage neighbors who may not have students in the schools and bring even more diversity and culture to the gathering. #hacklearning
A3 We have a cultural night where various members of the school and community gather to celebrate and learn about each other’s cultures. Food, music, crafts, and much more! Huge gathering. #hacklearning
A3: I have students look up where their last name comes from, they do research in to family history, learn their countries of origin, and make a native dish from one of the countries. It's a great way to celebrate families and diversity. #HackLearning
