Beyond Fronteras
A Celebration of our ESC1 Bilingual Community: December 2020
On the Spotlight
Here we are already at the end of this very unusual year with our third newsletter! Running a little late, but like my dad used to say, "¡Más vale tarde que nunca!" ;)
We would love to give a shout-out to all the marvelous teachers, administrators, students, and parents who have created beautiful and enriching learning opportunities for all during this challenging time! Just think about all the new skills that we have developed together in the past few months! We have grown exponentially and it's all thanks to your willingness to be comfortable with being uncomfortable! Kuddos to you all!
Talking about enriching learning opportunities... have you noticed the incredible student talent we have in our region? It is absolutely mind-blowing! From our talented local musicians receiving national recognition like Isabella Gonzalez (Roma ISD), to full mariachi ensembles sharing beautiful traditional music on YouTube like Mariachi Oro from Edinburg North High School, hats off to you all and your teachers!
And what a better way to recognize our students and school communities than through social media! Check out the beautiful Facebook post by Dr. Kristine Garza, McAllen ISD Principal, highlighting her school participating in the amazing Netflix film "You Are My Home"! Or City of McAllen highlighting the participation of the McAllen Memorial High School band in the Christmas parade! We just have so many things to be proud of!
Thank you again to all administrators, teachers, students, and families who make this region the best in the nation. Let's keep highlighting these wonderful stories and share them with the world! If we don't tell our stories, then who will?! Let's be loud and proud about what makes us so unique an special in this beautiful border region!
¡Mil gracias y les deseamos unas muy felices fiesta decembrinas!
KChapa :)
Virtual Learning Tips, by Claudia Coronado
A way to enhance the learning experience in online classrooms is by chunking lessons into smaller digestible pieces. Online learning requires high mental effort to process information; therefore, a learner can only deal with a few concepts simultaneously. Instead of preparing a lecture, teachers must consider planning several small ones, each covering a single idea. In order to give students additional time to process material, alternate high and low intensity activities. Some tools that may assist students process materials are the breakout rooms and the chat, available in zoom and Google Meets. Incorporating brain breaks regularly throughout the school day is also important to support students' attention span.
Multicultural Book Spotlight, by Dr. Lileana Ríos-Ledezma
Me llamo María Isabel, by Alma Flor Ada
The teacher had not looked up yet. She was making notes in a large folder where María Isabel could see a list of names. María Isabel heard quiet laughter behind her. The teacher looked up only when the noise got louder.
“Why, hello,” she said, giving María Isabel a warm smile. But it didn’t seem to make María Isabel feel more comfortable. “So you are…”
“María Isabel Salazar López,” she replied. In Spanish she would have added, “para servirle,” but she didn’t know how to say that in English. So Mária Isabel kept quiet and handed the pink slip to her teacher.
“Ah, María Lopez,” the teacher said as she read the card. “We already have two Marías in this class. Why don’t we call you Mary instead? Take a seat over there by Marta Pérez, and I’ll give you your books later.”
Alma Flor Ada captures a critical component of culture through this beautiful book, My name is María Isabel! This short, sweet chapter book describes a young girl’s challenges from recently immigrating to the United States, adjusting to a new school, and addressing how disconnected María Isabel feels to being called “Mary” by her teacher. Throughout the book, her internal struggle continues as she is unable to confide in family or friends regarding the problem.
This book not only emphasizes the importance of a name and how it is directly intertwined with identity in a variety of ways, but it also empowers the reader to consider the need to “speak up” to create change, move past the fear and into courage. This gentle story truly highlights the importance of self-identity and biculturalism, an affirmation of respect and acceptance of others and their unique culture.
~ Tips for Bilingual/ESL Teachers, by Claudia Coronado ~
The language experience approach integrates speaking, listening, reading and writing through the development of a written text based on first hand experiences. Through scaffolded talk, the teacher supports students to document experiences and ideas, using familiar and expanded vocabulary, modelling ways in which their thoughts and words can be written down and later read.
Typically, the language experience approach involves a shared experience such as everyday happenings and common school experiences. The teacher’s role in language experience is to support the student to recreate the experience orally as they capitalize on students’ interest and prompt the students to reflect on the experiences.
Afterwards, the text might be written by the teacher or by the student. As the writer, the teacher acts as a model, demonstrating how thought and words can be represented in writing as students dictate their ideas. Individual children might dictate a sentence, or a longer text might be written. Alternatively, students will write their own texts. Here, the teacher can guide students’ writing, encouraging them to understand that what they think can be said, and what they say can be written down by them or others.
What is written can now be read. As the language experience texts are relevant to the students, the opportunity to read them aloud creates a positive experience and reinforces the reciprocity between reading and writing. Texts that the students have produced based on their experiences, using familiar language make good early reading material which can be read chorally or individually.
~ Paréntesis Cultural ~
Tradiciones decembrinas, por Karina Chapa
The Bridge, por Lileana Ríos-Ledezma, PhD
Last month, we discussed how Beeman and Urrow described that The Bridge is an instructional moment teachers utilize to help students connect concepts that they have learned in one language to the other language. The table below gives you a Third Grade example on how to put this strategy into practice!
~ BILINGUAL DIRECTORS CORNER ~
Finally! 2020 is (almost) over!
Fact Sheet #3: Certifications for Serving English Learners in Texas
Individualized Reclassification Criteria for English Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Quick reminder that LPAC, in collaboration with ARD, must convene as early as possible in the year (before the first state assessment of the school year) to set up an Individualized Reclassification Criteria for EL with Significant Cognitive Disabilities. Have you verified that your LPAC/ARD have met to discuss the need for an individualized reclassification for this year? If not, you are still on time! Please feel free to find more information here.
January 13 & 27: Bilingual TExES, ESL TExES, and BTLPT Preparation Sessions
- WS# 169333: ESL TExES, January 13th
- WS# 169334: Bilingual TExES, January 13
- WS# 169332: BTLPT, January 27
December 8 and 10: Title III Effective Early Childhood Instruction for the Young English Learner
Come examine with us appropriate instructional activities Title III, Part A-funded districts may implement in order to ensure that young ELs attain high levels of academic and linguistic achievement. This training is offered free of charge to all ESC1 districts. To download the flyer, click here and register for WS# 164922 today!
Title III Courses Now Available at ESC1
~ UPCOMING EVENTS ~
- WS# 171278 TIII SSA Districts: Listening and Speaking Training (Summit K12): 12/8 9AM
- WS# 164922 TIII Effective Early Childhood Instruction for the Young EL: 12/8 and 12/10 1-4PM
- TEA Webinar RDA EL Self-Assessment for LEAs: 12/9 1:30PM
WS# 154102 Bilingual Directors Meeting: 12/15 9AM-12PM
- WS# 164931 TIII Course FREE ESL TExES Preparation Session 01/12 9AM-4PM
- RGV-TABE Virtual Conference: 01/22-23 (be one of the first 300 participants registered and receive a free t-shirt!)
Contact Us
Karina E. Zuno-Chapa, M.Ed.
Director of Language Proficiency, Biliteracy, and Cultural Diversity
956-984-6246
Claudia Coronado, M.Ed.
Bilingual/ESL Specialist
956-984-6246
Niranda Flores, M.Ed.
Bilingual/ESL Specialist
956-984-6158
Lileana Ríos-Ledezma, PhD
Bilingual/ESL Specialist
956-984-6153
Diana Gonzalez
Program Assistant
956-984-6238
Email: kchapa@esc1.net
Website: www.esc1.net/bilingual
Location: 1900 West Schunior Street, Edinburg, TX, USA
Phone: 956-984-6246
Facebook: facebook.com/ESC1Bilingual
Twitter: @esc1bilingual