Herkimer's Helpful Hints
Helpful hints to engage your ELL learners in your classroom
STAAR
Time to shine: STAARs are here!
While tests have increasing importance, they are just one measure of student learning, so try to keep the process in perspective. If you remain calm, chances are your students will probably feel calmer, too.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/assessment/take_out_pencils.htm
http://www.nea.org/tools/fighting-stress-teaching-to-Test.html
What I learned from Dr. Stephen Krashen
Language Acquisition
I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference about Effective Second Language Acquisition with Dr. Stephen Krashen. Bottom-line of his message in support of second language acquisition is reading! He encourages Free Voluntary Reading, based on studies and evidence that show that those who do more recreational reading, demonstrate better development in reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary for first and second language acquisition.
If you have not heard or read anything from him before, as an ESL/bilingual teacher you must check his work. His website is a compilation of his articles and books on language acquisition and you may access them right away.
SIOP
SIOP Tidbits
April Focus
Component 8: Review & Assessment
Throughout the lesson, and especially at the end, it is important to determine how well students have understood and have retained key vocabulary and content concepts. The determination of whether to move on or offer additional instruction and support is the key to effective assessment and instruction. It is important to assess student learning and effective teaching. Under this component, effective sheltered instruction involves the following features:
27. Comprehensive review of key vocabulary
28. Comprehensive review of key content concepts
29. Regular feedback to students on their output
30. Assessment of student comprehension and learning of all lesson objectives (e.g., spot checking, group response) throughout the lesson
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Adapted from Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners, The SIOP Model by Jana Echevarria, Mary Ellen Vogt and Deborah J. Short.
More SIOP on Pinterest
Technology
Technology Integration
Check these 65 Free-Interactive Whiteboard Resources and have your SmartBoard be part of your daily classroom routine.
http://www.teachhub.com/free-interactive-whiteboard-resources
21st Century Education
21st Century Education
Even though not a short read, is interesting to learn about the "Patterns of Innovation": what 21st Century Learning Environments look like:
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/exemplars/P21_Patterns_of_Innovation_Final.pdf
Parent Engagement
Parent Engagement
More than 40 years of research shows when families and schools work together, student achievement increases, and schools improve.
It is very important to continue reaching-out for our students' parents. Our partnership with them do make a different in their child's education.
Contact Me
Language Acquisition Specialist
Homestead Elementary: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 469-713-5181
Polser Elementary: Tuesday and Thursday 469-713-5978
Email: herkimerd@lisd.net
Twitter: @DeniseHerkimer