Supporting English Learners
March 2021
Women's History Book Considerations
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx by: Jonah Winter
For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by Rebecca Langston-George
I am Michelle Obama: The First Lady by Margina Graham Parker
Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee
Frida by Jonah Winter by Johah Winter
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller
Monthly ESOL Webinar Dates!
March 23rd
April 27th
All webinars will start at 9:00 am!
KELPA Updates!
KELPA Testing Window----- February 15, 2021 through March 31, 2021
- Four domains: reading, speaking, listening, writing K-12
- No exemption. Required for all identified ELL students
- The window for hand scoring the speaking and writing items is by February 15—April 20, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.
- Those students who arrive after 4/01/20 exempted from ELA assessment, but they must take KELPA. No exemption in science or math.
- KELPA Technology practice is available !
- KELPA Examiner's Manual can be found here!
- DTC KELPA Trainings can be found here!
- KELPA Scoring Manual can be found here!
- KELPA Scoring Videos Available Now!
*January 15th is a typo. It should say January 12th.
*SC Codes are due by April 16th, not March 25th.
Where to Find Things for KELPA!
Who Can Administer the KELPA?
Goal Setting for KELPA
Each year, most of us sit down to set some type of goal we want to accomplish for that year and I am sure you set classroom goals with your students often. So, why should the KELPA be any different? In an effort to help you and your students prepare for the KELPA, I am providing you with a sample goal sheet that can be completed with students. Having students actually write out their goals and talk about it with their teachers can be so impactful.
Consider reading this article, Goal Setting with English Learners and Multilingual Students
Please note: Teachers do not have to use any of these of course, but this could be a resource.
Language Grow and Glow Goal Sheet
KELPA Goal Sheet- Lower grades
KELPA Goal Sheet- Lower grades 2
KELPA Goal Sheet- Middle grades
What Every ESOL Admin Must Know about ESSER II Funding
Your district will soon receive its ESSER II stimulus funding which must be spent before September, 2023. Allowable uses of the funds are generally the same as for the CARES Act funding released in March, but now explicitly include:
“Addressing learning loss among students, including low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care, of the LEA.”
*Be sure to inquire with your district about how these funds might help propel your ESOL Programs forward!*
Adopt a Classroom Campaign for K-2
Lectura Books is launching a new campaign to provide one lucky classroom of students with a collection of books for home. Each student will receive 6 Leveled Readers in English or Spanish. Certified teachers can enter to win for their students. Certified K-2 teachers throughout the USA are eligible to sign up to win 6 FREE Leveled Readers for each of their students in English or Spanish. A winner will be announced on Easter Sunday, April 4th at 12:00 pm via email, twitter, Facebook. Forward this to your teacher friends!
ESOL/ Bilingual Job Opportunities?
KSDE Presents: Virtual ESOL PD
Beth Skelton, will be providing her final workshop of a four part series. This final workshop will be an online 90 minute workshop geared towards taking language learning to new heights and empower educators by giving them the necessary tools to do so. Below, you will find the last FREE session being offered and registration link. I hope you will take the time to participate in the awesome upcoming professional development provided by KSDE!
Monday, April 12, 2021
Teaching Language through STEAM Competencies
4-5:30 pm
Register Here
Spotlight YOUR school/district!
If your school or district is doing something awesome that you want to share with others in Kansas, please send your pictures (with descriptions) to nprimm@ksde.org and I will spotlight your happenings in the next month's newsletter.
*In addition, if you would like to see something added to the newsletter, please send your suggestions to nprimm@ksde.org as well!
Professional Development: Online for Free!
Ballard & Tighe Presents: Strategies to Accelerate Language Acquisition for English Learners
March 2 | 2:00 pm- 2:30 pm CST
Register here
Culturally Responsive Instruction in a Blended Learning Environment
Wednesday, Mar. 3 @ 4 pm ET
Saddleback Presents: Language Deprivation in Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Mar 4, 2021 02:00 PM CST
Leading for Equity: Are All the Children Well? How One School District Is Using a Social Justice Lens to Respond to That Question
Thursday, Mar. 4 @ 4 pm ET
Professional Development Opportunities, At a Cost!
Beyond Envisioning Equity: Situating Teacher of Color Voices
Virtually-March 5-6, 2021
9 am - 4 p.m.
This conference will allow us to enter into exciting conversations about how our educational spaces address the recruitment, preparation, retention, and induction of teachers of color (TOCs). This conference brings together the most prominent voices in the field whose experiences, research, and professional insights shed light on policies and praxis that can inform our next steps toward educational equity.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the screening of BESITOS, the College of Education documentary that graduated more than 100 teachers of color.
Please utilize the following link to access the registration. Early bird registration ends February 14th:) https://bit.ly/Beyond-Envisioning
Writing for Long Term English Learners with Beth Skelton
Begins March 15th
Long Term English Learners (LTELs) make up an increasing percentage of all secondary English Learners in the United States. This second course in the LTEL pathway provides writing strategies designed to lift LTELs into higher levels of language proficiency and help them write complex, grade level texts for multiple purposes across the curriculum. The course is for all content area teachers who work with intermediate level language learners in Grades 4-12.
Register here
Virtual TESOL 2021
March 24th-27th
Registration for the TESOL 2021 Convention will open the week of November 16th
More information, here
2021 CARLA Summer Institute Program for Language Teachers
It is time to sign up for a CARLA Summer Institute! Join the more than 6,700 language educators who have participated in this acclaimed professional development program. CARLA Summer Institutes fill quickly, so register early. CARLA offers a wide range of institutes targeted at foreign/world language, ESL/EFL, heritage language, and immersion educators from a variety of teaching levels and contexts. All fifteen of the 2021 CARLA Summer Institutes will be taught online in either an asynchronous or synchronous format. See the full line-up online.
Register here
Register by April 30 to save $50
Approved Kansas Colleges and Universities Offering ESOL Endorsement Courses
Kansas is ALWAYS looking for more ESOL Endorsed teachers! If you know of anyone interested in obtaining their ESOL Endorsement, here are a list of partnering universities and colleges:
Benedictine College
Bethany College
Emporia State University*
Friends University
Newman University*
Fort Hays State University*
Ottawa University*
Kansas State University*
Pittsburg State University*
McPherson College
University of Kansas*
Mid-America Nazarene University*
Washburn University
Wichita State University
*indicates online option available
Nicole Primm, EL Program Consultant
Email: nprimm@ksde.org
Website: ksde.org
Location: 900 Southwest Jackson Street, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 296-5060
Twitter: @Kansas_ELs