ELD Weekly Bulletin
Title III/ELD Listserv - Week of May 18th, 2015
Help English Language Learners Build Background Knowledge in the Classroom
It’s not uncommon for there to be a mismatch between classroom content and students’ background knowledge and experiences. I was recently reminiscing on my days spent in the classroom, I am reminded of an “ah-ha moment” when I fully grasped the importance of building background and creating context for my English Language Learners. It was during a fourth grade social studies lesson on early economics. One of my students, Jenny, was an intermediate English learner and she was completely stuck on this constructed response question: Is Joey’s money better spent on a $12 movie theater ticket or a $4 DVD rental?
Guiding Questions to Identify Areas that Need Background Knowledge
Celebrate Mariachi in Tulsa PS
Music from Mariachi Tulsa and food from El Refugio Azteca foodtruck. Come meet local teachers who support Mariachi in our schools and bring your talents and ideas. Saied Music wants to help teacher introduce Mariachi programs in our schools and into the community.
Mariachi Flyer - English
Mariachi Flyer - Spanish
ACCESS for ELLs Score Report Survey
The online survey for ACCESS for ELLs Score Report Survey is now available! The goal of this survey is to collect input from K-12 ELL teachers on the content and design of the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs score reports. The data collected from this survey will be used to inform enhancements to future WIDA score reports. The survey will be available until May 31, 2015. Take the survey now.
Oklahoma State Testing Program Needs ELD Teachers!
The Office of Assessments at the State Department of Education, is seeking English Language Development (ELD)/English Language Learner(ELL) teachers to be a part of the upcoming Grades 3-8 and End-of-Instruction (EOI) Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests (OCCT) Standards Settings, Blueprint Writing, Content/Bias Reviews, and Performance Level Descriptors Writing Committees.
To ensure an adequate representation of educators from around Oklahoma is selected, district personnel should submit the names of highly qualified teachers (teachers may also self-nominate, to include 1 reference) in Grades 3-8 Reading, Math, Writing, Science, Social Studies, Geography, and U.S. History and EOI Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English II, English III, Biology I, and U.S. History. Educators with experience teaching any of these grade levels or core subject areas with English Language Learners, is highly encouraged to apply. This is a VALUABLE opportunity for English Language Learner (ELL) instructional/assessment needs, to become a part of the state committee process.
Attached is the invitation letter submitted by Craig Walker, Office of Assessments, OSDE. At the bottom of the letter, is a “link” to either nominate or self-nominate a teacher. If your job title is ELD/ELL teacher only, you’ll need to describe your teaching position on the application, by clicking the “Other” box and list ELL.
Please direct any specific questions about the committees or process to Craig Walker, craig.walker@sde.ok.gov.
For ELD Teachers interested in participating in the development of new science assessments:
The Office of Assessment is seeking ELL certified teachers from your area (expertise in science) for a June meeting to participate in the development of new science assessments. The committee will be June 9th,10th, and the 11th. If you have any personnel that may be interested please forward this e-mail to them. Details concerning the committee are below.
Committee members will receive an honorarium of $150 per day for meeting participation, for a total of $450 for a three day commitment. Committee members that live more than 65 miles from OKC will be provided a hotel room. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Thank you for your consideration of this VALUABLE opportunity to be a part of the OSDE process on behalf of English Language Learners in Oklahoma. Please share this opportunity with other ELD/ELL contacts.
Why it’s a school’s problem when a parent doesn’t speak English
While the number of students growing up in families who don’t speak English is increasing in the suburbs, the schools aren’t always as equipped as their urban counterparts to meet the demands of a more diverse student body.
A new Center for American Progress report calls on schools to provide English language instruction not only to the children they serve, but to the parents of those students as well.
ESL Certification Test Online Module - Update
Hello Teachers,
This is to just let you know that the Oklahoma Online ESL Certification Preparation Course is now complete and ready to go. Of course, there might be small edits or enhancements as time goes on (especially with your feedback)- but all 10 Modules are now ready for use.
Just a reminder- The Summary Documents in each Module are the most detailed source of information and have the up-to-date descriptions of forms, assessments, and procedures that you need to know as an ESL teacher or staff supporting an ESL teacher.
The online activities give thorough information that you need to know for the test itself.
Please feel free to call or email me at the information below if you have any questions about how to access the course, if you discover there are links that do not function, or if you find any information that you find vague or contradictory.
Thank you for your patience. I look forward to your participation in the course.
Kristin Grayson, PhD
5815 Callaghan Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78238
Office: 210-444-1710
Cell: 210-241-8484
Intercultural Development Research Association
“Assuring education opportunity for every child”
Click here to access the Registration Guide for the ESL Certification Test Online Modules.
Study Opportunity for ESL Certification Test
From Dr. Brent Daigle, OSU-OKC, drbrentdaigle@praxisprep.org
Oklahoma State University at OKC is offering a workshop that provides an in-depth review of all the content and standards that are currently targeted on the CEOE Certification Exams for ESL.
Space in the workshop fills up quickly – we will have on-site registration - Please email or call me if you are interested in joining us so that I can guarantee your spot. In your email, please specify which session you would like to attend.
Here is the information for each review session:
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma State University -Oklahoma City
Student Center - 2nd Floor
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
CEOE ESL Exam Workshop: Saturday, May 30: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Individual workshop cost: $ 100
*Please note that Tulsa PS Title III cannot pay for workshop registration fees due to the notice of the workshop occurring after the district deadline for requisition submissions for the current fiscal year.
Webinar Follow-up: USDE-DOJ Guidance for Serving ELLs Overview
Title III/ELD Upcoming Events for Summer 2015:
May 28th, 1:00pm - Interpreter & Translator Training
July 20th - July 23rd - SIOP Summer Institute 2015
July 22nd, 8:30am - ELL Data Digging for School Based Teams
July 27th - 28th - ELD Summer Summit 2015
August 7th, 8:30am - KWAPT Training
August 7th, 12:30pm - WAPT Training (Elementary)
August 10th - 12th - Gómez & Gómez Dual Language Training Institute
August 13th, 8:30am - WAPT Training (Secondary)
Click here to view the Title III/ELD Calendar.