Language & Cultural Services
LCS Bulletin - November 28, 2016
A Thanksgiving Read: Inspiring Stories of ELL Tenacity
With the start of school behind us, Thanksgiving falls at such a perfect time, providing an opportunity to recharge, spend time with friends and families, and give thanks. As we all know Thanksgiving is also in part a story of common ground and celebration. During this time of relative quiet, at least on the work front, I find my attention turning to stories of inspiration that connect to our work, and to the direction we will take as a nation.
For example, I love the story of Enkhjin Tuvshinzaya, one that is probably very familiar to educators who work with large numbers of English Language Learners. Enkshjin emigrated from Mongolia at age 8 with no formal schooling, enrolling in the public schools in Arlington, VA. With great teachers and a strong education, she was reclassified in 5th grade, later granted temporary legal status, and went on to be the valedictorian of her high school before enrolling at James Madison University.
Recently I read about Yadira Banuelos who started elementary school in Houston speaking only Spanish. In 2015, Yadira graduated from Austin High School in Houston ISD as the valedictorian. More impressive - she was one of 25 HISD valedictorians that started school as an ELL!
And many of you may have recently seen Ilhan Omar on television. Ilhan came to the US from Somalia at age 8 after four years in a Kenyan refugee center. Ilhan is now the first Somali-American lawmaker in the United States.
These 3 individuals set a shining example of what is possible, not just for educators but more important for the millions of students with similar backgrounds and experiences. Over the past few days I have sat in classrooms in both Cabarrus County and Chapel Hill North Carolina, and am so inspired by the optimism, hard work, and determination demonstrated by the students I got to observe.
Read more here about ELL tenacity and the powerful role of teachers in supporting these students.
LCS Department T-shirt Order
All orders and payments are due by December 9th, 2016 to the Language and Cultural Services office.
Pricing information below:
S - XL - $9.50
2XL - 11.50
3XL - $12.50
4XL - $13.50
The Best Multilingual & Bilingual Sites For Math, Social Studies, & Science
by Larry Ferlazzo
Having academic content available in the native language of English Language Learners is valuable for several reasons.
One, it’s useful for teachers who use the widely-respected and thoroughly researched teaching method called “Preview, View, Review.” In this instructional strategy, the teacher first provides students with a quick introduction to the lesson in the native language; then the lesson is given in English; and, finally, a short summary is provided in the student’s first language.
Two, it’s extraordinarily helpful in providing parents of English Language Learners accessible knowledge of what their children is being taught. This gives many parents who are not able to speak English the ability to better know what is happening in the classroom. They can talk more with their children about academic content and help them with their homework more effectively.
And, three, students can access the materials — sometimes in class or at home — so they can develop a greater understanding of the subject matter and develop more self-confidence.
Find these resources and ideas for supporting English Learners in content here.
Webinar: Meeting the needs of EL Students Who Opt Out of El Programs or Particular EL Services
Date: December 16, 2016
Time: 1:00pm to 2:00pm CST
This is the next open session in a monthly, year-long series that focuses on the issues addressed in the Dear Colleague Letter on ELs published in January 2015 by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, and the U.S. Department of Justice. The series will also cover material provided in the EL Tool Kit published by OELA, and has been updated to include ESSA requirements.
Webinar: Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students
Time: 3:00pm to 4:00pm CST
Please join experts from the Center for English Language Learners at American Institutes for Research (AIR) to learn how teachers can support the development of oral language and preliteracy skills in preschool and kindergarten English learners (ELs).
In this webinar, you will learn about Cultivating Oral Language and Literacy Talent in Students (COLLTS), an approach created by Dr. Diane August and a team of AIR experts with decades of experience in developing research-based effective literacy interventions for EL students. COLLTS uses engaging vocabulary routines, shared interactive reading of high-quality children's books, and the language experience approach to support ELs' language acquisition.
WIDA 2017 Call for Proposals and Reviewers
The call for proposals for the WIDA 2017 conference is now open. The WIDA 2017 conferece will take place in Tampa, Florida October 16-19, 2017.
Each year, the proposal system changes slightly to adjust to attendee and presenter feedback. The major change this year is that we have expanded the topic areas from 4 to 13. Presenters should review the topic areas and related guiding questions and identify the best fit.
We would also love for you to include links to videos of your presentations or any presentation materials you plan to use within your application if it is something you have readily available. However, it is not required as part of the proposal submission process.
Please read over this year's details at WIDA 2017 Proposal Submissions. If you would like to be a proposal reviewer, take time to share your contact information and areas of expertise.
Please share this message with any of your colleagues who also may be interested in presenting at WIDA 2017. Thanks in advance for helping us create one of the best conferences available anywhere for ELL administrators and educators across the country and around the world!
Language and Cultural Services will provide Title III funds for registration and travel for any Tulsa PS team member who is accepted to present at WIDA 2017.
One of the Most Difficult Words to Translate...
Missed a Department Meeting?
Elementary ELD Department Meetings
Language & Cultural Services Events
Week of November 28, 2016
December 1, 2:30pm - Interpreter and Translator Skill Building Training (Edivate)
December 2, 8:00am - ELD Teacher Institute at Thoreau Demonstration
December 2, 8:00am - Dual Language and Language Immersion Teacher Institute at Zarrow International
Week of December 5, 2016
December 6, 3:45pm - ESL Certification Test Study Group (Elementary)
December 6, 4:45pm - ESL Certification Test Study Group (Secondary)
December 7, 4:00pm - Spanish for Educators (Edivate)
December 8, 3:45pm - ELD Department Meeting (Elementary)
December 8, 4:45pm - ELD Department Meeting (Secondary)
December 10, 9:00am - SIOP Saturday: Strategies
All events are listed in MyLearningPlan unless otherwise noted. Please pre-register and verify session location in MLP.
Check out the Language & Cultural Services events calendar for future events.