Succeeding in a Diverse Classroom
Best Practices & Resources
Volume 3, Issue 2-April 2020
Welcome!
"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it." ~ Winston Churchill
Melanie Yocom
Email: myocom@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/Page/719#calendar13881/20200304/month
Phone: 817-740-7563
Twitter: @myocomesc11
It's Okay
If we are struggling to be a teacher, a parent, and a homeschooler, imagine how some of our students and parents must feel.
- We CANNOT recreate the classroom at home.
- Have realistic expectations for students.
- Less is MORE!
Worried About Your Students? Check out these FREE Google Forms for Daily Check-Ins:
What's A Reasonable and Realistic Schedule for At-Home Learning?
This will vary based on age, the learner, and -- MOST importantly -- the home environment.
If students typically have instruction for six hours a day, cut that in half for secondary, and then cut it in half again for elementary.
PK-5th grade = 1-2 hours
6th-12th grade = 2-3 hours
When we assume that ALL students can engage in learning at home, we are setting students and parents up for failure.
- Parents may be working at home or outside of the home.
- Older students may be working.
- Students may be home alone all day.
- Siblings or grandparents may be the caregivers.
- Some have experienced job loss or loss in wages.
- Some are sick or have lost loved ones to COVID-19.
- Some may be experiencing racial discrimination because they are Chinese-American.
- Some may be experiencing abuse.
Disclaimer: These are suggestions to consider. Consult your school for guidance on remote instruction and student learning expectations.
Feeling Overwhelmed by ALL of the Resources Being Shared on Social Media in Response to COVID-19?
Below are at-home learning resources that are easy to use and easy for the end user (students and parents). You will find both digital and paper options:
ESL At-Home in Multiple Languages
No Tech Activities in English and Spanish
English Learner Activities for PK-12 and More at Learning@11
Techie Highlight
Looking for Digital Resources all in ONE Spot? Look No Further!
Wide Open School has curated PreK-12 learning experiences by subject and learning needs. It even differentiates for teachers and parents!
Additional Digital Tools to Support Diverse Learners
Parent Communication in Multiple Languages
FREE for the Remainder of the School Year
Sites to Bookmark:
- Texthelp https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/free-for-teachers/
- TalkingPoints - Reach all your students' families in their home language https://talkingpts.org/
- Read, Write, Speak https://thinkalong.org
- Make Beliefs Comix https://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
- Digital Tool https://www.tes.com/lessons
- Digital Tool https://padlet.com
- Promote listening & speaking https://flipgrid.com/
- Create class lists, activities, assignments, and assessments https://www.vocabulary.com
- Classroom Screen https://classroomscreen.com/
- Interactive classroom in real time https://www.classkick.com
- K-5 Reading Student Centers http://www.fcrr.org/resources/resources_sca.html
- Free Content Power Points & Interactive activities http://www.pppst.com/
- Transform lessons to make learning impactful and engaging, or allow students to create animated products to show mastery https://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/
- Current event articles to promote critical reading, writing, and speaking http://wordgen.serpmedia.org/
- English Learner Teacher Support http://www.colorincolorado.org/
- Writing Guru Gretchen Bernabei http://trailofbreadcrumbs.net/
- Free reading passages & literacy resources https://www.commonlit.org/
- 2,000+ multidisciplinary wonders https://wonderopolis.org/
- Free reading passages by lexile level and content https://www.readworks.org/
- Lead4ward.com http://lead4ward.com/resources/
Learning@11 Bite-Sized PD During School Closures
Are you a tweeter yet? If not, you are missing out on all kinds of FREE PD!
Why become a tweeter?
Spread the Word! Share your Resources and Ideas!
Have a resource or idea to share? I want to hear from you!
Archived Issues
I am not perfect, so if you see errors or find broken links, please give me grace.