LCS Bulletin
Language and Cultural Services - December 2019
Improving Writing Skills: ELLs and the Joy of Writing
"The meaning of even a single word is rather more complex than one might imagine."
- Editors of the American Heritage Dictionary, 1980, p. viii
"Teacher, do we need our pencils today?" my Puerto Rican elementary students would urgently ask when I came to their classroom to escort them to my English as a Second Language classroom. I was a student teacher in a Massachusetts elementary school, and it took me awhile to figure out the correlation between the pencil and hallway behavior. If I replied, "Yes, you should bring a pencil," the walk to my classroom took 15 minutes and involved a lot of disruptions, student squabbles, drifting students and other various misbehaviors. As a student teacher, I was very focused on keeping order and creating a challenging learning environment. If I replied, "No, you don't need a pencil today," the walk to my classroom took about five minutes, even with a stop at the drinking fountain.
So, what was the correlation? Writing. The students knew that if they had to bring a pencil they would have to do writing in the class, and they dreaded it. If they didn't need a pencil, we would be working on projects or doing more verbal work, and they liked that. What they weren't expecting was that half-way through my student teaching, I bought 10 boxes of pencils and kept them in my classroom, so they never had to bring a pencil to class — I had plenty to go around. This improved the hallway behavior, but still left me with the question of how to improve ESL student writing when they were frustrated by the practice and went to great lengths to avoid it. Read more here...
Ellevation tools to use: Opinion Continuum
Dual Language Shout-out: Shout out to Joy Marroquin Columbus, dual language PK at Kendall-Whittier, for incorporating literacy and realia into her fall-themed bilingual centers!
Charting children's literature to inspire students' love for reading and writing
ELD teachers from Kendall-Whittier, Cathy Williams and Bea Estrada, select carefully the next book to read with their students. The goal for the English learners is to not only practice comprehension skills but to inspire love for reading and writing their own stories.
Using skill categories on a chart (see picture below: I noticed… I wonder…) students listen to a book or story. They complete together a chart adapted to the book through speaking, listening, reading and writing. As a summary of learning students create their own story and present it to the class.
This strategy is an effective way to engage all students at any proficiency level: all you need is a chart paper, a marker and a book or story. Check out the anchor charts below.
SPOTLIGHT: Star Student of the Month at Webster High School
It is always a special moment when one of our students gets a scholarship.
Alesandra Garcia got an emotional surprise when she was announced as the Star Student of the Month for November and the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship.
Alessandra was nominated by Webster High School Band Director, Elaine Lancaster, who describes Alessandra as one of the most positive, encouraging and uplifting students. “Alessandra has excelled in many areas throughout her high school career. She is a leader and sets herself with high expectations,” says Ms. Lancaster.
Alessandra is highly involved in Webster’s Broadcasting department where she has a lead role and helps in productions and filming. Alessandra is also a member of the National Honor Society and Business Professionals of America at Webster High School. She is also a member of the Warrior Spirit Band and is currently in the 2019 Drum Major for this season as well as a top clarinet, who holds true leadership and musicianship for all her pears.
Alessandra received the Star Student of the Month certificate of recognition and her story was featured in El Nacional Spanish newspaper.
You can also help us recognize and reward Hispanic seniors by nominating them for the Star Student of the Month program. You can nominate a student today! For consideration you must complete the online Student Nomination Form. Additional information about the Star Student of the Month program and nomination guidelines can be found here.
The Star Student of the Month program is made possible through our partnership with El Nacional Media, the Latino Community Development Agency (LCDA) and Sonic Corporation.
We want to hear your success, celebrations and learnings! Connect with us on social media! #tpsuccess @tpsmultilingual @indianedtulsa
Upcoming events:
December 7, 8:30am to 11:30am or 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Constructing Texts for ELD
December 7, 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Dual Language StrategiesDecember 7, 8:30am to 11:30am, Lesson Design to Build Proficiency in a Multilingual Classroom
December 10, 8:30am to 3:30pm, EL Success Plan Institute II
December 11, 8:30am to 3:30pm, EL Success Plan Institute II
December 12, 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Dual Language Seminar
December 12, 3:45pm to 4:45pm or 4:45pm to 5:45pm, ELD Professional Learning Seminar
December 17, 3:45pm to 5:45pm, ESL Certification Study Group
Language & Cultural Services
Email: coleli1@tulsaschools.org
Website: www.tulsaschools.org
Location: 2819 S New Haven Ave, Tulsa, OK, United States
Phone: 918-746-6842
Facebook: facebook.com/tpsmultilingual
Twitter: @tpsmultilingual