the RAH
Dec 18-22, 2017
Thank you teacher - for iReady & other stuff
from J-
Often, academics and behaviors are so much the focus that we might forget we have the opportunity to impact so much more. The story of Mrs. Foell reminded me that our influence is greater. How might you use your influence in such a manner this week?
Have an amazing week! I would invite you to let your staff and students know you support and care from them this week in a manner that is aligned with the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas to you!
from Bret-
The AP Cadre met at Jeffries on Friday morning. We discussed the Elementary Learning agenda from Wednesday including Tower feedback.
Feedback about the Elementary Learning meeting goes here.
I will finish up collecting Tower data on Standards 2, 3, and 4 next week with the principals I evaluate. After break, my focus will be on Standards 5 and 6.
In case you’re bored, here are 3 articles J, myself, and others have written regarding various topics:
Learn it, know it, live it...
Drill Check
What kind of week will this be?
Math follow-up - from Julia Veatch
What’s really happening when students are engaged in purposeful games in math class? A LOT. A lot is happening.
When considering the Standards for Mathematical Practice at the heart of students’ numeracy learning and the vehicle that drives what we do, Graham Fletcher asks “How can you not make the time to purposefully infuse math games into your math class?”
https://gfletchy.com/2014/06/30/the-purposeful-use-of-games-in-math-class/
English Learner follow-up
Some of you were interested in the slidedeck presented at the principal meeting concerning the ELL program. It can be found here. During a roundtable discussion, the topic of acronyms specific to the ELL Department was brought up. The current acronym under ESSA which is used to refer to students who are learning English as 2nd (or 3rd, 4th, etc.) language is “EL”- which stands for “English Learner.” Here are a few more acronyms you might see:
EL – English Learner
ELL – English Language Learner
ESOL – English to Speakers of Other Languages
LEP – Limited English Proficiency (typically avoided these days as it is seen as a being from a “deficit perspective”)
ESL – English as a Second Language
EFL – English as a Foreign Language
L1 – First language
L2 – Second language (usually English with regard to our students)
ELL Specialist – English Language Learner Specialist – An ESOL certified teacher certified who provides support services for ELs and staff members to meet the needs of diverse
language learners.
WIDA – A consortium of states which provides resources for assessments, professional development, and instructional support for ELs (MO is a member state).
ACCESS – Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State - a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment designed by WIDA. It’s
administered each year to Kindergarten through 12th grade students who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs).
W-APT – WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test – a paper-based screener used to determine a student’s linguistic proficiency level (required in MO for potential ELs who are
in kindergarten and first-semester first grade).
WIDA Screener Online – an online version of the WIDA Screener (required in MO for ELs in grades 1-12).
HLS – Home Language Survey – a form all parents/students fill out during registration to help us identify potential ELs.
ILP – Individualized Language Plan – a document which provides detailed information about a student’s level of language proficiency (as well as classroom and testing
accommodation/goals/etc.).
This is not a comprehensive list, of course, but may help navigate the crazy world of EL jargon and acronyms. Please let Jeremy Borland know if you have any questions.