EL Happenings
Volume 4 Issue 2
Do you know what it takes to become a citizen of the United States?
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have been a permanent resident for 5 years (3 if married to a US citizen).
- Submit a not so short and simple application. (The current fee is $640.)
- Complete a criminal background check. (The current biometric fee is $85.)
- Complete an interview.
- Take an English test.
- Take a civics test. (You must get 6 correct questions out of 10 to pass. These 10 questions are randomly pulled from 100 questions so you must be prepared with answers for all of them! Try it yourself with this study guide/quiz.)
- Wait, wait, and wait some more....the entire process is currently taking anywhere between 6 and 16 months! Check out all of the different processing times here - there are over 35 different applications or petitions to process!
Do you know someone that would be interested in the naturalization clinic or help advertised below? If so, please share:)
Teacher Feature
Prewriting
Brainstorming as a whole class, talking with partners, and then mapping out details for prewriting helps our EL students generate ideas before having to write independently!
Drafting
Revising, Editing, and Publishing
Teacher Takeaway-Online Visual Dictionaries for k-12
Vidtionary The web site has a collection of short videos that show different example scenes illustrating a word’s meaning.
Little Explorers is a children’s visual dictionary provided by Enchanted Learning.
ESOL Help is a very basic picture dictionary that just displays the word and has clip art to illustrate the word.
Opdome features 20 sets of vocabulary available in English, Spanish and Chinese.
A Math’s Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather features two different online visual dictionaries. The original A Math Dictionary for Kids is animated and interactive with over 630 common mathematical terms in simple language with definitions, examples, activities, practice and calculators. A Math Dictionary for Kids Quick Reference is a device friendly html version with definitions and detailed examples for over 950 words.
The Math is Fun Visual Dictionary illustrates several math terms and instruments and includes simple definitions. Some of the entries are interactive where students get to play with the instrument virtually.
NASA’s Picture Dictionary is for students in grades 3rd to 8th and visually teaches learners about space and NASA.
Language Objectives....
WIDA Professional Development
Compliance Corner
All EL students’ Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) are now uploaded and available in Skyward as of August 19th. The ILP is designed to outline a plan to ensure English Learners have meaningful access to the same rigorous content and college‐and‐career ready standards as their native English‐speaking peers. You can find the 19-20 ILP in custom forms. You view the ILP by clicking view or edit depending on your Skyward access.
The ILP is a legally binding document, and all staff who work with the student are responsible for its implementation. The ILP should be created by EL staff in collaboration with content‐area teachers to promote ongoing communication across programs and to ensure that all responsible staff members are aware of its implications. Instructional modifications are listed on the ILP as a means for the content teachers to have a list of recommended strategies for the classroom. Assessment accommodations are also documented on the ILP and should be implemented with fidelity on all local and state assessments.
Check out the next module in IDOE's English Learning 101 video series. This module reviews the core English Language Development program and services, and includes the following topics:
- Annual Parent Notification
- Parent Rights with regards to the EL Program
- The Individual Learning Plan, or ILP
- English Language Development Services
- English Language Development Program Models
- English Language Development Teachers
- EL (Lau) Plans
Parent Liason Update
District EL Coaches
Nichole Seal
Email: nseal@perryschools.org
Twitter: @NicholeSeal2
Email: jtidd@perryschools.org
Twitter: @JJTidd