February TSP Newsletter
Courtesy of the LUSD TSP Team
Covered in this Issue
A Special English Learner Edition!
- Optional Survey for All Teachers
- ELPAC Hot Topics
- English Learner Toolkit
- SEL Corner: Self Management
- Tech Tip: Wakelet
- English Learner Instructional Strategy: Frayer Model
- Wellness Tip: Morning Self Check-Ins
- Meet the New ELD and Bilingual Teachers
- ELD TSP Resources
- Newsletter Feedback Survey
ELPAC Hot Topics
ELPAC- What is my role as the classroom teacher?
The what: The ELPAC is the test that is used to measure how well students in K-12 understand English when it is not their primary language. Information from the ELPAC helps teachers provide support in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
The when: The ELPAC assessment window is from February- May.
The who: The ELPAC is administered by the LUSD Language Census Team.
What can I do as a classroom teacher? It’s important that teachers are providing students with test taking strategies to become successful on this assessment.
Practice makes progress: as a classroom teacher you need to provide students with opportunities to take practice tests. HERE is a link to administer those practice tests.
More Resources:
English Learner Toolkit
E.L Toolkit
Dr. Carlos Pagán, Director of Literacy and Language Support at SBCEO, has been providing the Hapgood Elementary staff professional development on strategies to teach their English Language Learners. One of the tools he has shared with the staff is THIS EL Toolkit.
The Toolkit is designed to provide K-12 classroom teachers strategies to increase the English language proficiency of their English learners.The strategies address reading, writing, speaking and listening to prepare ELs for success in literacy.
Some of the resources included in this toolkit are:
A checklist to help teachers identify strategies for word/phrase, sentence/clause or text level understanding.
A template that can be used for pre-planning, steps for strategy implementation, examples for formative assessment, helpful figures, classroom snapshots, and video lesson clips.
The toolkit also offers ways to effectively engage English learners to develop English proficiency and achieve grade level content mastery.
SEL Corner
Self-Management
This month, our Social and Emotional focus is Self-Management. CASEL, Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning has identified five major competencies as a framework to foster and enhance all students’ academic, social, and emotional learning.
CASEL.org defines Self-Management as, “the abilities to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.” This competency includes the ability to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation to accomplish personal and collective goals.
For more information, click the video link below.
PBS Learning Media Video- Self-Management
Instructional Tool: Self-motivation is an essential component to social emotional learning. Students may find motivation to meet their personal goals by creating SMART goals with their classmates. At the beginning of a unit or term, work with your students to set a SMART goal for themselves. SMART goals must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. Schedule time to check-in with students on their progress and reward students that meet their goals. You may also assign a SMART Goal activity with your class so they may share their goals with their classmates, to encourage motivation and build classroom community.
Click here for a Slides template. Feel free to Make a Copy and modify as you see fit!
For more information on how to set smart goals with your students, please click the link below.
Resource: SMART Goals
K-6 Second Step Program
K-6 Second Step Program:
Need help getting started with the Second Step, SEL program?
Check out this presentation for more information or join us for our SEL Office Hours (see below).
Thursday, March 25, 2021 @ 2:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lompocschools.zoom.us/j/82767415194?pwd=eEQvaHJMRFFqQWhRRHlmNTdyR0Zodz09
Meeting ID: 827 6741 5194
Passcode: 891552
Thursday, Mar 25, 2021, 02:30 PM
undefined
Tech Tips
Wakelet
Getting Ready for Open House? Showcase Your Students’ Work and Learning Resources with Wakelet!
Wakelet is a free content curation app that works on any device. It offers seamless options for teachers and students to collect and curate online resources such as texts, links, videos, podcasts, and images.
Why Wakelet?
Wakelet allows teachers to collect, organize, and share multi-media resources with students, parents, and colleagues. Only the teacher/owner can delete or edit a post, and students can only edit or delete their own post. One of my favorites is Wakelet’s integration with Microsoft’s Immersive Reader-text to audio and language translation!
Wakelet Resources
How to Use Wakelet in the Classroom (Video Tutorial)
10 Ways to Use Wakelet in the Classroom (Webinar)
Samples:
Graphic Organizers (Seesaw Activities)
To get started, go to Wakelet for Educators at https://learn.wakelet.com/
English Learner Instructional Strategy
The Frayer Model
Students build their understanding of academic vocabulary and concepts to support their comprehension of the text, improve their writing, engage in collaborative conversations about academic topics, and make oral presentations.
Why Use This Strategy?
Specific and direct academic vocabulary instruction is essential for English learners to understand and participate in classroom instruction. English learners benefit from “direct scaffolded instruction of important words.” Kinsella (2005) Regular academic vocabulary instruction builds students’ background knowledge and enhances their understanding of complex text and concepts.
When to Use This Strategy?
Use this strategy to build an understanding of concepts and vocabulary to improve student’s comprehension.
Excerpt is taken from page 24 of the CCSESA English Learner Toolkit
Employee Wellness
Morning Self-Check In
In our search for ways to care for ourselves in difficult times, we as the TSP team are exploring solutions that are easily applied in daily life. Take care of yourself today however works for you!
This month's suggestion:
Taking time to check-in with ourselves during the morning can improve our focus during the day and make a chaotic day less stressful. Try taking 10 minutes in the morning to map out your day and reflect. Your time is valuable and precious to you and your students.
Check out the template below for a positive way to organize your day.
Meet the Teachers!
**The after-school program will be discontinued on March 3rd with Iliana and Daniel moving into classroom teaching positions to support reopening.
Virtual Teacher's Lounge
This virtual teacher's lounge is hosted every Thursday at this time.
Passcode: 378214
Thursday, Mar 4, 2021, 02:30 PM
undefined
English Learner Resources From the TSP Team
Wonders ELD Resources for Grades K-6
English Learners Handbook - These teacher resource books include instructional routines & activities plus writing & grammar lessons.
Click HERE for the K-2 Standard English Learners Handbook
Click HERE for the 3-6 Standard English Learners Handbook
Oral Language Sentence Frames - Frames can be used for oral language practice during discussions. They are organized by skill and provide frames for both the question and answer.
English Language Development Cards - Provides targeted instruction in language and grammar skills using the gradual release strategy.
Additional EL Wonders Resources:
EL Instructional Coach Videos - Directions to access the brief videos on instructional tips & strategies that were created as a resource for teachers to help prepare for ELD lessons.
Designated EL Instruction - Directions to access the Designated ELD instruction for Wonders and additional EL support resources.
Vocabulary Resources
ELPAC Vocabulary Words (K-12) - The list of vocabulary words for the ELPAC for each grade level. Click HERE for the list.
Vocabulary Development- This short article explains the importance of vocabulary for ELD students & includes a variety of suggested strategies for teaching vocabulary. Click HERE to view this resource.
Selecting Vocabulary Words to Teach ELL Learners - This short article from colorincolorado.org offers guidance for how to select vocabulary words to teach ELD students and explains the three tiers of words. Click HERE to view this resource.
Selecting & Using Academic Vocabulary in Instruction - This resource from Achieve the Core provides research-based strategies and activities for vocabulary instruction. Click HERE to view this resource.
Top 5 Vocabulary Strategies for Teaching ELD Students - This resource from The Teaching Channel provides descriptions, videos & examples of strategies & activities including; Word Walls, the KIM strategy and Vocabulary Paint Strips. Click HERE to learn more about these strategies.
Vocabulary Table - This can be used with a vocabulary lesson to write the word, definition & sentence. HERE is the link for this resource.
Word of the Week - This resource can be used with all students to teach “Power Words” or ELPAC practice words. HERE is the link for this resource.
Instructional Strategies
ELD Strategies in Alphabetical Order - This resource provides a solid list of ELD strategies that includes a description & example of each strategy. HERE is the list of strategies,
Five Effective Modeling Strategies for English Learners - This resource explains the importance of modeling a task or assignment for ELD students and five effective modeling strategies. HERE is the link to read more about these strategies.
Helpful Online Resources for Teaching ELL’s - A collection of learning apps and websites to support ELD students in the classroom & at home. Click HERE to read more about these resources.
Scaffolds to Support English Language Learners in Writing & Discussion - This resource explains and provides examples for using Sentence Frames, Signal Words & Word Banks in your classroom. Click HERE to access this resource.
LUSD TSP Team
Thank you for reading our newsletter! Please leave feedback and suggestions below.