ELL Times 2nd Edition
THE T.V.P.S. ELL Team
Inside this Edition
- Using Technology with ELLs
- Report Cards and ELLs
- Celebrating Diversity at T.V.P.S.
- Modifications and Accommodations
- Strategies for Math
- YRDSB Inclusive Services
Technology and ELL Learners
ELL learners may rely on visuals to solidify meaning of new words. Students are able to make meaning of word through visual representations. The following list provides several visual dictionaries to use with ELL learners. These resources are great in building background knowledge prior to reading or having students connect to what they know using their first language.
http://kids.wordsmyth.net/wild/
This free online dictionary provides readers of all ages great visual along of audio of word. there are three main formats to display words: collections, book and world. Users can easily hear proper pronunciation of word and connect a meaning to the visual.
LanguageGuide.org is created to help language learners build their vocabulary knowledge. There are images that coincide with more than 2000 words. ELL learners can listen to words while referring to visual content. There are many languages so students can access their first language as well.
http://www.visualdictionaryonline.com/about-visual_overview.php
This visual dictionary has 6000 full colour images of a wide variety of objects.
Kindersay.com is a free online video website to help preschoolers or ESL children learn English.
Reporting for your ELLs
Celebrating Diversity Within Our School
The TVPS Student Ambassador Club is comprised of students from Grade 1 to 8. This year our focus will be on promoting diversity at Teston through language and culture awareness. The student ambassador club has been working hard creating the display located outside the gym doors. If you would like to participate in this activity, please complete a form and place it in Ms. Oh’s box. Forms will be placed in the mailroom. During morning announcements, students will be promoting language of the month and other activities. We also plan on starting an English conversation club for newcomer students so they can practice their growing language skills with native speakers. We are always looking for new ideas and fresh faces . If you would like to join us, please send an email to Parul or Angela.
Tips for Teaching Math to ESL Students
Read more at http://esl.yourdictionary.com/esl/esl-lessons-and-materials/tips-for-teaching-math-to-esl-students.html#jrjz4gEKEuzO36hx.99
Strategies for the Math Class
- Build on what student already knows
- Make word problems understandable
- Use real world problems
Use language that is simple and clear
- Write a format for the solution of a word problem on the board with blank lines for the answers. "The answer is ________ kilmetres because the route is a ______________ triangle."
- Supplement the word problem with an illustration.
- Encourage students to cross out any unnecessary words in a word problem (such as the colour of a car). This will keep them from wasting time trying to incorporate the meaning of a specific word when solving the math problem.
- Use sentences with minimal numbers of parts of speech, such as just a subject, a verb and an object
Modifications and Accommodations
Modifications
Who:
Stage 1 and early Stage 2 ELLs.
What:
Modifications are made when a student is unable to meet the grade level expectations. Changes are made to grade level expectations (reduce expectations, alter expectations).
How to modify?
Examples
1.Lighten the language load: Modify the expectation so that the amount of reading and writing is minimized and students can complete the task/assignment (e.g., instead of “explain”, say “list”)
2. Less is More: Modify the expectation so that the student is able to meet the expectation without as many requirements. (e.g., instead of “identify all the important people in Canada’s past government”, say “choose one person and explain why he/she is important to Canadian politics”)
3. Narrow Choices: Instead of, “using primary and secondary sources”, say “teacher selected resources”.
Accommodations
Who:
Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4 ELLs
What:
-strategies and provisions provided by the teacher to help students meet the expectations (they do not alter the provincial curriculum expectations for that grade).
How to accommodate?
Examples
1. Use a variety of instructional strategies
-use of visual cues
-graphic organizers
-provide extra time
-pre-teach key words
-provide small group instruction
-classroom games and dramatic activities
2. Use multiple learning resources
-bilingual dictionaries
-provide vocabulary lists
-use of technology
-adapted texts
-manipulatives
-provide copies of notes that are being shared with the class
-provide student with a hard copy of any digital resources shared with the class
3. Assessment Strategies
-provide extra time
-oral interviews
-use of technology (voice typing etc)
-use of simplified language and instruction (cloze sentences, word banks, graphic organizers)
-colour cues
- verbatim scribing
Example:
Specific Expectation: Explain how the early settlers valued, used, and looked after the natural resources.
Accommodation:Explain using pictures and words how early settlers used, and looked after natural resources.
Modification: Identify three natural resources used by the early settlers using pictures and labels.
*Source: Unit Planning with ELLs in Mind (YRDSB 2010)
* Access the following link to access the YRDSB accommodations chart .https://goo.gl/A03f2m
YRDSB Inclusive Services
Teacher Liaisons from Inclusive School and Community Services at York Region School Board
Teacher Liaisons work with educators to:
· Promote inclusive and equitable practices that align with the Board Improvement Plan;
· Offer inclusive, equitable, and culturally relevant resources and information;
· Offer workshops on equity and inclusive education policies and practices
Teacher Liaisons work with families to:
· Support parent’s understandings of educational processes and practices;
· Enhance communication between parents and schools;
· Share Equity and Inclusive Education policy and procedures
Teacher Liaisons work with students to:
· Increase student’s achievement and well-being by providing differentiated support;
· Build capacity of student leadership and advocacy
· Provide support for transition, appropriate programs and pathways
*School teams may seek out support from multiple teacher liaisons to support equity building capacities of the school.
Here is a list of all of the teacher liaisons and their contact information:
African/Caribbean Heritage: Darcie.sutherland@yrdsb.ca
Anti-bullying/Marginalized Communities: Kevin.bray@yrdsb.ca
Chinese Heritage: Cathy.ng@yrdsb.ca
Iranian/Afghani Heritage: Mehroush.yadollahi@yrdsb.ca
Korean Heritage: Erica.shin@yrdsb.ca
South Asian Heritage: Ayesha.syed@yrdsb.ca
Tamil/Sri Lankan Heritage: Pirasanya.Gnanasuntharam@yrdsb.ca
The process of accessing a Teacher Liaison:
1. Complete the (1) teacher liaison referral form OR (2) school referral form
2. Email it to the correct teacher liaison.
If you should require forms, please email Angela and she will forward the necessary documents.