A Simplified Guide to ESL in the

Mainstream Classroom

Katie HartmannESL Program Specialist

Goals Encourage collaboration between the ESL

teacher, Mrs. Hartmann, and content area teachers who instruct ELL’s.

Create and execute appropriate

adaptations for English Language Learners in accordance with PDE regulations.

Results Students will be able to learn content

material while minimizing the effect of various language barriers.

Evaluations in content area classes will accurately measure the ELL’s mastery of the subject, not their proficiency in English.

Abbreviation Guide ESL-English as a Second Language ELL-English Language Learner LEP-Limited English Proficiency WIDA-World Class Instructional Design

and Assessment ELPS-English Language Proficiency

Standards

FAQ click link to BASD page for complete FAQ Do ELL’s need to take the PSSA?

An ELL can be exempt from the PSSA one time only, if they have been in any U.S. school for less than one year. NCLB requires that these students be assessed for the purpose of establishing AYP data.

Does a school need parent permission to provide ESL instruction? No, ESL instruction is part of the regular

curriculum.

FAQ (continued) What kind of assistance can an

instructional aid provide? The aid can reinforce information or skills that

have already been taught by the teacher.

FAQ (continued) Should lessons and grading be

adapted for ELL’s? Yes. ELL’s should be graded based on the

previously established, modified objectives. The ESL teacher can offer assistance in planning these objectives.

It is inappropriate to give an ELL a failing grade, because he/she did not complete the same projects or coursework as a native English speaker.

PA Laws 22 Pa. Code §4.26

“. . .daily standards-based English as a second language instruction at the student’s proficiency level. . .”

“Content area instruction aligned with corresponding content and language proficiency standards. . . .”

Click here to see entire document.

Federal Court Cases Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974)

“If an ELL is retained a grade, the LEA must be able to demonstrate that all appropriate modifications were made. . .”

A teacher can legitimately assign a failing grade if appropriate adaptations were made to instruction and assessments.

There is a difference between adapting materials and giving out the answers.

Obviously, don’t give out the answers.

PA ESL Standards Standard 1: English language learners communicate

in English for Social and Instructional purposes within the school setting.

Standard 2: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Standard 3: …in the content area of Mathematics. Standard 4: …in the content area of Science. Standard 5: …in the content area of Social Studies.

WIDA/PDE Standards are Congruent English Language Proficiency Standards

(ELPS)

Focus on social and academic language

Click here for more information on standards and what you should expect of ELL’s at different levels of language acquisition.

Standard Aligned System (SAS) The SAS webpage also contains

documents that are helpful for planning appropriate instruction for ELL’s.

Click here to enter SAS webpage. Logon or create an account. Click on “Curriculum Framework.” Click “ELL Overlay” and choose the document

that corresponds with your content and grade level.

What is life like for an ELL?

How Culture Shock Affects Newcomersby Judie Haynes Stages of Acculturation

Stage 1 Euphoric or Honeymoon Stage Stage 2 Culture Shock Stage Stage 3 Integration Stage Stage 4 Acceptance Stage

Click here to read the entire article.

Challenges for ELL’s in Content Area Learningby Judy Haynes Social language is acquired more quickly

than academic language.

Don’t be surprised if a student can carry on a conversation, but then struggles to verbalize their ideas in class.

Click here for examples of challenges that are specific to various academic subjects.

BICS and CALP Basic Interpersonal Communication

Skills “. . .usually develop within 6 months to two years

after arrival in the U. S.”

Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency It usually takes between 5 and 7 years for ELLs to

be able to read, write, listen and speak on the same level as their peers. But, it can take up to 7 to 10 years if a student is not literate in their first language.

http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/bics_calp.php

Social and Educational Mores of ELL’s ELL’s face not only academic, but also

social challenges.

The following summaries of Indian, Russian and Latino social and educational mores should help when planning for instruction and interacting with students.

Indian Social Mores Most Indians practice Hinduism

Polytheistic religion Believe in reincarnation and non-violence Follow a vegetarian diet Cows are considered sacred and not killed.

PBS link, Nature: Holy Cow

Family Life Extended family often lives in the same home. Patriarchal society Current President of India is the first woman

elected to this position.

Indian Education Literacy Rates-CIA World Fact Book

Males 73% Females 48%

Corporal punishment still used in schools. The quality of schools, teachers and facilities

are inconsistent and often lack basic necessities, i.e. desks, bathrooms, etc.

Universities Professors often lack graduate degrees.

Russian Social Mores Russian Baptists

Fundamentalist Christian group Experienced everything from religious persecution to

asylum during last several hundred years Russian law restricts religious freedom and favors the

Russian Orthodox Church. Russian Baptists share some, but not all dogmatic beliefs

with American Baptists.

“The Russian Baptists” http://www.bju.edu/library/collections/fund_file/russianbap.html

Russian Education

Soviet Era

“…teacher's job was to transmit standardized materials to the students, and the student's job was to memorize those materials. . .in the context of socialist ethics. . . creativity and individualism were discouraged. . .”

Post-Soviet Russia

Education compulsory until the age of 15 Students age 14 who are failing their classes may legally

be expelled

Glenn E. Curtis, ed. Russia: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1998.

Spanish Speaking Cultures Social MoresExamples of Nonverbal Gestures

Making eye contact is considered disrespectful. The smile is an important gesture of good will. Much affection is displayed in public. Hand, arm and other gestures are often used in

conversation. Yawning is impolite; it is a sign of hunger.

Adapted from Zainuddin et. al, Fundamentals of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages K12 Mainstream Classrooms, p. 457-477, 2002.

Latino American Education Prefers group learning situations and

cooperative problem solving Prefers active, warm, learning environment Learns by doing Prefers concrete representations to

abstractions Responds to extrinsic motivation Prefers people to ideas Remembers faces and social words

Adapted from Culture and Learning by Leona M. Johnson and Nancy Protheroe. Alington, VA: Educational Research Service, 2003.

How Can We Help Our Students?

The ESL teacher… DOES

follow the ESL curriculum and teach students how to read, write, speak and listen to English.

reinforce content area vocabulary.

liaise with content area teachers to provide ideas for adapting materials and assessments for ELL’s.

help content area teachers to better understand the ESL program.

DOES NOT teach concepts from

other classes. adapt materials for

content area classes.

The content area teacher. . . DOES

make modifications to lessons and assessments that are appropriate to the needs of ELL’s.

communicate with the ESL teacher and voice any concerns.

appreciate the need for understanding the education, social and physiological challenges that face ELL’s.

DOES NOT penalize ELL’s grades

due to grammatical errors. Exception-when an ELL has been taught a grammatical concept and understands proper usage of that concept, the assessment should be graded accordingly.

ESL is not Special Education ELL’s are not considered learning support unless they have

a diagnosed learning disability.

However, many of the materials and adaptations that are done for learning support students can be used for ELL’s.

You most likely have adapted tests or notes for learning support students. Use them!

Click here for a list of web-pages that contain adapted lesson plans.

Examples of ESL Adaptations

Focus on concept mastery, not English proficiency.

Use the simplest language possible.

Use pictures and diagrams.

Read tests/assignments aloud to students and assist students with difficult words.

Examples of ESL Adaptations

Focus on concept mastery, not English proficiency.

Use the simplest language possible.

Use pictures and diagrams.

Read tests/assignments aloud to students and assist students with difficult words.

Examples of ESL Adaptations

If possible do one-on-one assessments with the student during I & E.

Prioritize! Shorten materials/assessments so that only the most essential concepts remain.

Students may dictate or non-verbally indicate answers to a teacher.

Easy Test Adaptation Have your student

complete a test and circle any words that they do not know.

Review the test with the student and clarify any confusion related to non-essential words.

Ask ahead of time and Mrs. Hartmann can review the test with the student and provide clarification.

Compare and contrast a neon and halogen light bulb.

Correct How are neon and halogen

light bulbs the same? How are they different?

Incorrect Provide the student with

the definitions of neon and halogen light bulbs.

Adapting a Quiz Content teacher supplied a poetry quiz. I found another poem that was on the

student’s reading level. The content teacher used the new poem

and created questions that were on the student’s level.

The objective of analyzing a poem was still achieved.

Adapting a Poetry QuizPoetry Quiz

My Songby Rabindranath Tagore

This song of mine will wind its music around you, my child, like the fond arms of love.

This song of mine will touch your forehead like a kiss of blessing.

When you are alone it will sit by your side and whisper in you ear, when you are in the crowd it will fence you about with aloofness.

My song will be like a pair of wings to your dreams, it will transport your heart to the verge of the unknown.

It will be like the faithful star overhead

Adapted Poetry Quiz

The Swingby Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,Up in the air so blue?Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,Till I can see so wide,River and trees and cattle and allOver the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,

Adapting a Poetry QuizAdapted

What picture do you see when you read the poem?

(student draws picture)

What words made you think of these pictures?

Regular

Which of the following lines from the poem creates imagery?

Song/touchTouch/blessingTouch/kissSong/kiss

Adapting a Vocabulary List Book definition of Benedict Arnold

American general who became a traitor during the Revolutionary War by joining the British cause.

Definition adapted for ESL American who changed sides during the Revolutionary War.

He became a member of the British Army.

Student’s definition drawn under adapted definition Student draws two pictures of Benedict Arnold, one with a

British flag and another with an American flag.

Adapting Notes It is often difficult for ELLs

to transfer information, i.e. taking notes.

Supply copies of notes to students, fill in the blank, pictures, etc.

Instead of having the student copy a definition for “eyepiece,” have the student draw an eyeball beside the eyepiece and/or write a simplified definition.

How can we help each other? Please ask for ideas when making

adaptations. Let me know if your ELL is struggling. Tell me if there is a large project coming

up. Ask Mrs. Hartmann to explain different

aspects of your ELL’s background or culture.

Ask me to observe/co-teach a class and offer suggestions.

Resources www.everythingesl.net

Articles, lesson plans, discussions…it really does have everything.

Additional Sources“Education in India”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_India#Women.27s_educationa”

“When More Is Worst”http://www.newsweek.com/2008/08/09/when-more-is-

worse.html