English Language Learners (EL)

Program – Assessment - Accommodations

Hillgrove/ Harrison HS ESOL Lead Jennifer Suárez

Who is an EL?

• “Anyone who speaks a primary language other than English and is learning the English Language”

http://hellpproject.org/about/ell.asp

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program

• The purpose of this program is to assist these students to develop proficiency in the English language, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, sufficient to perform effectively at the currently assigned grade level.

Scaffolding for temporary language assistance.

Four Language Domains• Listening- process, understand, interpret, and evaluate

spoken language in a variety of situations• Speaking- engage in oral communication in a variety of

situations for a variety of purposes and audiences• Reading- process, understand, interpret, and evaluate

written language, symbols and text with understanding and fluency

• Writing- engage in written communication in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes and audiences

ACCESS®

• ACCESS for ELs® stands for Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners. This large-scale test addresses the academic English language proficiency (ELP) standards at the core of the WIDA Consortium's approach to instructing and evaluating the progress of English language learners.

• Score of 1-6, Six being the highest!

Tier B-

Tier A-

Tier C-

“Read to” if below 2.0

Post these standards in your classroom

L-4.0, S-1.7,R-4.0, W-2.9

Classroom Accommodations

Some Accommodations :• Preferential Seating• Paraphrasing Directions in English• Repetition of Directions in English• Frequent monitored breaks• Extended time

Federal and state laws require that all students, including ELs, participate in the state-mandated assessment program. ELs may be provided with accommodations.

Any testing accommodations (EOCT, GHSWT, GHSGT) must be consistent with accommodations used in daily instruction and observed in the classroom for assignments, quizzes, and tests.

Classroom Accommodations

Students who exit the ESOL program are monitored for two years. Twice a year the classroom teacher and the ESOL teacher complete a Monitoring Form for Exited ESOL Students to monitor how the student is performing in the regular classroom.

Monitor Students

What to Post your Classroom

• WIDA Standards• Can Do Descriptors• GA Performance Standards• Essential Question• Daily Agenda

, Dear Teacher,

• Please talk slower, and clarify for comprehension.

• Please use visuals, draw on the board, PPTs, write out the assignment.

• I am afraid to speak in front of the class.

• When you ask “do you understand” sometimes I say “Yes” when I don’t because I am afraid you will think I am being disrespectful.

• Please create a culturally sensitive classroom, acknowledge and celebrate our differences.

• I can’t read 6 point font (6 pt font) please make guided notes and tests easier to read.

• Class sets are confusing, please allow me to write on tests when possible.

Thank you!

Simple Strategies for your classroom

Visuals

Pre-teach Vocabulary

Online resources

ESOL Blog- Math & Social Studies

Online text- AudiotoryLiterature and Science

Root words, synonyms, antonyms. Paraphrase, clarify idioms, cultural references

Want to call home?• check in OnTrack—languages spoken.

• Get an official facilitator from the IWC to call home for you, translate written documents, set up a parent-teacher conference or IEP meeting and have a translator there.

• DON’T ask a foreign language teacher, the student, or their relative to interpret for you! Call the IWC if it is an emergency or Re-schedule the meeting!

• ESOL Parent Involvement:

• International Welcome Center

• Translation/Interpretation Services

• Cobb County ESOL Blog

Questions?