Helene Becker, Instructional Specialist ELL Education Department

Presentation for the Board of Education Curriculum Committee

April 5, 2010

The Norwalk Public Schools English Language Learner (ELL) Program

Topics

General information about ELLs

The NPS ELL Program

Initiatives (including Curriculum)

Acronyms

ELL English Language Learner (Term used in Connecticut)

LEP Limited English Proficient (Term used by federal government)

ESL English as a Second Language (Term used to describe programs)

ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages (Term is synonymous with ESL)

Norwalk Statistics: SY 2009-10English Language Learners 13% of NPS students are classified as ELLs

82% of ELLs speak Spanish

9% of ELLs speak Haitian Creole

35% of students speak a language other than English at home

82 countries represented in the district

56 languages represented in the district

Connecticut ELL Trend Data

Growth in Norwalk ELL Program

1999-2000 803 2004-2005 1322 2009-2010 1385

There are two types of English language skills:

1)Conversational Language Skills – 1-3 years to master

2)Academic Language Skills – at least 5 years or more to master

Source: Jim Cummins, University of Toronto

The Skills Our ELLs Must Master:

BICS

Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills

“Social language” – used with friends, family, on the playground, etc.

1-3 years to acquire

CALP

Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency

“Academic language” – used in classroom instruction and textbooks

5-7 years to acquire (7-10 years to acquire for students with little prior schooling)

Length of Time Required to Achieve Age-Appropriate Levels of Social and Academic Language Proficiency

1-3 years5-7 (up to 10 ) years

ESL learnersESL learnersNative English SpeakersNative English Speakers

Based on Cummins (1991), Collier (1995)

Despite often difficult smerds, the lower delta people have their flaps of schats. They enjoy

market days and various takloops.. Many of these celebrations have their toops in ancient collian

traditions. One of the most popular takloops is the Alacitas Fair. It is blod to honor Ekeko, the

Alacitas god of blap fortune. Small strets of this tristy are sold in the thropheet. Each figure is wust sath tiny goods. They include nill the things that a lower delta may want or need – a snupy nick of absop or wigar, a car, two whurds, a television

set, house or cow.

Read this to yourself to experience how an ELL student may feel

Use “Home Language Survey” on registration

form to inform next steps.

English proficiency test (LAS Links) determines if student is

not proficient in English language.

Identify on state PSIS report and qualify for Title III grant funding.

All incoming ELLs must be assessed within one month of entrance at the start of the school year or within two weeks if students enter later in the

school year.

Identifying ELLS

Located at Brookside Elementary School

Bilingual Facilitators test students either at the Center or out in the schools

“Data Central” for the ELL Education Dept.

ELL Welcome Center

AMAO 1 - Making Progress:

Connecticut Targets: Norwalk’s Performance:

2008-09: 72% 85.9%

2009-10: 74%

2010-11: 76%

2011-12: 78%

2012-13: 80%

Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO)

Connecticut Targets: Norwalk’s Performance:

2008-09: 22% 64.4%

2009-10: 24%

2010-11: 26%

2011-12: 28%

2012-13: 30%

AMAO 2 - Reached Proficiency:

Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO)

Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO)

AMAO 3 (AYP):

Norwalk DRG2008-09 CMT goals: 82% on Math 72.3% 64.7%

79% on Reading 51.2% 43.0%

2008-09 CAPT goals: 82% on Math 61.0% 44.4%

81% on Reading 43.6% 43.9%

Local Operating Budget

Entitlement Grants (yearly)

Title III (federal)

Bilingual Grant (state)

Competitive Grant (2009-2010)

Technology/ELL Grant (federal)

Funding for the ELL Program

Bilingual Mandate in Conn.

We must provide bilingual support services in a particular school if there are:

20 or more ELLs who speak the same home language

All schools in Norwalk (except Briggs H.S.) are required to provide bilingual support services in Spanish. BMHS will be required to provide bilingual support services in Haitian Creole starting in 2010-2011.

Elementary School ESL Services – in all schools

Teachers Certified in ESL

Push in and/or Pull out

Bilingual Services – in all schools except Briggs

Teachers Certified in Bilingual Education and/or Bilingual Instructional Aides

Push in and/or Pull out

Norwalk Public School:ELL Program

All instructional is done in collaboration with the classroom teachers.

Dual Language Program Half of each class is native English–speaking

and half of each class is native Spanish-speaking

Students learn academics in both English and Spanish

We have this program (“Mano-a-Mano”) at: Silvermine Elementary School West Rocks Middle School

The first Mano-a-Mano students are now in 10th grade.

Norwalk Public School:ELL Program

Middle School ESL Classes – in all middle schools

Teachers Certified in ESL

ESL/Bilingual (“sheltered”) Social Studies Classes – in all middle schools

Teachers Certified in ESL and/or Social Studies

Bilingual Instructional Aides – in 3 middle schools

Norwalk Public School:ELL Program

High School – NHS and BMHS ESL Classes (Levels 1, 2, 3)

Teachers Certified in ESL

ESL Social Studies (“sheltered”) and Bilingual Social Studies Classes

Teachers Certified in ESL and Social Studies

Bilingual Instructional Aides

Norwalk Public School:ELL Program

ELL Program Initiatives 2006-2010

Saturday Newcomer Academy Two Program Reviews ELL Department Newsletter ELL Steering Committee* Central Registration for ELL Families* SIOP Training* High School ESL Science and ESL Math* High School ESL Summer School Spanish Course for Teachers Curriculum Revision**Recommended in the program reviews

Saturday Newcomer Academy

In its fifth year For newcomer parents ESL classes Workshops/Speakers:

Helping children succeed in school Using community resources

Program Reviews

Outside experts/consultants ELL Program Review: 2006-2007 Silvermine Dual Language Program

Review: 2008-2009

ELL Department Newsletter

In its third year Supports classroom teachers with

strategies and resources for teaching ELLs Two–three times per year

ELL Steering Committee

In its second year Advisory to the ELL Department Members include the assistant

superintendent, principals, assistant principals, housemasters, counselors, ELL teachers, and classroom teachers

Central Registration for ELL Families About to begin as a pilot – 4 schools Vision: All ELL families will register at the

ELL Welcome Center Testing

Translation of forms

Interpreting

Welcome basket

Welcome video

SIOP Training

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol

30 secondary teachers 6 days of training beginning in August

Follow up all year

Dual Language Teachers 4 days of training tailored for dual language

teachers (pending)

Follow up all year

High School ESL Science and ESL Math For ELLs at Levels 1 and 2 “Sheltered” courses Teachers will attend SIOP training

High School Summer School

First time this summer – a full credit course (120 hours)

To accelerate ELLs’ acquisition of English

ELLs will be able to take more advanced courses during the school year

Spanish Course for Teachers

First time offered, in collaboration with Adult Ed.

46 teachers have signed up

Requests from secretaries, nurses, counselors, principals

Curriculum Development

Elementary ELL Newcomer Program Curriculum

Materials for ELL teachers and classroom teachers

Secondary ELL Curriculum ESL 1 – being piloted 09-10

ESL 2 – being written 09-10

ESL 3 – to be written 10-11

Elementary ELL Newcomer Program Components

Binder with Newcomer Curriculum

Buddy Book

Literature

Theme Cards

Vocabulary Cards

Picture Dictionaries

Thank you!

Questions???