ABRAHAM LINCOLNBOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENTATION

February 21, 2011

OUR OUTCOMES•To share both the journey of our refugee students and our school’s journey in meeting the unique needs of our newcomer/refugee students.

•Highlight pieces of where we are in our journey towards aligning and providing seamless and continuity in literacy instruction for our refugee students from the ELL classroom to the general education classroom.

•Provide data to illustrate how these changes have positively affected student achievement and individual growth in literacy.

•Celebrate the work of our students, families and staff in our vision of achieving high levels of learning for our refugee students in reading.

WHAT WAS THEIR JOURNEY LIKE? WHAT IS A REFUGEE?

HTTP://WWW.D41.ORG/LINCOLN_BOE.HTM

MEET OUR KIDDO’S. THEY INSPIRE US EACH DAY…

“People without information cannot act. People with information

cannot help but act” Blanchard

• Develop a common understanding of best practices in balanced literacy instruction.

• ELL specialize in how to teach multi-lingual students and are the experts in best practices in ELL, not reading.

• Literacy specialists expertise is in the area of balanced literacy. We wanted to merge the two together and build the capacity in both reading and ELL best practices.

• Transfer the knowledge and skills.

•Deepen that understanding and create continuity and alignment in teaching reading from the general education classroom to the ELL classroom in order to better support our students.

•Change the way we deliver instruction by improving kids life chances.

Our Vision:

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT“IT TAKES A VILLAGE….”

School: ELL teachers, classroom teachers, social workers, nurse, after school program, Administrators, summer school, field trip experiences

Home: Background intake, home visits, parent education meetings

Community: After school Resource Center, connection to community resources (library visits, dental hygiene) Food Bank backpack program

Our Journey:

From a Series of Islands to one country

EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION…MAKING EVERY CHILD A READER AND WRITER

“Teacher expertise is the most important factor in improving

students' learning.” (Darling-Hammond & Mc Laughlin, 1999)

WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING THE ABILITY TO…

Use powerful assessment tools and techniques

Translate information about student performance into instructionally relevant techniques

Observe and respond to student learning with differentiated instruction

OUR INSTRUCTION Developmentally- appropriate curriculum Comprehensive and balanced literacy

program: "including the use of scientifically based instructional practices." Reading and Writing Workshops

Explicit instruction in different component areas of literacy at different developmental stages

Assessments that informs instruction Extensive opportunities to read and write Different materials, tasks, and approaches to

accomplish different outcomes Instruction that is differentiated and

responsive to students’ needs

GUIDED READING- 2ND GRADE MS. JAKALSKI

WRITER’S WORKSHOP- AUTHOR CELEBRATION! ENL- MRS. KUMMER

WORD STUDYENL- MS. CAPENIGRO

WRITER’S WORKSHOPKINDERGARTEN- MRS. VASILE

OUR DATA

Then… In years past, we had not met the needs of our

refugee students. As measured by our state and local assessments, our students did not show growth.

Now… In just half a years time, our refugee students

have shown tremendous growth due to the changes and alignment in instruction.

Please celebrate with us the amazing growth our students have demonstrated so far this school year on the MAP and Fountas and Pinnell Assessments

Powered by one spark…a blaze begins.

BLAZING!Thein Han grew 7 points on the

Map and moved from a Level C to a Level G in reading!

Red Hot!Moo Htoo grew 5 points on the MAP and progressed from a Level B to Level E already!

Smokin’!Merry Lai soared from a Level C to a Level G in reading!

Red hot!!San Dar Win jumped 11 points, and went from a Level F to a Level L!

Sizzling!Umesh Magar leaped from Level D to Level L in just half a school year!

Blazing!Taw Meh soared from a Level C to Level F!

Sizzlin’!Wa He Da jumped 3 levels and now reads at Level E!

Red hot!Sha Hi Du Lah leaped 14 amazing points on the MAP!

Blazing hot!8 point jump for Swa Dik!

Volcanic!Lee Meh exploded 7 points higher, and wentFrom a Level C to a Level F!

Sizzling!Salama Fuhara catapulted from Pre-A to a Level C in reading!

Smokin’ hot!Hser Gay Htoo grew 7 points so far this year. He is now

reading at Level A!

Sizzlin’ hot!Paw His Hser is rockin’ with a 6 point jump! She is now reading at Level A!

Red Hot!A gigantic leap Paw Hser Gay of 26 points!

Powered by one spark…a blaze begins.

In a Professional Learning Community, it truly takes a village…

Office staff: representing the heart and face of Lincoln

Specials Teachers: nurturing bodies and souls, teachers of literacy and math through art, music and physical education.

Administrators: setting high goals, leading, encouraging and supporting staff at all levels

ENL staff: Bridging diverse worlds, allowing students to the opportunity for life

chances

PRIS: building confidence and skills with small group reading instruction.

Special Education staff: loving, skilled guidance with individual educational goals

Aides: providing one-on-one academic and emotional support

Classroom teachers: teaching with intention, assessing progress, changing instruction and collaborating to meet the needs

of our kids.

Glen Ellyn Community Resource Center – Crucial after school academic, social & emotional support

Nurses, social workers, speech therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist: addressing physical, emotional, hands-on needs of our students

Custodial staff: providing a clean, safe, and welcoming environment

Specialists: building and modeling best practices and skills for staff and students

Central Office: Providing high expectations, caring guidance, encouragement, assistance and support so we can do our work on behalf of all kids!

Board of Education: Partnering with all of us on our students’ educational journeys!

Team Lincoln, District #41, Board of Education,

Our hard work is paying off… Keep the fire burning!

Special thanks to Ken Harbauer a member of the D#41 “Dream

Team” of technology for his assistance in creating this

presentation.