english language learner (ell) program at island park

English Language Learner (ELL) Program at Island Park

September 24, 2012

ELL Staff

Kristin Kim (M/Tu/Th/F all day)

Anne Cameron (M-Th AM)

Kanako Kashima (M-Fri AM or PM)

Room 26

236-3426

Kristin Kim

• Occidental College (BA in Psychology, Teacher Certification)

• Endorsements: Psychology, Library Media

• Taught 4 years in CA

• Taught 6 years in WA (Edmonds SD, MISD)

• Third year as IP ELL teacher/K-12 ELL coordinator- Came to the U.S. at age 10

- Former IP parent (2 HS daughters in 9th/12th)

- Love to sing, listen to music, read, and volunteer

Anne Cameron

• Brigham Young University (BA in Chemistry)

• UW Bothell (Masters in Policy Studies)

• 6 ½ years working with ELL students at IP

• Went to school in Germany during 5th and 6th grades

• Love to read, sew, paint, and garden

• 3 children (2 daughters and 1 son)

Kanako Kashima• UW Seattle (BA in Health Education and Japanese Language &

Literature)• UW Seattle (MS in Kinesiology with emphasis on the elderly)• UW Bothell (Teaching certificate 2004)• Substitute teaching in Bellevue and MISD• 3rd-generation Japanese-American (bilingual)

- Worked as geriatric mental health specialist for 8 yrs

- Love to play “koto”, read, cook, knit, walk,listen to music, mushroom hunting

-Two sons

IP ELL Student Profile

56 students (41 primary/15 intermediate)

13 languages spokenKorean (18)

Japanese (9)

Mandarin (7)

Spanish (6)

French, Finnish (3)

Hebrew, Arabic (2)

Russian, Swedish, Portuguese,

Cantonese, Vietnamese, Farsi, Marathi (1)

Placement Test

• Given to new students if their first language was not English (foreign born or U.S. born)

• Used to determine their general English proficiency level and eligibility for ELL services

WELPA Placement Test

• Started using for 2012-2013 (previously WLPT-II)

• Grade band (K-1, 2-3, 4-5) tests

• Test in 4 areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)

Language Proficiency Levels

• Level 1: Beginning/Advanced Beginning

• Level 2: Intermediate

• Level 3: Advanced

• Level 4: Transitional – exit level

(not eligible)

Annual Test

• Taken by eligible students each year to measure progress until they reach exit level (Level 4)

• Testing window (between early February to early March)

WELPA Annual Test• Same format as placement test

• Longer than placement test

• Speaking scored by us, rest of test is sent for scoring

• Results come out in June (score/level for each area + composite score/level)

• Additional info provided:

– Social (listening and speaking)

– Comprehension (reading and listening)

Annual Test Results

• Those students who score at Level 4 will exit the ELL Program at the end of the current school year and will no longer qualify for ELL services in the new school year.

• Those students scoring at Levels 1-3 will continue receiving ELL services in the new school year.

• Typically, it takes one year to move up one level

• Since many of our students come with skills and experiences in their own languages, the progress is often faster

• Most students exit the program within 3 years

Length of Time in ELL Program

ELL Program

Mission Statement

English Language Learners (ELL) will meet state standards and develop English language proficiency in an environment where language and cultural assets are recognized as valuable resources to learning.

Goal To develop ELL student’s proficiency in

English so he/she can participate more fully in the regular classroom setting.

MISD’s Model of Instruction for ELL Students

• Sheltered English Instruction (content-based ESL) – teacher provides instruction in English by making content comprehensible for ELL students

• Most of the IP staff has been trained in Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP)

How Services are Delivered

Amount of service and type of support are determined by student’s level and specific needs, and by ongoing communication/collaboration with the classroom teacher

• Small group (pull-out)• In-class• One-on-one (pull-out)

Some Materials Used• Books on many subjects

• Leveled readers

• Picture dictionaries/bilingual dictionaries

• Educational games/Manipulatives/Flashcards

• Kindles for literature study (with translation feature and dictionary look-

up)

• Raz-Kids (4th/5th graders)

Benefits of ELL Program Participation

1. The ELL staff knows each student well. We act as the student’s advocate by monitoring progress and communicating with teachers to provide appropriate accommodations/modifications in class assignments and tests.

2. ELL students can receive additional accommodations during state testing (MSP for 3rd/4th/5th graders):

• Audio translated CDs in math and science (in K/C/V/S/R)

• Bilingual dictionary during writing• Administration by ELL staff in a small

group setting with frequent breaks

Those students who have been in the U.S. schools for less than a year can opt out of taking reading and writing sections of the state tests.

Standards Based Report Card

4 = Exceeding Standards

in-depth inferences & applications

3 = Meeting Standards at Trimester

simple or complex skills, grade level tasks

2 = Progressing Towards Standards

simpler details and processes

1 = Below Standards

with help, a partial understanding

ELL Progress Report

• Supplemental progress report by the ELL staff for those students we service regularly

• Shows progression of skills in following directions, listening/speaking, reading, writing (whether emerging or competent)

• Three reporting periods (November, March, June)

Parent Conferences

• I’ll be attending many of your conferences to gather and/or share info. with parents

• If you need an interpreter* for the conference, contact me by email or phone

The Mercer Island School District provides limited English

proficient parents with information in their own language so that they can make informed decisions about their children's education. This includes

providing interpretation and translation services for vital meetings and communications. If you need assistance,

please email Learning Services Coordinator Jan Kentnor.

How Parents Can Help• Have students read for pleasure at one’s

comprehension level (Stephen Krashen)• Explain difficult concepts in one’s own

language (Jim Cummins- skills, ideas, and concepts students learned in 1st lang. will be transferred into 2nd lang.)

• Provide electronic bilingual dictionary • Help with homework/projects• Keep up with the first language

(bilingualism is an asset)

Needs

• Books in native languages

• Translated books (American literature translated into native languages)

ELL Webpages

• District ELL Webpage

• IP ELL Webpage

Look Ahead

• ELL Parent Coffee Gatherings (first one on Wed. 9/24)

• Thanksgiving celebration (2nd-5th graders)