information session for families of english language · pdf fileinformation session for...

Information Session for families of

English Language Learners

Amanda Turcotte: ESL Director Merites Abelard: K-4 ESL Instructor

Kristine Mastrogiacomo: 5-12 ESL Instructor

O What have you heard that is untrue about

ESL? O How are potential ESL students identified? O What does it mean to be an ELL? O What test did/will my child take? O Who are “typical” FRCS ELLs? O What does the ESL program involve? O How does the ESL program affect what

classes my child takes? O Who is my child’s ESL teacher?

Today’s Goals are to Answer:

Common Misperceptions Myth Reality

Students aren’t instructed in English Students are instructed in English within Sheltered English Immersion classes

Students are separated from classmates; not in CORE classes

Students remain with non-ELL peers in CORE classes

ESL is Special Education ESL is not part of the Special Education department; being an ELL is not a learning disability

ELL means a student who doesn’t speak English or wasn’t born in the U.S.A.

ELLs are students who are exposed to another language at home through reading, writing, speaking, or listening

O FRCS follows MA Regulations:

O Home Language Survey

OFirst language OExposure to other languages at home OSpeaking, listening, reading, or

writing

ESL Program: Identification

O English Screener Test

O 1= Entering ELL O2= Beginning ELL O3= Developing ELL O4= Expanding ELL O5= Bridging (no ESL services required) O6= Reaching (compared to native

English speaking peers/ no ESL services required)

ESL Program: Identification

ESL Program: Students

Current ELLs

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Current ELLsFormer ELLs

O Diverse Language Backgrounds: O Haitian Creole

O Yoruba O Russian O Chinese O Arabic

O Kannada O Kikuyu O Hindi

O Telugu O Spanish

O Urdu O Gujarati

O Igbo

ESL Program: Students

O Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Classes: O ELLs take regular general education CORE classes

with non-ELL peers. O Classroom teachers are responsible for

“sheltering” ELLs exposure to English, which means using strategies for making the language accessible to ELLs in a regular education setting.

O ESL teachers will provide in class language

support to ELLs during some CORE classes on a regular schedule.

ESL Program: In Class Services

O “Pull Out” Support: O ELLs are taken out of unstructured non-

academic periods, such as Academic Enrichment, for small group or individual support. O Reading skills O Writing skills O Listening skills O Speaking skills O Long-term writing assignments from CORE classes, such as

ELA Writing Portfolios or Science Labs

ESL Program: Pull Out Services

O FRCS follows MA Regulations: O No more MEPA testing O Replaced with January ACCESS test

O Speaking O Listening O Reading O Writing

O Results mailed home at the end of the school year

O Method of graduating from the ESL program (FLEP)

ESL Program: Mid-Year Assessment

How Can Families Help? O Have conversations about the English books your

child is reading in and out of school O Encourage your child to read English books aloud

to you O Ask your child to explain his/her day to you in

English O Use local libraries as resources for English books

and audio books for your child O Encourage your child to read a book of choice each

night O Go over Progress Report goals with your child O Allow for plenty of rest and a good breakfast

before ACCESS

ESL Web Resources O www.betterlanguageteaching.com www.readtoday.net O www.brainpopesl.com www.rong-chang.com O www.elcivics.com www.simplyesl.com O www.englishclub.com www.talkingenglish.com O www.englishforum.com www.teachchildrenesl.com O www.esl4teachers.com www.teacherjoe.us O www.eslflow.com www.teachingenglishgames.com O www.esl-galaxy.com www.tefl.net O www.eslgo.com www.usingenglish.com O www.eslhq.com www.visualesl.com O www.esljunction.com O www.esl-kids.com O www.eslkidslab.com O www.eslkidsstuff.com O www.eslkidsworld.com O www.esl-learners.com O www.eslpartyland.com O www.eslwonderland.com O www.learningenglishfeelsgood.com O www.literactive.com O www.literacycenter.net

Contact Information O ESL Director

O Amanda Turcotte O aturcotte@foxboroughrcs.org O (508) 543-2508 ext. 276

O K-4 ESL Instructor O Merites Abelard

O mabelard@foxboroughrcs.org O (508) 543-2508 ext. 134

O 5-12 ESL Instructor O Kristine Mastrogiacomo

O kmastrogiacomo@foxboroughrcs.org O (508) 543-2508 ext. 174

Questions & Answers Please join us in the ESL Resource Room- room 134 near the second grade classrooms- for Q&A and

refreshments!