What Works in the ESL Classroom

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What Works in the ESL Classroom

• and inspiring learners for life!

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Today, we will discuss

• Plano ISDs ESL offerings
• Philosophy behind our ESL program
• Instructional Ideas to implement
• Additional supports for ELLs

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Plano ISDESL Offerings
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Rigorous English Instruction

• ESL classes take the place of a regular English
  class for our ELL population.
• Using second language acquisition techniques, we
  rapidly teach our students both social and
  academic language, while following the TEKS set
  by the state.

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Content Based Courses

• We offer special courses for our Beginning level
  students in both science and social studies,
  expanding English vocabulary through REAL
  content.
• We also offer ESL Math to a large population of
  our students.
• We understand that our students can work on level
  with vocabulary support and accommodations.

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Philosophy Behind Our ESL Program
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Our ESL Classroom

• Student choice equals high interest
• Small groups encourage non-threatening
  environment for learning
• Cooperative learning and collaborative learning
• Authentic learning experience
• Gives students the confidence they need to be
  successful in general education classes
• Teacher facilitated, student lead
• Students take ownership in learning
• Promotes high level thinking

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Looks Like

• Working together, asking each other questions,
  debating topics, sharing ideas, learning with and
  from each other.

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Instructional Ideas to Implement
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Book Club
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Student Comments

• I think book club is learnable because you read
  real books and not sheets of paper with
  questions.
• I really think book club is a fun way to learn
  and discuss with your group about the book you
  chose. When you get to choose your favorite book
  that means you want to read more and learn more.
  Its not just a fun way to learn, its the
  fastest way to learn. Thats my opinion.
• I think book club is fun and a good idea because
  you can talk about your best book with your
  friends and sometimes your non-best friends.

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Varied Reading Methods
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Reading Genres Used

• Non-Fiction
• Poetry
• Short Stories
• Self Selected Novels
• Content Area Text Books

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Post-it Comprehension
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The person doing the talking is the person doing
the learning!
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Writing Workshop
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The Reading Writing Connection
When students read like writers and write like
readers, truly amazing things occur!

• Theme Connections
• Blogging
• Character Changes
• Persuasive Writing
• Book Reviews
• Issue Based Writing
• Writers Notebook

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Student Choice in Writing Topics

• By allowing students to choose both their books
  and their writing topics, they take ownership in
  their learningit becomes authentic and
  meaningful.

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Writers Notebook

• Writing Territories (Topic List)
• Observations List
• Grammar mini lessons
• Crafting mini lessons
• Modeling lessons

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Additional Supports for ELLs
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Classroom Support

• We offer additional support to our students in
  their general education classes.
• We attend class with them, pull them out during
  class for one-on-one assistance, and offer
  academic overtime before and after school.

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Adaptations and Accommodations

• Lengthen time allowed for each task.
• Concrete materials to provide additional cues
  (manipulatives, pictures, etc.)
• Visuals possible (charts, slides, videos, maps,
  handouts, graphs,
• Audio material (tapes, CDs, videos, etc.)
• Textbooks and other materials with key portions
  highlighted.
• Simple monolingual dictionary.
• Bilingual dictionary.
• Cooperative learning activities.
• Simplify instructional language, not content.
• Avoid penalizing for spelling, grammatical
  errors.
• Pre-teach key vocabulary.
• Peer tutor.
• Encourage questions.
• Encourage student to build vocabulary card files.
  
• Encourage communication dont dwell on flaws.

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Spanish for Native Speakers

• Planos AP Spanish Program enhances students
  native language to build academic knowledge in
  both English and Spanish.
• Students receive Spanish 1 and Spanish 2
• This credit places the students on the
  Recommended Graduation plan
• Builds cognition which transfers
• For 2010-2011, a middle school Spanish for Native
  Speaker Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 will begin.
• Speakers who did not qualify for AP Spanish, so
  that they can further build upon their first
  language and graduate
• Students will take one year of Spanish as 8th
  graders and receive two credits of Spanish
  towards graduation.
• Students will take Spanish 3 as 9th graders.

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Summer School Programs

• Transition courses
• 5th to 6th grade
• Working on 8th to 9th grade
• Working on 10th to 11th grade
• Credit Courses
• Spanish for Native Speakers
• Algebra Readiness
• PE Foundations
• Geometry
• English Credits
• And more

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Other Extended Day Options

• Summer Camp for ELLs prior to the start of the
  school year
• Summer book bags to encourage continued reading
  throughout summer vacation
• Use of Technology (IPod's, net books, etc)
• Investigating the Use of Credit by Exam given in
  native language
• Investigating the Use of Night School and
  E-school especially designed for our ESL students

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Our Goal is Simple
Inspire life-long, passionate learners and meet
the needs of our students, everyday
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Questions?
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Contact Information
Libby T. DeLeón, Secondary ESL Coordinator Plano
ISD [phone] libby.deleon_at_pisd.edu 2700
W. 15th Street Plano, Texas 75075 Chrissi
Cawthon, Carpenter Middle School ESL TL Plano ISD
[phone] chrissi.cawthon_at_pisd.edu 1501
Cross Bend Plano, Texas 75023