The ES ELL department was on full throttle this week. Mrs. Meredith and Ms. Landes focused on F&P testing while Mr. Rosenthal, Ms. Campagna and Ms. Costeira were engaged on starting reading units in their respective grade levels.
We spent a significant amount of time discussing our Language Policy and exploring different ways of supporting our learners before it even becomes an issue. One problem that we often deal with is differentiating between poor behavior and language proficiency. We encourage parents to review the ES Discipline Plan with their child/children and remind them that at KISJ not using the connecting language in class can be a level 1, level 2 or even level 3 detracting behavior. Homeroom teachers are able to deal with the matter in a few different ways, and one option is to send students for extra language support with one of the ELL teachers. It is important that students know the difference between choosing not to use the connecting language in class as opposed to not being able to speak it as we would like to use our time with students that truly need language support. Finally, here is a really good article for teachers. It shares tips for supporting English Language Learners in Reader's and Writer's Workshops. It was shared with us by our ELL Coordinator, Ms. Hampton.
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Listening is a very important skill for all learners. It is especially critical for English Language Learners (ELLs) because students in an English immersion environment spend most of their school day listening, as opposed to reading and writing. Listening impacts a student's ability to hold a conversation. Having proficient listening skills allows students to understand instructions and information, allowing them to respond or act appropriately. ![]() Passive vs. Active Listening There is a difference between listening to hear (passive listening) vs. listening to understand (active listening). Passive listening is hearing something without the intention of responding. The listener may hear what is being said but does not necessarily retain information. Passive listening is one-way communication from the speaker to the listener. Examples: listening to the TV or radio. On the other hand, active listening is listening in order to understand. The listener listens to what is being said to get an understanding of a message. Active listeners also pay close attention to a speaker's non-verbal cues (body language, gestures, etc.) to interpret the message. Examples: listening and participating in a dialogue or discussion. Listening Language Frames - 2 strategies to try at school and at home Teaching students the words and language structures they can use to improve their understanding provides an opportunity for growth in listening, communication, and confidence. Students need to know what to do when they don't understand something and when they think they do understand it but want to confirm that it is correct (Ferlazzo & Sypnieski, 2018). Strategy #1: Clarify unknown words Example: Teacher - "Take out your outline." Student - "Excuse me, what does outline mean?" Strategy #2: Paraphrase what you have heard Teacher - "Take out your outline." Student - "So the outline is the paper with the boxes, right?" Other tips to improve active listening: - Always remember to look at the speaker - Pay attention to non-verbal cues (body language, facial expressions, gestures, etc.) - Note tone of voice - Listen to the words and try to picture what the speaker is saying - Ask questions to clarify understanding - Summarize what you have heard |
AuthorThe Elementary ELL team! Archives
March 2019
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