Cerritos Elementary School

This week, I found an article about a school in California that is trying to turn their school into an attractive computer science school.  Cerritos Elementary School, in Glendale, CA has been experiencing low student enrollment.  The decline in the student enrollment is due to the cost of living.  Many families are unable to afford living in that area.  Around 84% of the students that attend this school come from low-income households.  English language learners make up 54% of the population.  Because of the low enrollment and the need to help these students, the school is looking to partner with Code to the Future.  Code to the Future is an organization that builds comprehensive curriculum and training system for teachers in order to provide students with computer science at a high level. 

Cerritos Elementary School wrote a proposal in order to integrate Code to the Future in their school.  To partner with Code to the Future, the school will spend a total of $266,000 that would be spread out through five years.  The school board is expected to vote on this proposal next month. 

This school is very committed to providing their students with computer science.  In 2013, school officials applied for a grant that would make Cerritos school a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics campus.  They were unsuccessful in acquiring the grant.  Despite this, the school found a way to incorporate technology by utilizing the available resources.  For example, they began teaching kindergartners how to use Google Drive and 6^th graders to create websites.  

Principal Chavez –Fritz strongly believes in the need for technology for this school.  She states that because of the number of low-income families and the number of English language learners, the school needs to provide coding to the students in order to give them opportunities so that they can be part of the workforce. 

I commend this school for all of their efforts to acquire the necessary technology in order to provide their students with the needed education.  I like the idea of Code to the Future.  They provide proper training and tools in order to use technology to its fullest. 

Reference:

Cerritos Elementary may become a computer science magnet.  (2017, June 22).  Retrieved June 27, 2017, from http://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-me-cerritos-20170622-story.html

We the People

Throughout the first 6 weeks of this course, we have all been introduced to many ways technology can be used in the classroom in order to help our English Language Learners. We learned that videos are a great way to engage these students and to provide them with a voice in a world that might be difficult for them.  I chose to write about an article that I found, “Central Voice Members Use Video to Increase Understanding”.  In this article, a group of English Language Learners from Central High School in Westerville, Ohio.  This group of students are a part of an after school program called ESL Central Voice Club.  They formed this group this past year in order to “promote understanding and friendship between people from diverse cultural backgrounds”.  The video titled, We the People, is about 15 minutes long.  The goal of the video was for these students to have a voice and to express how they are not that different from everyone else.  The students in the group are from Kenya, Palestine, Peru, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, and Yemen. 

This video is very powerful as the students explain what it feels like to be a teenager in America today.  One student, Mariana from Venezuela, recalls that on her first day in America she had to take a test.  Mo, from Syria shared how people talk to him differently, like he is stupid. Other words that the students used to express how they felt were, confused, alone, awkward.  When asked why they left their country, most explained that it was due to civil war.  One student explains that when they left their country, they thought that they would be welcomed here, but that was not the case. 

Videos are a great way for students to promote awareness and express themselves.  This group of students did a great job of doing both.  The students demonstrated what they have been through and how it has affected it.  I ask that if you have a moment, please watch this video and share with as many people as you can. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HatsilPEKNE

Reference:

Kuhlman, M.K. (2017, June 14). Central Voice members use video to increase understanding.  Retrieved June 20, 2017, from  http://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20170613/central-voice--members-use-video-to-increase-understanding

Online Learning Environment

EMC school has developed a program called Mirrors and Windows for Passport.  EMC school is known for providing language learning educational solutions.  Mirrors and Windows is a program that provides online teaching and learning environment.  Mirrors and Windows for Passport brings together different educational, social and life skills that students need to prepare them for college and eventually a career. 

Their program is based on “gradual release of responsibility”.  In this format, students are provided 3 levels of reading support.  The first level is guided reading.  In this level, students are provided guided reading instruction that is extensive during and after the lesson.  The second level is directed reading.  In this level, students are provided with extensive support before and after guided reading.  During reading, students practice necessary skills.  The third and last level is independent reading.  During this time, students are provided minimal support before and after reading. 

All lessons are tailored to suit each student’s needs.  The activities provided are real life experiences that students can relate to.  There are collaborative activities where students can work in teams or with one another.  All grading is instant.  Mirrors and Windows provides students with instant feedback.  Students are also provided instant feedback during essays. 

Passport can be accessed on any computer or mobile device.  Should a student not have access to internet at home, apps can be downloaded at school and uploaded later at home.  All materials can be printed if needed. 

Although this program was created for all classrooms, the program does include reading selections and activities that are for English Language Learners.  It also has a feature where it translates for students who are beginning to learn English.  It is a great tool for English Language Learners to progress as needed.  The program offers English Language Learners an opportunity to move at their own pace and it offers students with as much assistance as they need.  Not to mention that they receive immediate feedback on their work. 

Reference:

Leckstrom, J. (2017, June 08). EMC School Introduces Online Learning Environment for English Language Arts Curriculum.  Retrieved June 12, 2017, from: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/emc-school-introduces-online-learning-environment-english-language-arts-curriculum-2221004.htm

Teaching Tools

For this week’s blog, I found a great article on technology tools for English Language Learners.  This article provides a list of innovative technological teaching tools.  Most of these can be used in a regular classroom as well as an ESL classroom.  However, I chose a few of the technological tools that I felt would be best suited for an ESL classroom. 

The first technological program is Achieve 3000’s.  This innovative program is tailored for grades 2-12.  It provides differentiated instruction for English Language Learners at every stage.  The curriculum is aligned to each state’s grade level standards.  It is not only language arts, but it also covers science and social studies.  The goal of the program is to accelerate literacy growth.  It is tailored to each students’ reading level.  It monitors student’s progress and growth.  It can be accessed 24/7. 

The next technological program is HearBuilder Online.  This program is a multi-level instruction that can be used in general and special education programs.  It focuses on students Pre K-8^th.  It provides individualized instruction in early learning and foundational literacy skills.  It is aligned to Common Core standards.  It is divided into four categories.  First, following directions.  As students follow directions, they will have an opportunity to build their own toy factory.  Second, phonological awareness.  As students listen for sounds, syllables, words, and sentences, students earn instruments in order to create their own rock band.  Third, auditory memory practices listening strategies where students go on secret missions.  Last, in sequencing, students are provided with illustrated scenes and place them in the correct order.  They earn tokens to spend in the arcade. 

The last technological program is Study Sync.  Study Sync is a language art program that differentiates learning for targeted instruction for grades 6-12.  Within the program, a podcast was created called School of Thought.  In this podcast, episodes are provided with interviews from students from across the United States.  There are short readings and writing assignments that provide students with the opportunity to provide opinions. 

I have enjoyed reading about different technological programs available to help students but especially English Language Learners. I can see many benefits within each of these programs.  Not only are most aligned to the common core, but most importantly, they provide students with different ways of expressing themselves while learning.

 

Reference:

 A., & A. (2017, June 05). Teaching Tools.  Retrieved June 7, 2017, from https://www.languagemagazine.com/2017/06/teaching-tools/

Multilingual STEM EFL ELL Chart

In this ever changing world of education and technology, teachers are continuously looking for different ways to assist their students.  English can be a difficult language to learn for English Language Learners.  Language Lizard is a company that offers a wide variety of multilingual educational resources.  They have created a series of Literacy and STEM charts.  These charts will help multilingual students with terms in English, math, geography, and science.  The chart uses a PenPal Audio Recorder Pen.  This pen allows students to listen to different terms in English using visual and audio explanations.  These explanations are provided in more than 40 languages.

Using the Pen Pal Audio Recorder Pen, students can choose a language.  Then they can choose English, math, geography or science.  Students can also add their own recording or additional information by using recordable stickers.  Not only can teachers use these charts with students, but they can use it in order to communicate with parents.

I love the idea of these charts!  They can allow for students to become independent.  A student can use the chart to listen to terms in English as well as in their first language.  Students can also record themselves.  This allows students the opportunity to listen to themselves and practice how to say words.


Reference:

Heyman, M., & Basking Ridge, United States - May 25, 2017/Press Cable/. (n.d.) Multilingual STEM EFL ELL Chart Interactive English Resources Launched.  Retrieved May 31, 2017, from http://www.military-technologies.net/2017/05/25/multilingual-stem-efl-ell-chart-interactive-english-resources-launched/