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  • 06 Mar 2024 8:23 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Shared from Jody Nolf, VISTA Learning - Literacy Engagement Specialist 

    ESL? Where do I start? How do I communicate? HELP!

    If you’re like many teachers, you might find yourself thrust into exciting new territory this school year.  Schools around the country are seeing an influx of English/multilingual learners with unique needs that extend beyond language learning, and educators are finding themselves in classrooms filled with students they aren’t accustomed to teaching.

    Depending upon their home country, English/multilingual learners arrive with various levels of education, life experiences, and background knowledge. Some students have interrupted learning experiences (SIFE or SLIFE students) and tend to struggle with literacy in any language. Others might speak and understand their heritage language (often referred to as the L1), but cannot read or write in that language. Many educators are finding themselves overwhelmed and underprepared to meet the needs of their newcomer students, but there are simple strategies and scaffolds educators can use to better educate this diverse population of learners and acclimate them to the American classroom.

    Where Do I Start? 

    Start with a smile! A welcoming environment immediately puts students at ease and reduces what is known as the affective filter, i.e., any barrier to learning such as anxiety or lack of confidence. Students are more apt to learn in an environment where they feel a sense of safety and encouragement. Once students feel safe, true language learning can begin, and there is no better place to start than with introductions. Welcome your students and embrace their unique backgrounds.

    Greetings

    One way to foster communication is through authentic experiences. Begin with “hello” and model simple yet important greetings like “How are you?,” “What is your name?,” and “My name is….”  Students will not only learn how to engage with others in their new language, they will also learn language that helps them identify themselves and others and their roles in the community with phrases like “Mrs. Carter is my teacher,” “Alana is my classmate,” “I am a teenager,” and “I like to swim.”

    Vista’s series for newcomers in grades 1-12, Get Ready!, opens with these themes and is specifically designed for both elementary and secondary beginning-proficiency students. The series also offers educators easy-to-follow lessons that demonstrate welcoming rituals and celebrate identity.

    TPR—Total Physical Response

    These engaging lessons also allow teachers to employ the TPR—Total Physical Response—method of teaching. TPR is a great way for educators to convey meaning, while newcomers can use TPR to show their understanding of language. Newcomers wave or high-five their classmates when learning to say “hello,” and point to themselves when saying, “My name is….”  These students begin to understand general welcoming rituals in a language-rich, authentic setting.

    Visual Cues

    When working with newcomers, teachers of all grade levels and content areas can present lessons with visual cues as an effective way to convey meaning. In the Get Ready! series, each page of instruction contains photographs, symbols, or images that accompany both academic and practical language (often referred to as “survival English”). Students see children on the pages who look like them, while also learning how to interact appropriately with others in their world.

    Visuals are also useful in acclimating newcomer multilingual learners to their new school. For example, you may use graphics to create a daily schedule for students. While the words “lunch” or “cafeteria” might be unfamiliar to a newcomer student, pictures of food and a room with children eating creates meaning and context for a student learning to navigate their school day. Such familiarity builds confidence, while also developing the language.

    Oral Fluency

    As newcomer multilingual learners become accustomed to their new language and environment, the need for verbal expression grows. Simply stated, these students should be encouraged to speak and utilize their new language. However, many newcomers experience what is known as a “silent period.”  This silent period should not be dismissed as merely a passive activity devoid of any learning, however.  The silent period is an excellent opportunity for newcomers to absorb the language that is all around them. Oftentimes, educators mistakenly associate lack of speech with lack of understanding. This is not always the case. Many multilingual learners are not yet at a level of comfort where they wish to demonstrate speaking skills, but they are able to show their understanding through other means, such as drawings, pointing, or role play, and these less-confident newcomers should be encouraged to do so.  Teachers can, however, reinforce speaking skills in a very low-stress setting. Get Ready! allows students to practice their oral fluency through the program’s embedded speaking exercises. These activities can be assigned for at-home practice, one-on-one, or with a shoulder partner if desired. This feature also allows students to try out their speaking skills while avoiding whole-group (choral) reads or echo practices, where the entire class is involved.

    Working with newcomer English/multilingual learners doesn’t need to be a nerve-wracking experience. In fact, many teachers find that after the initial fears subside, these students are apt to be engaged and motivated to learn. With the appropriate scaffolds and strategies in place, students can learn English at a steady pace and can achieve academic success alongside their native English-speaking peers. The key is implementing the right scaffold, or level of support, for the student’s level of English proficiency. And just like structural scaffolds, learning scaffolds are designed to be adjusted as the student learns. For example, as multilingual learners grow in their new language (called the L2), teachers will discover that they don’t need to employ as many visual or verbal cues as when their students first entered their classroom. Classroom labels such as “pencil” or “notebook” can be removed once students have mastered those terms—and master them they will. With the proper supports and a nurturing environment, these students can be successful!

    By: Jody Nolf


  • 29 Jan 2024 8:15 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Andrea Smith, Education Consultant SIG Leader

    An increasing number of consultants are recognizing the critical role DEI plays in effective educational support. Let's be honest, the educational consulting industry hasn't always been a shining beacon of diversity. Many services are inaccessible to low-income families, and consultants haven't always reflected the full spectrum of experiences students navigate. We observe biases in recommendations, standardized test prep strategies that favor certain learning styles or cultural backgrounds, and a lack of understanding of the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities.

    Education opens doors, shapes futures, and fulfills potential. Yet, for many, those doors remain stubbornly shut, their futures dimmed by systemic inequities that permeate our educational landscape. As educational consultants, we hold a significant responsibility: to ensure our services serve not just a privileged few, but uplift and empower students from all backgrounds and walks of life. That's where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) come in, as guiding principles for a more just and equitable future of education

     We can start building an inclusive future by:

    • Diversifying: We need consultants who represent the diversity of students we serve. This means actively seeking professionals from underrepresented backgrounds and building mentorship programs to nurture future generations of consultants.

    • Centering equity: It's not enough to simply "check the box" of different identities. We must proactively address systemic barriers, advocate for equitable access to resources and opportunities, and challenge our own implicit biases.

    • Culturally responsive strategies: Understanding students' backgrounds, learning styles, and lived experiences is key to providing effective support. Consultants need to develop culturally responsive strategies that cater to diverse needs and learning preferences.

    • Amplifying marginalized voices: We must create platforms for students from marginalized communities to share their experiences and perspectives. This not only enriches the dialogue but also allows us to learn and grow as practitioners.

    • Partnering for change: Working alongside community organizations, educators, and families is essential. Collaboration allows us to identify needs, share resources, and build a comprehensive network of support that extends beyond individual consultations.

    Embracing DEI in educational consulting isn't a one-time event, it's a continuous journey of learning, reflection, and action. It's about building bridges of understanding and support. It's about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to reach their full potential. As consultants, we can be agents of change, not just for individual students, but for the future of education itself. Let's open those doors, shine a light on untapped potential, and empower every student to walk confidently through the halls of their dreams.

    Join the conversation! Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas on how we can further strengthen DEI in educational consulting.

  • 02 Jan 2024 9:48 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Dr. Juvenal E. Abrego, Administration SIG Leader

    WIDA Preparation 

    The administration of the WIDA ACCESS test is always a stressful time for schools.  LIEP teachers and testing coordinators become highly stressed for a period of weeks as they navigate the difficult world of administering the ACCESS test. Some helpful tips for LIEP teachers to prepare are:

    • Ensure all rosters are printed and all students are accounted for, This should include verifying new enrollments, and matching students’ registration to the testing website. 
    • Set a date and time to meet with your school administration to determine a plan of action: Dates, location, classrooms, testing administrators and proctors. 
    • For the listening portion of the WIDA assessments headphones are used. LIEP teachers must have a supply of earbuds or headphones that can be used for the audio portion of the test. If this is not the case, the school administration will need sufficient time to place an order. 
    • A helpful recommendation for LIEP teachers to avoid make-up testing is to have a designated daily make-up room and session, so that this becomes an ongoing process. 
    • Some schools have found success in training classroom teachers to take the test to be WIDA testing administrators. This can expedite the administration process as several grade levels or groups can be tested in a week. 

    In summary, the administration of the WIDA test does not have to be a painful process or a two month event. Sufficient planning and  thoughtful preparation can lead to a successful WIDA administration with minimal interruptions to the school’s instructional day.

  • 07 Oct 2023 9:15 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Isra Nikoolkan, VATESOL Blog Editor

    Image preview

    The VATESOL 2023 conference was a resounding success thanks to the participants as well as the vendors. The VATESOL board would like to share information from one of our vendors, CodeVA.

    CodeVA offers free E-Learning Asynchronous Modules on demand. No assignments. No live meetings. No camera requests.

    Just the information you need to get started with CS, including the state standards and key resources. In addition they give you ways to explore how you might begin integrating computational thinking and computer science into any content area(s) you teach!

      *   Designed for PK-8 educators of all grades, students, and subject areas.
      *   Great starting point for anyone interested in integrating CS!
      *   Virtual, Asynchronous. On your own schedule.
      *   No prior knowledge or experience required.

    For more information, click on: https://codeva.arlo.co/w/ondemand/

  • 19 Sep 2023 10:10 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by: DRC

    Reading is top of mind when it comes to closing gaps in student achievement and the Virginia Literacy Act calls this out specifically, stating that (source):

          “Every family will have access to online resources to support literacy development at home, and will be able to participate in the development of their child’s student reading plan”, and

          “Every teacher of students in kindergarten to grade 3: Uses evidence-based literacy curriculum for the entire literacy block assesses student learning using approved literacy screeners routinely throughout the year.”

    It comes as no surprise to members of VATESOL that English Learners (ELs) have unique needs when it comes to reading instruction, nor does it surprise EL teachers that most of the reading instruction EL students experience takes place in the general education classroom, with dedicated teachers who may not have a background in Second Language Acquisition. Given that 9.6% of K-12 students in Virginia are ELs, it stands to reason that all teachers need to be informed on what works best for their EL students when it comes to reading instruction. They also need to have the data necessary to make informed instructional decisions. One way to do this is to utilize the LAS Links Progress Monitoring and Student Report.

    ... for full access to DRC's blog, please click this link.


  • 16 Aug 2023 1:07 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Kathryn Manning, K-12 SIG Leader

    Starting out the new school year--how will you make an impact?

    Around this time of year, we’re all busy bustling about, getting classrooms ready to be the place of welcoming and warmth for all newcomers and returning students. To help with your fresh start to the year, consider the following questions:

    How can I better engage with parents?

    In what ways can I support my learners to continue towards their journeys of success?

    How can I inspire collaboration and understanding with content teachers and staff?

    Here are three ideas to help answer some of these questions, or get your own creative thoughts flowing:

    Family Engagement

    To set a tone for valuing parents’ funds of knowledge, try encouraging them to participate in parent interest surveys or a back-to-school activity. While many parents struggle to answer questions about summer vacation, pivoting to asking “How does your family spend quality time together?” instead can bring out more valuable information.  Many of our Hispanic families for example, enjoy participating in barbecues with both immediate and extended family. This information could possibly inform future back-to-school events for parents, where teachers and parents can get to know each other over grilled vegetables and smoky meats. During school registration or back to school nights, parents can be invited to contribute a welcome back message or express their wishes for a successful school year for all students.  Imagine a growing list of positive messages in all parents’ languages to set the tone of “your language belongs” at school. 

    Reaching out to Teachers and Staff

    At the start of the school year, leap into action with an ELL Newsletter (particularly useful for itinerant ELL staff) to keep coteachers and staff on the same page and excited to start collaborating. Content can range from ELL-specific teaching tips to fun facts about learners’ home countries (a tidbit contributed by Staunton City Schools) or even introducing yourself if you are a new addition to the team.  Adding a section on FAQs can also help with commonly asked questions related to identification, exit requirements, ACCESS testing, etc. to further support members of your team in understanding learners better. 

    Supporting Students Towards Continued Success

    Reevaluating and reflecting on our own teaching practices is a great way to ease back into the school year. Are we continuing to give students the space they need to use language, both inside and outside the classroom? In her presentation at CAL’s Improving Instruction, Assessment, and Policies for Secondary English Learners Across the Content Areas, Amanda Kibler gives key considerations to evaluating the language spaces we create for our learners.

    She challenges us to evaluate our curricular materials and scaffolding methods to determine how they support learners in their language practices: are we as educators overemphasizing accuracy, repetition, and simplicity?

    Who are our students and how do we communicate their value in the classroom? Kibler stresses the importance of reframing our mindsets to encourage classroom student talk in what she terms critical dialogue to support co-construction, intellectual purpose, and community support and respect. To guide our learners in this endeavor, we can create spaces for students to have agency in the classroom, engage with authentically-relevant questioning, and share their multilingual and multicultural voices and perspectives in knowledge building, while also building norms together to further this goal.

    Kibler, A., Valdés, G., Walqui, A. (2021) Reconceptualizing the role of critical dialogue in American classrooms: Promoting equity through dialogic education. Routledge.

    What great ideas have you had for back-to-school activities and resources? Feel free to share with us at VATESOL.



  • 16 Aug 2023 11:13 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Andrea Smith, Education Consultant SIG Leader

    Can social emotional learning (SEL) have an impact on English Language Acquisition (ELA)?  Factors such as home environment, teacher quality, and student readiness are known to determine ELA outcomes. There is a scientific basis for possibly including SEL standards in English Language Plans (ELP), however, in order to make specific implications for using SEL in the actual planning for English Language Learners in the classroom, more research is needed on data-driven methods of developing inclusive environments where all students feel their assets are valuable and that their culture is considered. In the Social Emotional Learning Guidance Standards from Virginia Department of Education (VASELGS), five areas are identified: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Social Management, Relationship Skills, and Decision Making and can be used to determine their relationship with language acquisition. Additionally, these standards are definitely worthy of considering when collaborating with homeroom teachers, other staff members and stakeholders. 

    For more information check out the VASELGS @ Virginia Social Emotional Learning Guidance Standards. Videos from the Virginia Department of Education on Social Emotional Learning for all populations can be found @ Social Emotional Wellness Video Quick Guides - Virginia CLC (vastudentservices-clc.org).



  • 27 May 2023 9:14 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Dr. Juvenal E. Abrego, Administration SIG Leader

    Math has always been a challenging subject for many students. For English Learners, math becomes more than a challenge; it is a puzzle so difficult to decipher that it causes students to quickly experience a desire to give up. The complexity of the aforementioned lies in the lack of experiences, opportunities or exposure to help ELL students understand that Math is not difficult, but rather magical.  Danielle, a math coach in VA, challenged her third, fourth and fifth grade students to develop powerful tools to transform math challenges into fun adventures. Students began by checking on their own magic tricks, which were aligned with their basic math computation skills. Once students had self-assessed their ability to add, subtract, divide or multiply; they proceeded to use small group time to quickly accelerate their math computation skills to obtain magic wands that would give them the power to develop additional tricks.

    EL students were excited to show Danielle all their tricks. Some of them came up with their own flash cards, mnemonic devices and other tools that they used to demonstrate how they were quickly building their super power to be math wizards. The powerful aspect of Danielle’s math coaching story lies in the experience that she set up for her students to see math as a fun game. For EL students, Danielle’s approach is not just a fun opportunity to learn math, but a way to capitalize in day to day collaboration with peers. It also gave students their own agency to find resources that could help them remediate their weaknesses in such a way that they could continue to face additional math challenges with the certainty that they can and will be able to become successful in math if they think of each math concept as a trick to grow their power. In learning English, confidence is key. The story of Danielle’s students reminds educators that English learners are not limited by language, but rather by the opportunities that their teachers may deny to them when they don’t believe in the power of meaningful learning.


  • 27 May 2023 9:09 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Hali Massey, Adult Education SIG Leader

    The definition of numeracy is “the ability to confidently interact with and engage in the mathematical demands of everyday life in the home, workplace, and community” (Ciancone, 1996). Numeracy tasks occur regularly in everyday life, and it is important for adult English language learners to have the language and context in order to engage with these tasks (Ginsburget al, 2006). In addition, the US uses several systems that are most likely new to recent immigrants, refugees, or new Americans, such as the Imperial System of measurement, monetary values, western calendars, etc., so numeracy in the adult ESOL classroom helps to orient English language learners to these systems and measurements that they will encounter in the United States. 

    Examples of numeracy include: 

    • Using quantitative data to express facts and opinions, such as comparing prices or sales or analyzing statistics to make decisions or form opinions. 

    • Calculating percentages, such as when shopping and calculating sale percentages and when trying to calculate how much tax is owed or how much tip to leave.

    • Measuring items, such as knowing how much medication to take and measuring ingredients when cooking.  

    Some strategies for incorporating numeracy into the adult ESOL classroom include: 

    • Incorporate numeracy into classroom texts, videos, vocabulary, tasks, and discussions by aligning ESOL content with numeracy objectives: ESOL instructors can look at their curriculum or course materials to see where numeracy aligns with their content. This ensures that numeracy objectives will be contextualized within the already established classroom curriculum. See the following examples:

    Proficiency Level

    ESOL Content

    Numeracy Objective

    Beginner 

    Sharing personal information 

    Learn names of numbers (1-100) in order to share age, birth dates, and phone numbers.

    Beginner

    Sharing time from a clock and dates from a calendar

    Use numbers to communicate the time on a clock  and dates from a calendar in order to answer the questions of “What time?” and “When?”.

    High Beginner

    Shopping and buying goods

    Use amounts of money in dollars and cents to answer the question of “How much?”. 

    Low Intermediate

    Shopping and buying goods 

    Use addition and subtraction to add up amounts, calculate totals, and determine balances.

    Low Intermediate

    Giving directions

    Use differences in time to answer the question of “How long does it take to get from Point A to Point B?”.

    Intermediate

    Cooking and food 

    Use whole numbers and fractions to follow and/or write a recipe. 


    Example Lesson Plan

    Intermediate

    Paying bills and making a budget

    Calculate a monthly budget using a given monthly income. 

    High Intermediate

    Paying taxes 

    Use percentages to calculate food and retail tax. 

    Advanced 

    Housing

    Determine the financial benefits of buying versus renting.

    Advanced 

    Paying taxes 

    Use percentages to calculate state and federal income tax. 


    • Use graphics or images to represent statistics or situations that allow for numeracy discussions/activities: ESOL instructors can use graphics or images to engage learners in conversations that support learners in developing metalinguistic and metacognitive skills for processing numeracy situations in their everyday lives (Ciancone, 1996). For examples of instructional materials for this strategy, please see the members only resource section on the VATESOL website.

    • Assess how learners are using or need to use numeracy skills in their everyday lives and build off of those situations or problems. (Ciancone, 1996)

    In addition, these are some best practices to follow when incorporating numeracy into the adult ESOL classroom. (Ciancone, 1996)

    • Ensure that numeracy activities are interactive, collaborative, and relevant to the everyday lives of your learners. 

    • Encourage the focus to be on thought process and not on wrong or right answers and acknowledge various ways of thinking and reaching conclusions. 

    • Scaffold with visual representations such as images, graphs, charts, drawings, etc.

    • Integrate numeracy into the adult ESOL classroom from the beginning; meaning that all levels of proficiency are engaging in numeracy activities.  

    References: 

    Ciancone, T. (1996) Numeracy in the Adult ESL Classroom. Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). https://www.cal.org/adultesl/resources/digests/numeracy-in-the-adult-esl-class ro om.php#:~:text=Numeracy%20is%20the%20ability%20to,opinions%20and%20to%20analyze%20situations

    Ginsburg, L., Manly, M., & Schmitt, M.J. (2006). The Components of Numeracy. National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL). https://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/ resources/research/op_numeracy.pdf


  • 15 May 2023 12:27 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Authored by Victoria Pierson, VATESOL Vice President

    It sounds intimidating... submitting a proposal to present at a conference. We’re here to demystify the process and encourage you to submit a proposal for VATESOL’s upcoming conference this fall.

    First, let's break down the submission form. If it’s your first time considering a presentation at a conference, the submission form may seem overwhelming. Don’t worry… it’s really just three main sections of information:

    • Presenter Information: Share your contact information with us so that we can notify you if your proposal is accepted and credit you in our program! However, our proposal review process is fully anonymous - board members won’t be able to see your name on your submission until after all proposals have been reviewed and accepted or denied.
    • Presentation Type & Target Audience: Help us see where your presentation will fit within the organization of the conference. The Target Audience and Topic Emphasis fields are included in our program as a way for participants to easily locate sessions that may be most relevant to their current field or area of interest.
    • Presentation Details: Share with us the title, summary, and abstract of your proposed presentation. The title and summary will be printed in the conference program for participants, while the abstract is for our proposal reviewers to learn more about what you are proposing to present. Don’t stress… You aren’t expected to write a doctoral dissertation here! Just give us a clear and descriptive overview of your presentation: What information will you share? What will a participant walk away with after hearing your presentation? Be sure not to include any identifying information (like your school division, university, or hometown) in the abstract.

    Top Tips for Writing Your Proposal:

    1. Start with the theme. Past VATESOL board member Marie Rose-McCully shared:

    “Think about the conference as a conversation. How will your presentation fit into the conversation? What are you adding to the conversation? The reason we have a conference theme is so that people can engage in that shared conversation, examining a theme from multiple angles with even more perspectives. Proposals that do not add to that conversation feel out of place.”

    Our fall 2023 conference theme is : "Stronger Together: Building Partnerships for Language, Content and Community What great conversation pieces do you have to share with us?

    2. Follow the rubric. Current VATESOL teacher education SIG leader, Katya Koubek, highlights the importance of studying the rubric and ensuring that your proposal clearly meets the criteria. Clarity is key, so be sure to revise your writing before submitting!

    This year’s proposals will be evaluated for selection on the basis of the following criteria:

    • clear statement of objective
    • clear summary

    • current importance of topic in the field
    • focus and organization of abstract
    • relevance to conference theme and target audience
    • appropriateness of content for session duration

    3. Consider the audience. Past VATESOL president, Jana Moore, wrote:

    “What makes a great proposal is what the listener will get out of it. I don't want to go and listen to a speaker talk because they believe they are fabulous. I want to hear people talk about research or things they are doing in the classroom, and how it can be tweaked for my own purposes, or how that impacts what I'm doing. You can read a certain level of enthusiasm in proposals, and outstanding ones are those that ‘pop.’”

    That's it! Remember, what makes a great conference is a diverse group of presenters and presentations. We are looking for proposals from all stakeholders: K-12 teachers, administrators, adult educators, teacher educators, professors and university-level instructors, students... anyone who has something to contribute to our conversation!

    If you have any questions regarding our conference or submitting proposals, please email vatesol@gmail.com


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