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Discover the comprehensive support services for English Language Learners (ELLs) in Bowling Green City Schools, including ESL programs, intervention initiatives, cultural respect, and early childhood education. Learn about Even Start, Preschool programs, and effective teaching strategies for all learners.
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Working with English Language Learners Bowling Green City Schools Vicki Writsel, Associate Superintendent Teresa Sneed, Even Start & Parent Involvement Coordinator Gina Holmes, Bilingual Instructional Assistant Krista Williams, Preschool Teacher Dianna Wolf, Primary ELL Teacher
Overview • Our District • Even Start • Preschool • Primary ELL
Bowling Green City Schools • 26 Tongues http://vimeo.com/21742992 • The Most Diverse School District in the State • Services for English Language Learners include but are not limited to: • Interpretation and Translation • Even Start Program • Differentiated Instruction • Intervention Programs • Home Visits
Student ESL Population – March 2011 Total Number of Languages Spoken: 23+ Total Number of Students Speaking Foreign Language: 507
What is ESL in BGISD? • English as a Second Language (ESL) is a special program in the Bowling Green Independent School District that is present at all 5 elementary schools, BGJHS, and BGHS. There are 15 ESL teachers that support over 500 English Language Learners (ELLs). • ELLs are students whose native language is not English. Currently BGISD supports over 26 different native languages. • The goal of ESL teachers is to help each student become English proficient in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while also supporting them in content areas to be successful students.
Things to Consider when working with English Language Learners • Stages of Language Acquisition • ELL or Disability? • Valid Assessment for Diverse Learners • Respecting Cultural Differences
Translation & Interpretation Services • Newsletters • Family Nights • ARC Meetings • Home Visits • Parent Conferences • Enrollment Assistance • Notes to Families • Phone Calls • Assessments
Even Start • Even Start is a federally funded Family Literacy Program that strives to improve educational opportunities of families by providing early childhood education, GED classes, or language classes and parent education. The program is designed to build on existing community resources to create a range of opportunities to meet the needs of each family enrolled.
About the Program Four Components • Early Childhood Education • Adult Literacy Training (GED Preparation Classes and English as a Second Language Classes), • Parent Education • Parent and Child Activity Time. • Home visits are made to assist families with program components and needs. Who is Eligible • Families who live in the Bowling Green City School District. • Parents and guardians of children under eight who need to learn English as a Second Languageor obtain their GED. • Teen parents who are not enrolled in a compulsory education program may also qualify.
Preschool • Opening the World of Learning – Core Curriculum • Breakthrough to Literacy – Computer Component and Home Connections • Imagine Learning English – Intervention • ELLCO & ECERS Rating Scales 2011 Classrooms of Excellence Recipient
Language & Literacy Strategies for all Learners • Repetition, Repetition, Repetition!! • Retelling & Dramatic Play • Phonemic Awareness • Multiple Modalities & Active Engagement • Home Connections • Learning Centers • Manipulate Vocabulary • Dictation of Play/Work • Vocabulary • Pre-Teaching • Review/Revisit • Engaging Classroom Environment • Make it theirs!! • Make it Safe for learning!!
Primary ELL • Early Literacy Research regarding Bilingual Children • Effective Instruction for Bilingual Children • Instructional Strategies • Misconceptions
Resources • www.ncfl.org – National Center for Family Literacy • http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/ - National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquistion • http://wonderopolis.org/ • http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp - Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages • http://www.naeyc.org/search/apachesolr_multisitesearch/english+language+learners – NAEYC results for English Language Learners • http://www.education.ky.gov/nr/rdonlyres/4d67b825-878f-43cb-adb3-a86a12653ea5/0/prekkellreferencehandbookfinalversion.pdf-PreK-K - PreK to K ELL Reference Handbook • Ten Languages You’ll Need Most in the Classroom by Sunden, Krieger, Pikiewicz • Literacy and the Youngest Learner by Bennett-Armistead, Duke & Moses • Preschool Readers & Writers by Linda W. Ranweiler • Literacy Play by West & Cox • Fee, Fie, Phonemic Awareness-130 Prereading Activities for Preschoolers by Hohmann • Letter Links – Alphabet Learning with Children’s Names by DeBruin-Parecki & Hohmann • Improving the Reading Skills of English Language Learners Resource Handbook by Cheryl Sweeney Bureau of Education & Research