The SI Shout Out!

Volume 1, Issue 5, February 28, 2017

How can technology be used with ELLs?

There are many great technology resources out there and new ones in the works everyday. From downloadable computer programs for desktops and laptops to apps that are accessible on all devices with free and paid versions, there are many programs available that can benefit English Language Learners at various stages of language development. I have barely scratched the surface of what's out there. Below are some sites Ashley and I have used or have seen/heard about others using.

Google Classroom (and many Google extensions) - now you can differentiate assignments and assign them to specific students in a group. Read this post to find out more! Also, check out our Ed Tech board on our Pinterest page (link at the bottom of the newsletter).

NewsELA - current event articles written at various reading levels. You can print the same article at multiple levels to help differentiate instruction.

TweenTribune - This Smithsonian site has articles that can also be printed at various reading levels.

Nearpod - One of my (Lauren) personal favorites! Create or import slides, pictures, videos, etc. and have students respond in real time. Student answers/ideas can be posted on the screen for the teacher and students to see, or responses can be seen by only the teacher for quick instant assessment. You can include sentence stems to help your ELLs get started on their thoughts. Watch some videos on their site to see how Nearpod could be used in your class.

Recap - a video recording site where students can tell teachers what they have learned in their own words. This tool would be great to find out what your ELLs know without them having to speak in front of the whole class. (See "A Tale of Success" below to learn how an Alvin ISD teacher is using Recap.)

Plickers - "Plickers is a powerfully simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices." Students do not need their own devices for you to use Plickers. This is a great non-threatening assessment of all students at once.

Edmodo - "Edmodo is a global education network that helps connect all learners with the people and resources needed to reach their full potential."

Edpuzzle - Add questions and comments to videos that your students watch, then look at student responses. This can be a great way to flip your classroom as well. Check out their video suggestions for various ways to use Edpuzzle in your classroom.

Desmos online graphing calculator or app - free app and online graphing calculator

Quizlet & Quizlet Live - Create flashcards to help your students study, or have the students create their own study tool.

Kahoot - Online learning/quiz game. They have now added Jumble and Podium.

What technology programs/apps/sites do you use in your classroom?

Email Lauren at lskeen@alvinisd.net or Ashley at amgomez@alvinisd.net with your

favorite tech resource,
how you use it with ELLs,
the name of your campus,

The first teacher from each campus to email us will receive a free Sonic drink (don't forget to tell us what you like).

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Using Recap in All Classrooms

Ashley and I were able to watch Robert Borden at Manvel Junior High utilize Recap in his classroom by having students summarize a topic from a previous lesson as their homework assignment. He then used one student's Recap video to review the topic the next day at the beginning of the class. Read Mr. Borden's explanation of Recap.

"RECAP is a website and mobile app that allows teachers to prompt students to respond by videoing themselves up to two minutes for specific assignments. RECAP allows the teacher to individually hear from each student and find out what he/she understands. RECAP is a great tool to help teachers understand how each student learns and to explain their way of thinking." ~ Robert Borden

To read about a high school ESL teacher's experience with Recap, check out this testimony, "Using Recap in the ESL Classroom."

"Knowing that the videos are private between the teacher and the students has reassured my students and allowed for a lot of them to take risks they would not normally take in class. It has allowed me to hear those quiet students and create bonding opportunities I never would have had before as an ESL teacher." ~ Alexandra Coutlee, Quebec, Canada

To learn more about Recap view the video below and go to https://letsrecap.com/.

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Real Life Connections

Sydney Parker at MJH teaches students about chemical and physical reactions by lighting a Flamin' Hot Cheeto on fire.

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Science Word Wall with Images and Cognates

Ms. Parker at MJH has word posters on her wall that not only show the word, but also Spanish cognates and a picture that illustrates the word's meaning.

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Math Word Wall with Formulas

Ms. Davis at MHS has a word wall with the math terms and formulas for students to reference in class.

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Annotations in English III

Ms. Hudson at SCHS teaches her students to annotate the text using the TPCAST strategy.

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Using Visuals to Support Meaning

Coach Dunbar at SCHS draws graphics on her classroom notes to help support meaning. She scaffolds by restating in a new way and by providing these visuals.

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Student Interviews

Ms. Lonsford at MJH had students in her Practical Writing class interview each other. The students had to talk about their home countries. After they interviewed each other, the students collaborated on a compare and contrast essay about their two home countries.

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All About Me

Coach Guzman's newcomer class wrote about their families. They created houses and decorated them with pictures of their families and symbols that represented their cultures. Coach Guzman posted their projects in the hallway for everyone to see.

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Four Corners

Mr. Rodriguez at MJH used the Four Corners strategy to help students review for their upcoming unit test. He projected the questions on the board, and students had to choose A,B,C, or D by moving to the wall with the posted letter. Mr. Rodriguez then randomized and asked students to justify their answers.

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Map Skills Vocab Board

Leslee Anderson at AJH posted map skills vocab with visuals to help her 6th grade social studies students associate new vocabulary with images.

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Social Studies Lap Book

Ms. Anderson has her students creating lap books with facts about Peru.

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Lap Book continued

Students even include recipes for Peruvian breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods.

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Student Created Timeline

Students worked together in Suzi Margraves' ESL class at AHS to create a timeline of events in an article they read. Students wrote events on various colors of paper and put them in order on the timeline.

How do you write COs and LOs?

Many teachers have questions about writing content objectives (CO) and language objectives (LO). Please view the video below about writing content and language objectives. The Google slides presentation has also been included for you to refer back to.

If you would like a training during your department or PLC time, please contact Lauren or Ashley using the contact info below. We are more than happy help!

Google Slides - create and edit presentations online, for free.

Create a new presentation and edit with others at the same time. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Slides to edit PowerPoint files. Free from Google.

drive.google.com

Event Information

English Language Arts QSSSA High School Training

Are you looking for a way to get your students talking about their learning in your class?

Join us as we demonstrate how to write QSSSAs, and then collaborate with ELA teachers from across the district to write QSSSAs for your own class.

Sign up in Eduphoria for ELA, HS, Q Triple S A - A strategy to get students talking about their learning, or click here to sign up.

When?

Wednesday, Mar 8, 2017, 03:15 PM

Where?

Alvin High School, 802 South Johnson Street, Alvin, TX, United States

location_on Open maps

Event Information

English Language Arts QSSSA Junior High School Training

Are you looking for a way to get your students talking about their learning in your class?

Join us as we demonstrate how to write QSSSAs, and then collaborate with ELA teachers from across the district to write QSSSAs for your own class.

Sign up in Eduphoria for ELA, HS, Q Triple S A - A strategy to get students talking about their learning, or click here to sign up.

When?

Wednesday, Mar 8, 2017, 04:30 PM

Where?

Alvin High School, 802 South Johnson Street, Alvin, TX, United States

location_on Open maps

Event Information

Language Objectives in ELA (Grades 6-12)

ELA teachers always ask, “Why are we writing language objectives when our content IS language?” We will talk about the power of objectives and how you can use them to maximize language learning.

Sign up in Eduphoria for ELA, 6-12, Language Objectives in ELA, or click here to sign up.

When?

Thursday, Apr 6, 2017, 04:30 PM

Where?

Manvel Junior High School, McCoy Road, Manvel, TX, United States

location_on Open maps

What's Happening on Your Campus?

Share some Strategies in Action or Tales of Success with Lauren or Ashley so that we can include it in our next newsletter and encourage other SI teachers. We would love to take some pictures or video (if you're willing)!