Helping English Language Learners in the mainstream classroom Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL...

Helping English Language Helping English Language Learners in the mainstream Learners in the mainstream

classroomclassroom

Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL DepartmentDepartment

November 4, 2008November 4, 2008

By the numbers…By the numbers…

During the course of the last three years, During the course of the last three years, the number of English Language Learners the number of English Language Learners in the district’s K-12 classrooms has in the district’s K-12 classrooms has increased almost 100%increased almost 100%

New language groups and ethnicities have New language groups and ethnicities have moved to Pittsburgh and now know this moved to Pittsburgh and now know this city as homecity as home

The most recent larger groups of English The most recent larger groups of English Language Learners are the Burmese, Language Learners are the Burmese, Nepalese and Somali-Bantu refugeesNepalese and Somali-Bantu refugees

Background Information on Background Information on New RefugeesNew Refugees

Most of the refugees that have resettled in Most of the refugees that have resettled in Pittsburgh over the last 5 years are from Pittsburgh over the last 5 years are from refugee camps or war-torn countriesrefugee camps or war-torn countries

The availability of educational services for The availability of educational services for these children and families have often these children and families have often been very limited, if at allbeen very limited, if at all

Many of the parents of these newest Many of the parents of these newest students want their children to receive a students want their children to receive a good education good education

Hurdles to overcome…Hurdles to overcome…

Many parents of these refugees have little Many parents of these refugees have little to no literacy in their native language or in to no literacy in their native language or in EnglishEnglish

Therefore, the amount of environmental Therefore, the amount of environmental print in the households is minimalprint in the households is minimal

Most refugee and migrant-worker parents Most refugee and migrant-worker parents speak a very limited amount of Englishspeak a very limited amount of English

Often times, the only English language Often times, the only English language practice to which they are exposed is practice to which they are exposed is during the school dayduring the school day

Instructional Issues in the Instructional Issues in the classroomsclassrooms

Very limited English, if anyVery limited English, if any Parental lack of understanding of Parental lack of understanding of

school proceduresschool procedures Inability of many parents to reinforce Inability of many parents to reinforce

concepts and skills taught in the concepts and skills taught in the classroomclassroom

Inability of teachers to communicate Inability of teachers to communicate successes or concerns to parentssuccesses or concerns to parents

What can you do…?What can you do…?

Instructional concepts/lessons can be Instructional concepts/lessons can be reinforced with bilingual dictionariesreinforced with bilingual dictionaries

If there is a parent with whom you If there is a parent with whom you need to communicate, please need to communicate, please contact the ESL Department to contact the ESL Department to attempt to arrange a translatorattempt to arrange a translator

Provide a print-rich environment for Provide a print-rich environment for the students that uses words and the students that uses words and picture cuespicture cues


Read aloud to the students as often Read aloud to the students as often as possible so that the students have as possible so that the students have “good modeled exposure” to the “good modeled exposure” to the English LanguageEnglish Language

Allow students who speak the same Allow students who speak the same language to sit next to each other language to sit next to each other during work sessions to help each during work sessions to help each other in the native languageother in the native language


Remember that it can take more than five Remember that it can take more than five years before and English Language Learner years before and English Language Learner will reach a level of English proficiency will reach a level of English proficiency resembling a native speakerresembling a native speaker

Simplify letters to parents for easier Simplify letters to parents for easier translationtranslation

Learn about your students’ background and Learn about your students’ background and in which country they were born in which country they were born

Learn about the circumstances in which the Learn about the circumstances in which the family existed prior to coming to the USfamily existed prior to coming to the US

And finally…And finally…

ScaffoldScaffold

ScaffoldScaffold

ScaffoldScaffold

Cultural/Behavior IssuesCultural/Behavior Issues

Remember that for students about whom Remember that for students about whom you have behavior concerns, the students you have behavior concerns, the students may not have ever been in an instructional may not have ever been in an instructional setting prior to coming to the US.setting prior to coming to the US.

For that matter, their parents may not For that matter, their parents may not have been in a formalized instructional have been in a formalized instructional setting eithersetting either

The school/teacher will have to meet with The school/teacher will have to meet with parents to convey expectationsparents to convey expectations


The view of many cultures concerning The view of many cultures concerning school is truly “in loco parentis.”school is truly “in loco parentis.”

Some parents will need to understand Some parents will need to understand the parameters within which you must the parameters within which you must workwork

Students will need to understand the Students will need to understand the rules of the classroom. Often, these rules of the classroom. Often, these will need to be explicitly taught will need to be explicitly taught

Cultural/Behavior Issues…Cultural/Behavior Issues…

Many cultures are “collectivist” where as Many cultures are “collectivist” where as the dominant US culture is “individualist”the dominant US culture is “individualist”

Some cultures forbid the mixing of boys Some cultures forbid the mixing of boys and girls for educational purposesand girls for educational purposes

Many world cultures are “patriarchal” Many world cultures are “patriarchal” meaning that there are very different meaning that there are very different levels of “station” for men and womenlevels of “station” for men and women

Special Education is viewed very Special Education is viewed very differently in many countriesdifferently in many countries


Many immigrant/refugee parents do not Many immigrant/refugee parents do not understand the amount of paper work that understand the amount of paper work that is required in US schoolsis required in US schools

Adherence to time constraints varies from Adherence to time constraints varies from country to countrycountry to country

Cleanliness and hygiene also vary from Cleanliness and hygiene also vary from country to countrycountry to country

Touching and use of hands can be very Touching and use of hands can be very different in many countriesdifferent in many countries


Many parents of English Language Learners Many parents of English Language Learners are not involved in school activities because are not involved in school activities because they feel that they have nothing to offerthey feel that they have nothing to offer

Religious observances and holidays are Religious observances and holidays are celebrated differently throughout the worldcelebrated differently throughout the world

All English Language Learners bring All English Language Learners bring wonderful aspects of their culture to your wonderful aspects of their culture to your classroom…take advantage of it!classroom…take advantage of it!

And Most Importantly…And Most Importantly…

'A teacher affects eternity; no one 'A teacher affects eternity; no one can tell where the influence stops.' can tell where the influence stops.' ~Henry Adams~Henry Adams

Your influence, indeed, transcends Your influence, indeed, transcends language, and your excellent work language, and your excellent work equips ELLs with the skill set needed equips ELLs with the skill set needed to succeed in American schools.to succeed in American schools.

Helping English Language Learners in the mainstream classroom Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL...

Documents

Transcript of Helping English Language Learners in the mainstream classroom Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL...