Brigid Garvin, Ed.S., NCSP School Psychologist BCIU #22 Promoting Access to Second Language Learner Resources for Teachers and Classroom Staff

Project Description   As a result of the ever changing and evolving demographic of our students, as educators, we can often find ourselves faced with many challenges in regard to language and cultural barriers. These factors play a significant role in our communication with students or their families, as well as understanding the already complicated learning process that our students are faced with.   Time and again research has demonstrated the great benefits to students that result from consistent and open communication between home and school as well as the opportunity for parental involvement, empowerment, and understanding of their child’s learning process and educational experience.   This project intends to begin the process of centralizing resources for our classroom teachers and staff to facilitate communication and a general understanding of the diverse needs of our students and their families.

Did you know?  Trends in immigration and birth rates indicate that soon there will be no majority racial or ethnic group in the United States—no one group that makes up more than fifty percent of the total population.  Census Bureau projections through 2050 indicate an increasingly diverse nation:  Between 2010 and 2050, the Hispanic population will grow from 49.7 million to million, an increase of 83 million or 167 percent. The group's share of the nation's population will almost double, from 16 percent in 2010 to 30 percent in  The Asian population will grow 213 percent, or from 14.4 million to 34.4 million. Asians' share of the population will double, from 4.7 percent to 7.8 percent.  The black population will grow from 39.9 million to 56.9 million, an increase of 17 million or 46 percent. The black share of the population will remain relatively the same at around 13 percent..  The non-Hispanic white population will increase by only 1 percent, from million to million, a gain of 2.5 million. The non-Hispanic white share of the population will decline from 64.7 percent in 2010 to 46.3 percent in 2050.

Objectives and Plan   Creating a database of translated documents and resources that is easily accessible to our IU staff through online communication mediums (i.e., SharePoint, Moodle, IU website.)   Maintaining this database with the most updated research and new information regarding ELL research, community based resources, and materials to incorporate into the classroom.

Sample of Resources  Quick access to PATTAN forms that should be used, when possible, for non-English speaking families:  s s s  Available in the following languages:  Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, French, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese,

Sample of Resources  A bank of translated materials available in Spanish  Parent Input forms (for IEP’s or RR’s) for various age/grade levels and programs (MDS, AS, LLS)  Developmental history / background forms  SETT forms (SETT grid and Vocabulary Questionnaire)  Special Ed. Glossary  Reinforcer Inventories  Toilet Training Protocols  Media Release Forms

Sample of Resources  Standards Aligned System: ELL Overlay  mframework/elloverlay.aspx mframework/elloverlay.aspx mframework/elloverlay.aspx  Resources for ELL students and teachers   2/grade.php 2/grade.php 2/grade.php  nding.php nding.php nding.php 

Sample of Resources  Community Based Resources in Bucks County and surrounding areas:  Latino Leadership Alliance of Bucks County  Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians  Vita Education Services  Nationalities Service Center  Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMAAC)  Greater Philadelphia Asian Social Service Center (GPASS)  Korean Women’s Support Committee  Haitian Coalition of Philadelphia

Evaluation and Further Expansion within the Professional Learning Community   Through the use of online resources, our professional community may be encouraged to share experiences, ideas, or questions with their colleagues.   The ultimate benefit / outcome from a resource base such as this would be our student’s progress, follow through in the home, and increased parent communication / participation.

Resources… to name a few…   Jeynes, William H. “A Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Parental Involvement on Minority Children’s Academic Achievement,” Education and Urban Society February (2003)   Scribner, Jay D., Young, Michelle D., & Pedroza, Anna. (1999) Building Collaborative Relationships with Parents. In Lessons from High-Performing Hispanic Schools: Creating Learning Communities. (Chapter 3). New York. Teachers College Press, Columbia University.