Department of World Languages and ESL Northport-East Northport UFSD Mrs. Jennifer Nesfield District Chairperson for World Languages and ESL January 2014 “ With languages, you are at home anywhere.” ~Edmund de Waal, author
Department of World Languages District Wide Initiatives
Department of World Languages A review of our initiatives 1. Focus on developing a spiraling curriculum for writing on all levels incorporating diverse writing formats, including new literacies and authentic writing. Teachers were provided with professional development during the year that focused on enhancing students’ writing skills ( presentational writing skills and tasks ). The teachers then worked together to find level appropriate media and develop writing tasks that allowed students to respond in writing to audio and / or written text. Teachers created assignments that focused on teaching a variety of writing formats outlined in the CCLS, including, but not limited to, formal letters, reviews, essays, and news reports. All secondary World Language teachers participated in additional item writing staff development and submitted sample questions for the FLACS regional assessments
Sample presentational writing assignments given in World Language classes Spanish 5IB Students are given two sources on a subject (i.e. news paper article, magazine advertisement, graph, etc.). They must read the sources, formulate a thesis that is applicable to both. Once the thesis is formulated, they write an essay that utilizes information from each source to support the thesis. Topic: Immigration Source 1: Authentic language magazine article Source 2: Introduction to an Internet blog
Sample presentational writing assignments given in World Language classes French 8 Students will read a letter (or ) from their pen pal and write an appropriate response. Italian 3R Students will listen to a radio advertisement about a city in Italy. They will then be asked to write a formal letter to their travel agent asking for additional information related to what they heard on the radio.
Common Core Standards for Writing TEXT TYPES AND PURPOSES Write arguments to support claims using valid reasoning and relevant evidence Write informative/explanatory texts Write narratives PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF WRITING Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task, purpose, and audience Strengthen writing by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting Use technology to produce and publish writing to interact and collaborate with others RANGE OF WRITING Write over shorter and extended time frames RESPONDING TO LITERATURE Oral and written presentations responding to literature
Department of World Languages Review of Initiatives 2. Align curricula and assessments to support the Common Standards, including, but not limited to the creation of local assessments and Student Learning Objectives (SLOs). World Language teachers were given professional development that focused on the how the Common Core ELA Shifts correspond to language instruction. Pre and post assessments were created for every WL class.
Department of World Languages Review of Initiatives 3. Continue to move forward with our differentiated instruction efforts, expanding the use of tiered assignments and anchor activities at all levels of instruction. Teachers participated in professional development activities throughout the year that focused on the creation of differentiated activities that could be used in their classes. All members of the department (7-12) continued to expand their use of differentiated instruction. The Italian and French teachers executed a review and reassessment of seventh through ninth grade language curricula.
Samples of differentiated assignments given in World Language classes Italian Level 5 Students are asked to complete a Pic-Tac-Toe where they must select 3 assignments on a given topic, each one representing a different ability level and format. Spanish 2R Students were placed into groups based on language ability levels and asked to describe the same daily routine in different ways. Each exercise was designed to challenge the students using a strategy suited to their particular skills. Group A: visual learners Group B: strong writers
Department of World Languages Review of Initiatives 4. Continue to nurture a culture of respect in the World Language classrooms by highlighting cultural differences and similarities between the various target language populations and Americans. Teachers worked cooperatively to design culturally rich lessons for the IB and Advanced Language and Culture classes. The new units that were created emphasized not only music and art, but provided the students with opportunities to compare and contrast American culture with the cultures in other countries. Teachers in the After School Language Program incorporated lessons that focused on cultural diversity. NHS students participated in a variety of cultural activities after school sponsored by the various language clubs.
Department of World Languages Department Initiatives Continue to implement the Common Core Learning Standards in all World Language classes. Provide the World Language faculty with additional professional development that will help them to further develop and improve students’ target language presentational writing skills at all levels and require the students to use higher order thinking to relate non-fictional text to their written pieces. Provide the faculty with professional development that will help them explore the use of Flipped Instruction practices. Flipped instruction, using the Moodle environment in particular, will help diversify the teachers’ use of instructional technology.
Department of World Languages Data Review
Common Assessments 2013 FLACS Checkpoint A Regional Assessment World Language Department Regional Checkpoint A Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercent % % % <1% FLACS A Assessments were given in French, Italian, and Spanish
Proficiency and Mastery Levels FLACS Checkpoint A Exam Results
Common Assessments FLACS Checkpoint A Regional Assessment French Exam Regional Checkpoint A French Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercent % % % n/a
Common Assessments FLACS Checkpoint A Regional Assessment Italian Exam Regional Checkpoint A Italian Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercent % % % <1%
Common Assessments FLACS Checkpoint A Regional Assessment Spanish Exam Regional Checkpoint A Italian Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercent % % % <1%
Common Assessments 2013 FLACS Checkpoint B Regional Assessment World Language Department Midterm Checkpoint B Regional Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercentNumberPercent %26362% %15637% %61% %0n/a FLACS B Assessments were given in French, Italian, and Spanish
Proficiency and Mastery Levels Regents/Checkpoint B Exam Results
Common Assessments FLACS Checkpoint B Regional Assessment French Exam Midterm Checkpoint B Regional Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercentNumberPercent %4671% %1929% %0n/a %0n/a
Common Assessments FLACS Checkpoint B Regional Assessment Italian Exam Midterm Checkpoint B Regional Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercentNumberPercent %7474% %2626% %0n/a %0n/a
Common Assessments FLACS Checkpoint B Regional Assessment Spanish Exam Midterm Checkpoint B Regional Assessment LevelRangeNumberPercentNumberPercent %14356% %10742% %62% %0n/a
International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses Percent scoring 4 or Better World Language Department
International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses data breakdown by language LanguageTotal Number of StudentsPercent scoring 4 or better French14 (13 SL and 1 HL)86% German888% Italian3683% Spanish92 (66 SL and 26 HL)100% The number of students successfully taking HL language grew significantly in
After School Elementary Language Program This year we have 178 students registered for the program. Students are bused from their home schools to Pulaski Road School on Wednesday afternoons. There are 9 sections, including 4 sections with second, third, or fourth year participants. In we have invited the IB language students from Northport High School to join our ASLP teachers in the classroom. The upperclassmen help with small group activities and practice the target language with the elementary students.
English as a Second Language Review of Initiatives Align curricula and assessments to support the Common Standards, including, but not limited to the creation of local assessments and Student Learning Objectives (SLOs). ESL teachers were given professional development that focused on the how the Common Core ELA Shifts correspond to TESOL instruction. Pre and post assessments were created for every testing band (K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12).
English as a Second Language Review of Initiatives Continue to move forward with our differentiated instruction efforts, expanding the use of tiered assignments and anchor activities at all levels of instruction. Teachers worked together throughout the year to create differentiated activities for their students at both the elementary and the secondary levels. The activities were often student specific in order to meet the varied language and ability levels of the ELLs.
English as a Second Language Review of Initiatives Continue to nurture a culture of respect in the ESL classrooms by highlighting cultural differences and similarities between the various populations represented and American society. ESL teachers will also work closely with the DASA teams in all schools to ensure the ELLs have a clear understanding of DASA legislation. ESL teachers organized and attended several community outreach programs during the year, including the Welcome Tea, the Thanksgiving Luncheon and Recognition Ceremony, and Multicultural Night. The ESL teachers adapted the district DASA presentations for the English Language Learners and their families. The presentations were shared with students during the day and with families at the community outreach events sponsored by the ESL department.
English as a Second Language Department Initiatives Continue to implement the Common Core Learning Standards in all ESL classes and work with mainstream English and Math teachers to adopt and adapt CCLS modules in order to make them more accessible to the ELLs. Provide the ESL faculty with professional development that will help them comprehend the changes to the state ESL screening exam and successfully administer the new NYSITELL to incoming students identified as possible LEP students. Provide the faculty with professional development that will help them explore the use of Flipped Instruction practices. Flipped instruction, using the Moodle environment in particular, will help diversify the teachers’ use of instructional technology.
2013 New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) Results Number TestedBeginnerIntermediateAdvancedProficient 77 students took the NYSESLAT in May (17%) students tested at the Beginner level 18 (23%) students tested at the Intermediate level 35 (45%) students tested at the Advanced level 11 14(%) students tested Proficient We serviced 80 LEP students and 31 transitional students in our ESL program during the course of the school year.In our ELL population was comprised of students from a wide variety of countries, including El Salvador, Honduras, Columbia, France, Italy, Denmark, Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Turkey, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Merci Grazie Gracias Danke Arigato Thank You