1. Helene Becker, Instructional Specialist ELL Education Department Presentation for the Board of Education Curriculum Committee April 5, 2010 The Norwalk Public Schools English Language Learner (ELL) Program

2. Topics General information about ELLs The NPS ELL Program Initiatives (including Curriculum )

3. Acronyms ELL English Language Learner (Term used in Connecticut) LEP Limited English Proficient (Term used by federal government) ESL English as a Second Language (Term used to describe programs) ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages (Term is synonymous with ESL)

4. Norwalk Statistics: SY 2009-10 English Language Learners 13% of NPS students are classified as ELLs 82% of ELLs speak Spanish 9% of ELLs speak Haitian Creole 35% of students speak a language other than English at home 82 countries represented in the district 56 languages represented in the district

5. Connecticut ELL Trend Data

6. Growth in Norwalk ELL Program 1999-2000 803 2004-20051322 2009-20101385

7. There are two types of English language skills: 1)Conversational Language Skills – 1-3 years to master 2)Academic Language Skills – at least 5 years or more to master Source: Jim Cummins, University of Toronto The Skills Our ELLs Must Master:

8. BICS Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills Social language – used with friends, family, on the playground, etc. 1-3 years to acquire

9. CALP Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency Academic language – used in classroom instruction and textbooks 5-7 years to acquire (7-10 years to acquire for students with little prior schooling)

10. Length of Time Required to Achieve Age-Appropriate Levels of Social and Academic Language Proficiency 1-3 years5-7 (up to 10 ) years ESL learners Native English Speakers Based on Cummins (1991), Collier (1995)

11. Despite often difficult smerds, the lower delta people have their flaps of schats. They enjoy market days and various takloops.. Many of these celebrations have their toops in ancient collian traditions. One of the most popular takloops is the Alacitas Fair. It is blod to honor Ekeko, the Alacitas god of blap fortune. Small strets of this tristy are sold in the thropheet. Each figure is wust sath tiny goods. They include nill the things that a lower delta may want or need – a snupy nick of absop or wigar, a car, two whurds, a television set, house or cow. Read this to yourself to experience how an ELL student may feel

12. Use Home Language Survey on registration form to inform next steps. English proficiency test (LAS Links) determines if student is not proficient in English language. Identify on state PSIS report and qualify for Title III grant funding. All incoming ELLs must be assessed within one month of entrance at the start of the school year or within two weeks if students enter later in the school year. Identifying ELLS

13. Located at Brookside Elementary School Bilingual Facilitators test students either at the Center or out in the schools Data Central for the ELL Education Dept. ELL Welcome Center

14. AMAO 1 - Making Progress: Connecticut Targets: Norwalks Performance: 2008-09: 72% 85.9% 2009-10: 74% 2010-11: 76% 2011-12: 78% 2012-13: 80% Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO)

15. Connecticut Targets: Norwalks Performance: 2008-09: 22%64.4% 2009-10: 24% 2010-11: 26% 2011-12: 28% 2012-13: 30% AMAO 2 - Reached Proficiency: Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO)

16. AMAO 3 (AYP): Norwalk DRG 2008-09 CMT goals: 82% on Math 72.3% 64.7% 79% on Reading 51.2% 43.0% 2008-09 CAPT goals:82% on Math 61.0% 44.4% 81% on Reading 43.6% 43.9%

17. Local Operating Budget Entitlement Grants (yearly) Title III (federal) Bilingual Grant (state) Competitive Grant (2009-2010) Technology/ELL Grant (federal) Funding for the ELL Program

18. Bilingual Mandate in Conn. We must provide bilingual support services in a particular school if there are: 20 or more ELLs who speak the same home language All schools in Norwalk (except Briggs H.S.) are required to provide bilingual support services in Spanish. BMHS will be required to provide bilingual support services in Haitian Creole starting in 2010-2011.

19. Elementary School ESL Services – in all schools Teachers Certified in ESL Push in and/or Pull out Bilingual Services – in all schools except Briggs Teachers Certified in Bilingual Education and/or Bilingual Instructional Aides Push in and/or Pull out Norwalk Public School: ELL Program All instructional is done in collaboration with the classroom teachers.

20. Dual Language Progr am Half of each class is native English–speaking and half of each class is native Spanish- speaking Students learn academics in both English and Spanish We have this program (Mano-a-Mano) at: Silvermine Elementary School West Rocks Middle School The first Mano-a-Mano students are now in 10 th grade. Norwalk Public School: ELL Program

21. Middle School ESL Classes – in all middle schools Teachers Certified in ESL ESL/Bilingual (sheltered) Social Studies Classes – in all middle schools Teachers Certified in ESL and/or Social Studies Bilingual Instructional Aides – in 3 middle schools Norwalk Public School: ELL Program

22. High School – NHS and BMHS ESL Classes (Levels 1, 2, 3) Teachers Certified in ESL ESL Social Studies (sheltered) and Bilingual Social Studies Classes Teachers Certified in ESL and Social Studies Bilingual Instructional Aides Norwalk Public School: ELL Program

23. ELL Program Initiatives 2006-2010 Saturday Newcomer Academy Two Program Reviews ELL Department Newsletter ELL Steering Committee* Central Registration for ELL Families* SIOP Training* High School ESL Science and ESL Math* High School ESL Summer School Spanish Course for Teachers Curriculum Revision* *Recommended in the program reviews

24. Saturday Newcomer Academy In its fifth year For newcomer parents ESL classes Workshops/Speakers: Helping children succeed in school Using community resources

25. Program Reviews Outside experts/consultants ELL Program Review: 2006-2007 Silvermine Dual Language Program Review: 2008-2009

26. ELL Department Newsletter In its third year Supports classroom teachers with strategies and resources for teaching ELLs Two–three times per year

27. ELL Steering Committee In its second year Advisory to the ELL Department Members include the assistant superintendent, principals, assistant principals, housemasters, counselors, ELL teachers, and classroom teachers

28. Central Registration for ELL Families About to begin as a pilot – 4 schools Vision: All ELL families will register at the ELL Welcome Center Testing Translation of forms Interpreting Welcome basket Welcome video

29. SIOP Training Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol 30 secondary teachers 6 days of training beginning in August Follow up all year Dual Language Teachers 4 days of training tailored for dual language teachers (pending) Follow up all year

30. High School ESL Science and ESL Math For ELLs at Levels 1 and 2 Sheltered courses Teachers will attend SIOP training

31. High School Summer School First time this summer – a full credit course (120 hours) To accelerate ELLs acquisition of English ELLs will be able to take more advanced courses during the school year

32. Spanish Course for Teachers First time offered, in collaboration with Adult Ed. 46 teachers have signed up Requests from secretaries, nurses, counselors, principals

33. Curriculum Development Elementary ELL Newcomer Program Curriculum Materials for ELL teachers and classroom teachers Secondary ELL Curriculum ESL 1 – being piloted 09-10 ESL 2 – being written 09-10 ESL 3 – to be written 10-11

34. Elementary ELL Newcomer Program Components Binder with Newcomer Curriculum Buddy Book Literature Theme Cards Vocabulary Cards Picture Dictionaries

35. Thank you! Questions???