1. The World of SIFE : Potential and Possibilities Drs. Elaine Klein and Gita Martohardjono RISLUS/CUNY Graduate Center The SIFE Forum, Nov 12, 2010

2. 2 Official definition of SIFE  Subgroup of ELLs  Recent arrivals to the US  Older students  Low literacy  Gaps in prior schooling (2 yrs +)

3. 3 The RISLUS / former OELL SIFE Study Phase I (2005 – 2006) Case studies  12 students identified as SIFE  9 th grade  2 NYC high schools  Native language: Spanish Phase II: (2006-2008) 18 month Longitudinal Study  103 students identified as SIFE  9 th and 10 th grade  5 NYC high schools  Native language: Spanish

4. 4 Research Questions  What are the characteristics of SIFE?  What academic competencies do SIFE bring to school in the US?  What are the academic needs of SIFE?  How do SIFE differ from other ELLs?

5. Instruments Quantitative:  Intake and exit questionnaire (Spanish)  ALLD Literacy and content diagnostics (Spanish and English)  Oral language (Spanish and English)  Listening comprehension (Spanish and English typical language development) Qualitative:  Classroom observations  Teacher and student interviews Quantitative:  Intake and exit questionnaire (Spanish)  ALLD Literacy and content diagnostics (Spanish and English)  Oral language (Spanish and English)  Listening comprehension (Spanish and English typical language development) Qualitative:  Classroom observations  Teacher and student interviews 5

6.  Pre- and Basic Literacy  Higher-Level Literacy - Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension - Academic Language Use  Content Areas - Math - (Science) - (Social Science)  K-12 Academic Language and Literacy Diagnostic (ALLD)

7. 7 A Striking Result After the same length of stay in school (1 ½ years) and similar ESL instruction (sometimes in the same classrooms)... SIFE show considerable delays in English academic skills when compared to regular ELLs

8. 8 Academic Literacy (English) On average, SIFE are:  4 years behind ELLs in vocabulary  3 years behind ELLs in reading comprehension

9. Comparison of L2 English Literacy: ELLs vs. SIFE 9

10.  WHY THIS DELAY?

11. SIFE Backgrounds? SIFE Attitudes? 11

12. SIFE Backgrounds  Most are from the Dominican Republic, Mexico or Honduras.  Most live in the U.S. with only one parent and have family members in their country of origin.  Most report high school as highest level of education among family members in U.S.  Most are from the Dominican Republic, Mexico or Honduras.  Most live in the U.S. with only one parent and have family members in their country of origin.  Most report high school as highest level of education among family members in U.S. 12

13. SIFE Attitudes  Strong motivation for school success  Positive attitudes towards education in Spanish & English.  High levels of self-efficacy & strong expectations that their education will contribute to future success in a job or at college  Strong motivation for school success  Positive attitudes towards education in Spanish & English.  High levels of self-efficacy & strong expectations that their education will contribute to future success in a job or at college 13

14. 14 Goals and Aspirations

15. Gaps in Prior Schooling? 15

16. Gaps in Schooling

17. Language Delays ? Memory Deficits? 17

18. Oral Language and Listening Comprehension  Oral Language: Fluent, smooth, intelligible speech; controls appropriate language structure for speaking about complex material.  Listening comprehension: Within the range of typically-developing native speakers  Working memory (WM): Within normal range 18 Typical Development

19. Native Language Literacy Measures 19

20. 20 Basic Literacy in Native Language First Grade Phonological & Orthographic Awareness Word Reading Simple Sentence Comprehension Mean % Correct = 96, SD = 4.5 High basic literacy in Spanish

21. 21 Academic Literacy in Native Language Reading Vocabulary: Mean Grade Level 5 Reading Comprehension: Mean Grade Level 3.5

22. Academic Content Areas in Native Language  Math: Majority at/below grade 3  Science: Majority at/below grade 4  Social Science: Majority at/below grade 4 22

23. 23 What Distinguishes SIFE from ELLs? Unlike most ELLs, SIFE show serious delays in academic skills in the native language. In the 9 th grade, SIFE are at least 4 grades below expected grade level.

24. Measures of SIFE Potential 24

25. Academic Gains in One Year  1.5 grade levels in Spanish reading vocabulary  1.7 grade levels in Spanish reading comprehension  1 grade level in Spanish math 25

26. SIFE POSSIBILITIES: How to accelerate SIFE gains  Target SIFE for more funding and resources  When possible provide native language support  Provide an additional year, with accelerated instruction, before 9 th grade to develop BRIDGES to HS. 26

27. A Critical First Step Systematic identification of ELLs with interrupted OR inadequate prior schooling! “[d]etailed screening assessments for all students that need them.” (Tough Choices Tough Times 2008) “...strengthen systems to identify and assess SIFE in all schools... (AFC Report 2010:42) “Initial assessment is a critical process in identifying ELLs with limited prior schooling to determine starting points for instruction. (Ontario Ministry of Ed. 2010:22)

29. Online Scoring and Evaluation System (w-SERS) 29

30. Acknowledgements NYC Department of Education, OELL Participating schools All participants and teachers RISLUS Research Team

31. THANK YOU!

32. 32 Spanish Reading Vocabulary

33. Spanish Reading Comprehension

34. 34 Transfer of Skills from Spanish to English: Reading Vocabulary

35. 35 Transfer of Skills from Spanish to English: Reading Comprehension

36. Predictors of SIFE English Reading Scores English Reading Vocabulary: r =.723; p =.000 Spanish Reading Comprehension: r =.519; p =.001

37. SUMMARY Show typical L1 development: Oral language, syntactic comprehension, and working memory Possess foundational reading skills Show delays in - Higher level reading skills: (4+ grade levels below expected grade, 9) - Content Area Knowledge: (5+ grade levels below expected grade, 9) BUT ARE ABLE TO MAKE GAINS IN BOTH 37