• 1. This website has elementary and secondary level bilingual glossaries available for download, organized by subject.

    Bilingual Glossaries by Subject

    2.  The NYSED website has information regarding the regulations for English Language Learners in NYS, as well as various resources for parents and educators.
     
     
    3. Engage NY Common Core New Language Arts Progressions have each Common Core Standard with suggestions for how to differentiate for English Language Learners by proficiency level.
     
     
    4.  Colorin Colorado is a wonderful website that offers many resources for teaching English Language Learners.
     
     
    5. Everything ESL is another great website with multiple resources for teaching ELLs.
     
     
    6. The files below have explanations of the stages of language acquisition and ideas on how to differentiate assessment and instruction for ELLs at each stage.
     
     
    7. The Rochester City School District has interpretation available. You must request an interpreter or interpretation in advance as it takes a while to process the request. 
     
     
    Questions from Gen-Ed teachers: 
     
    How can I differentiate for ELLs by proficiency? And how do I know how to set expectations?
    Answer: You can use the NYS Common Core Progressions (link above) to look up the standards that you're targeting for any lesson. The progressions will give information on what it looks like for an ELL at each proficiency level to reach that standard. You can also look at the levels of proficiency and stages of language acquisition (file links above) and use those suggestions to modify your instruction and set expectations for what students should be able to produce on classwork or assessments. For entering and emerging level ELLs, good rules of thumb are to always include visual supports, and to not give directions or instruction without some kind of visual or text reference to support what you are saying. 
     
    How can I communicate with students who don't speak English? 
    Answer: You need to get creative! Use pictures from the internet. Act things out. Use google translate. Learn a few new phrases in a student's language. Draw pictures. Do NOT (as many people do) speak more loudly! Students may not understand English but that doesn't mean they can't hear you. Just remember to interact with students with understanding, respect, and patience, and they will respond to you. Connections with these students and their home lives and home cultures are key - if you learn even just a little bit about an ELL student's native culture or language, it will go a long way in building your relationship and a positive rapport with them.
     
    How can I communicate with families?
    Answer: There are many challenges that face ELL families in communicating and connecting with school - language barriers, a feeling of insecurity with an unfamiliar school system, lack of transportation, or work schedules. If you don't see a parent or hear from them, don't assume they are uninterested in their child's education. Instead of waiting for an ELL's parent to contact you - make an effort to contact them. If langauge barrier is an issue, then communicating to them in person will be easier. Do a home visit. Bring your phone with Google Translate and Google Images at the ready. Just showing up and making this effort will be huge.
     
     
    How can I get my ELLs "unstuck"?
    Answer: This is tricky. Language development is not linear! Sometimes students may start and stop and they may be stuck at one level for some time. If you aren't already - make sure that you are differentiating instruction and assessment, including explicit vocabulary instruction, explicit writing instruction, as well as focusing on students' reading skills - both decoding and comprehension. Students may also be unwilling to take linguistic risks if their affective filter is raised, meaning they aren't comfortable. 
     
    What do you do with the kids during ESOL time?
    Answer: During ESOL I am focusing on developing students' four modalities of English - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We have four centers that students rotate through: Independent Reading, Independent Writing, Foundational Skills, and working with the teacher. If you want to get a peek at what we're doing in ENL, you can visit Ms. Harris' ENL blog where I post little snippets from my stand alone classes (link below).