From Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov Fri Jan 9 11:45:44 2009
From: Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov (Mullins, Nancy)
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:45:44 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] Jan 15 4pm ESL conference call
Message-ID: <6A73A5DE6596754DB4575B71972AA46004C091A3@SOM-TEAQASMAIL2.som.w2k.state.me.us>
MEMORANDUM
To: ESL educators
From: Nancy Mullins, Director ESL/Bilingual Programs
Date: January 9, 2009
Re: January 15, 2009 conference call
Thursday, January 15, 2008 from 4pm to 5pm there will be an ESL
conference call.
To participate: Dial into the conference call from any telephone:
Dial: 1-866-416-5758
Enter Passcode: 364405
Currently, the AGENDA for the conference call is:
* ACCESS for ELLs(r) testing cycle - testing ALL English language
learners
* Questions from the fields, valleys, mountains and plains...
* Reminder - Online Course ...Teaching ELLs for mainstream
teachers...Feb to May 2009
The next ESL conference call will be on February 12, 2009
To better meet the needs of all Maine ESL educators and English language
learners, your comments and feedback are important. Please email me any
issues, concerns, items that serve a "communication" purpose, topics for
discussion or items for information sharing.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be
undertaken with painstaking excellence.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nancy Mullins
Director ESL/Bilingual Programs
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6788
FAX: (207) 624-6789
nancy.mullins at maine.gov
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090109/9fdf4b4e/attachment.html
From Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov Wed Jan 14 09:02:46 2009
From: Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov (Mullins, Nancy)
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:02:46 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] Math Workshop March 24, 2009
Message-ID: <6A73A5DE6596754DB4575B71972AA46004C091EC@SOM-TEAQASMAIL2.som.w2k.state.me.us>
Strategies for Secondary
Mathematics:
Working with English Language Learners (ELLs), Learners with Special
Needs, & Learners-at-Risk in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom
with
Beatrice Moore Luchin
March 24, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration: 8:30 a.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown
This learning session is focused on creating practical instructional
strategies for
secondary educators teaching mathematics to students who struggle in
mathematics due to English being their second language and/or other
barriers
to their learning process. The learning will be active and engaging all
day long!
Workshop Fees: $135 per single participant
$125 per person for a Math Teacher and a Specialist who
work together
$110 per person for a team of 3 or more working with the
same students
For more information and to
register online please visit
www.mainesupportnetwork.org
Or the workshop is on line and people can go to Maine support Network
website and register at:
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=5a1a7cb8-7dd2-4982-be7
7-237040466946
Maine
Maine Department of
Support
Education
Network
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090114/216a7f51/attachment.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1934 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090114/216a7f51/attachment.jpe
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: workshops - brochures - Strategies Mathmatics - Bea Luchin - 03-24-09.pdf
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 87946 bytes
Desc: workshops - brochures - Strategies Mathmatics - Bea
Luchin - 03-24-09.pdf
Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090114/216a7f51/workshops-brochures-StrategiesMathmatics-BeaLuchin-03-24-09.obj
From Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov Wed Jan 14 09:31:10 2009
From: Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov (Mullins, Nancy)
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:31:10 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] Recruitment for WIDA Field Tryouts
Message-ID: <6A73A5DE6596754DB4575B71972AA46004C091F0@SOM-TEAQASMAIL2.som.w2k.state.me.us>
From: Carsten Wilmes [mailto:wilmes at wisc.edu]
Please direct all questions to Carsten Wilmes.
The application form is attached.
Completed applications should be e-mailed to wilmes at wisc.edu by January
20, 2009.
As part of the development cycle for ACCESS for ELLs^(r) , WIDA and the
Center for Applied Linguistics are recruiting participants for the
upcoming field tryouts of writing and speaking items.
Participation in the tryouts involves educators to administer newly
developed items to students in their classrooms.
Through participation in the field tryouts, teachers receive a unique
chance to influence the development of ACCESS for ELLs^(r) through their
feedback on these new items. We welcome participation from across our 19
member states. WIDA will thank all participations with a small token of
appreciation.
Eligible participants: Licensed teachers in WIDA states who are
currently in the classroom
Deadline: January 20, 2009
Domains: Speaking and/or Writing
Slots: up to 30 teachers per cluster
Thank you very much in advance,
Carsten
--
Carsten Wilmes, Ph.D.
Assessment Operations Manager
WIDA Consortium at WCER
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1025 West Johnson St., MD #23
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 263-5547 (Office)
(608) 263-3733 (Fax)
(312) 718-2444 (Cell)
wilmes at wisc.edu
www.wida.us
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Consultantapplication_Tryouts09.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 51712 bytes
Desc: Consultantapplication_Tryouts09.doc
Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090114/5f5ca1bc/Consultantapplication_Tryouts09.doc
From Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov Wed Jan 14 13:44:44 2009
From: Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov (Mullins, Nancy)
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:44:44 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] Bilingual Dictionaries, Inc
Message-ID: <6A73A5DE6596754DB4575B71972AA46004C091FE@SOM-TEAQASMAIL2.som.w2k.state.me.us>
This email is not intended as an endorsement of any product. It is for
informational purposes only.
http://bilingualdictionaries.com/
Bilingual Dictionaries, Inc announces the release of new Word to
Word(tm) Bilingual Dictionary Series. The series includes 22 Languages
each containing 18,000-22,000 entries.
Please visit bilingualdictionaries.com
http://bilingualdictionaries.com/ and download wordtoword.pdf for a full
language list of word to word dictionaries.
Also, available are Bilingual Dictionaries, Children's
Bilingual Picture Dictionaries, Children's Bilingual Stories, and ESL
Programs.
Nancy Mullins
Director ESL/Bilingual Programs
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6788
FAX: (207) 624-6789
nancy.mullins at maine.gov
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090114/6a249a60/attachment.html
From Susan.Gail.Funtsch at maine.gov Fri Jan 23 13:17:26 2009
From: Susan.Gail.Funtsch at maine.gov (Funtsch, Susan Gail)
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:17:26 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] January 15 ESL/Bilingual Program teleconference
minutes
Message-ID: <32E5C6B0B949584D9B6168C5F727916B057DAE9B@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us>
MINUTES - ESL Statewide TeleConference Call
Thursday, January 15, 2009, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
AGENDA
* ACCESS for ELLs(r) testing cycle - testing ALL English language
learners
* Questions from the fields, valleys, mountains and plains...
* Reminder - Online Course ...Teaching ELLs for mainstream
teachers...Feb to May 2009
ACCESS testing check-in:
* It is a good idea to annually refresh your ability to administer and
score the ACCESS for ELLs(r) but annual online retesting is not
mandatory when there are minimal changes to the test. Revisiting
annually the Speaking domain is strongly recommended.
* Field Tryout application deadline was Tuesday, January 20.
* The link for the "WIDA Summer Academy Interest Survey" is:
https://websurvey.wisc.edu/survey/TakeSurvey.asp?AI=1&SurveyID=6J3l65KKl
l9L165
Rebecca Perez has participated in a Summer Academy, as well as Field
Testing. If you have questions email her at: rperez at msad43.org.
Kindergarten information:
Kindergarten scores will be released with an additional score column
(KScore) based on a PreK-K set of standards. The WIDA Consortium is
developing a KScore, which is a "teachers' interpretative score." That
KScore will appear as a new column score to be used for instructional
purposes only. The previous K-2 standards were not measuring
pre-literacy abilities and with the new PreK-K Model Performance
Indicators and standards, kindergarten students are now better able to
show what they can do. Maine will continue to use the Level scores for
accountability and exit criteria purposes. The new KScore is an
interpretative column for instructional use only. WIDA is in the
process of developing a FAQ sheet and explanation materials.
Webinar Update:
* Program staff are in training to host interactive webinars. Our goal
is to have the first webinar in February or March and to have all
sessions recorded and archived online.
* If anyone has any thoughts about topics for the one-hour webinars,
please email esl.doe at maine.gov One current suggested topic is:
"Strategies to assist ELLs who are progressing slowly," which has been
brought to Don Bouchard's attention.
QUESTIONS
Q: Why does Maine test (ACCESS) in December and January?
A: Maine wanted a lengthy window and Maine has the longest testing
window and the earliest allowable testing start date. If the time is
changed closer to Spring, score reports arrive in the summer. Moving
towards the Fall isn't an option because of the needs of WIDA and
MetriTech to refresh the test and address printing and other
developmental needs. It has been suggested that the Listening and
Speaking portions of the test be given before the Christmas break, with
Reading and Writing done after.
Q: How do other states run the testing?
A: If there is a heavy ELL population, a state/districts/schools focus
only on it, much like Maine does for the MEAs or SATs.
Q: What about a new K student?
A: You must test all English language learners enrolled during the
testing window. The test is designed to assess the student's current
language proficiency - not academic content. Score results will help
inform instruction.
Q: Scores - when will we get them back? They come one week after our
parent conferences (April, right before vacation) - wish we could get
them earlier.
A: We would have to lose a week somewhere else. Also, please note that
every time a district is late turning in the tests that makes the
reporting later for the entire state, because all scores must be in to
MetriTech. Time is also needed for quality control on the data.
Q: Is there a database where I can find out if a student took the test
at another school last year, and what tier he was?
A: Contact the ESL/Bilingual Programs Office with the student's MEDMS
ID.
Q: If the student speaks English but the parent does not, would it be
appropriate to give the W-APT?
A: Yes. It is also permissible to administer the ACCESS for ELLs(r)
If there is any possibility of a student being an ELL and you are in
doubt it is better to administer the W-APT and the ACCESS for ELLs(r)
than to wait another year. - Get that information as soon as you can,
use it to inform instruction.
Q: If a high school student attains a Composite Score Level 6, can they
be exited?
A: According to the state, yes. However, look at your district Lau
Plan. The state does not require you to administer the ACCESS for
ELLs(r) or provide direct ESL services to any student who attains a
Composite Score Level 6. However; monitoring must occur and monitoring
services can vary. At a minimum, monitor the academic progress of the
student who is exited.
Q: Would the district test an additional year if the score is Composite
6?
A: It is not required by Maine. That is a district level decision and
you should look at your district's Lau Plan for the exit criteria. Some
districts require that if the student doesn't meet academic standards on
state assessments then they are tested again.
*
Q: Is there a general retention policy - can a student be retained if
there is just a language issue?
A: Students are to be placed age-appropriately. The district's policy
for retention should address the specific requirements for retention.
Contact your superintendent's office to request the district's retention
policy. Review the district's policy, then you can determine whether
or not there is a violation of that policy if a student is retained only
on the basis of language.
*
Q: Do you have suggestions in working with mainstream teachers to
assist ELLs?
A: Comment: Use the WIDA website as a resource. www.wida.us The
WIDA website is excellent.
Develop a profile based on all past scores, and review the WIDA score
reports. Seeing abilities and limitations may indicate instructional
strategy changes. Focusing instruction, especially if working with
students who may have limited capacities and resources really helps.
"Interpreting Score Reports" on the website has tremendous information.
Look at the "Can Do" descriptors to assist with content understanding
and classroom participation.
Ask the teacher, "May I sit in on one of your classes?" That allows the
possibility to suggest modifications in the presentation of material.
The teacher may not understand what has an impact on learning content
and language. Having a clear student profile will help.
*
Discussion about language learning software programs some teachers have
used:
* SPIRE - Jolly Phonics - Rosetta Stone (new classroom version)
* With computers and headsets, there are also many free sites online.
www.USALearns.org, for example, is an interactive free site for adults
to learn English and improve skills.
*
Future:
1) Keep in mind topics for teleconferences and webinars.
2) Keep your running comments about ACCESS for ELLs(c) testing.
The next ESL conference call will be on Thursday, February 12, 2009 from
4pm to 5pm.
Gail Benvenuta-Funtsch
Maine Department of Education
ESL/Bilingual Program Assistant
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207.624.6715
susan.gail.funtsch at maine.gov
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090123/37292480/attachment.html
From Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov Tue Jan 27 09:40:16 2009
From: Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov (Mullins, Nancy)
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:40:16 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] MEAs required for ELLs
Message-ID: <6A73A5DE6596754DB4575B71972AA46004C09286@SOM-TEAQASMAIL2.som.w2k.state.me.us>
In follow up to several questions asking if English language learners
have to participate in the MEA, please see the attached Maine
Educational Assessment (MEA) Operational Procedures for Grades 3-8, and
specifically 2.10 Recently Arrived English Language Learners and 2.10.2
Required MEA Testing, which follows. Information on the administration
of the MEA can also be found online at:
http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/admininfo.htm
2.10 Recently Arrived English Language Learners (ELL)
A recently arrived ELL is an ELL who has attended schools in the United
States for 12 months or less. The date used to make this determination
for the 2009 administration is school attendance on or after February 1,
2008.
2.10.1 English Language Proficiency Testing
All K-12 ELLs in Maine, including recently arrived ELLs,
must be assessed for English language proficiency by participating in
the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs(r) during the testing window of December 1,
2008 to February 6, 2009. Those students who arrive after the testing
window has closed must be assessed with another English language
proficiency assessment in order to count as participating in reading.
AYP Implications: Participation in WIDA
ACCESS for ELLs(r) counts as participation in reading.
2.10.2 Required MEA Testing - Mathematics and Science
All English language learners (ELLs), including ELLs who
have been enrolled for the first time in a US school during the past 12
months, are required to participate in the mathematics and science
content area tests of the MEA through standard administration or through
administration with accommodations. All test responses must be in
English.
AYP Implications: The student's scores
in the mathematics content area tests will count for participation, not
performance. The student's scores in science will not be part of AYP
determinations.
2.10.3 Optional MEA Testing
During the first 12 months in a US school, students who
have had their English language proficiency assessed and have been
designated as ELLs may, but are not required to, participate in the
reading content area test.
AYP Implications: If the MEA reading
content area test is taken voluntarily, the student's scores in reading
will not count for AYP performance. Only ACCESS for ELLs(r)
participation will count for participation in reading for AYP purposes.
2.10.4 English Language Learners - Not Newly Arrived
English language learners who have been enrolled in a US
school longer than 12 months are required to take part in all content
area tests of the MEA. Please see the "Policies and Procedures for
Accommodations and Alternate Assessment to the MEA" for allowable
accommodations.
<<2008-2009Final - OpsProc.doc>>
Nancy Mullins
Director ESL/Bilingual Programs
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6788
FAX: (207) 624-6789
nancy.mullins at maine.gov
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090127/fee20b96/attachment.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 2008-2009Final - OpsProc.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 252416 bytes
Desc: 2008-2009Final - OpsProc.doc
Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090127/fee20b96/2008-2009Final-OpsProc.doc
From Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov Thu Jan 29 07:57:57 2009
From: Nancy.Mullins at maine.gov (Mullins, Nancy)
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:57:57 -0500
Subject: [esl.communication] Somali parent-child early literacy activities
Message-ID: <6A73A5DE6596754DB4575B71972AA46004C092BC@SOM-TEAQASMAIL2.som.w2k.state.me.us>
For questions please contact:
Mary Maddox
Washington Learning Systems
2212 Queen Anne Ave. No. Ste. 726
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 310-7401 FAX (206) 283-9243
mmaddox at walearning.com
To download materials go to http://www.walearning.com
and click on the purple button that says
"Free Parent Education Handouts" on the home page.
We have had many requests for materials in Somali, so we have added a
Somali language version of the birth-to-three parent-child activities.
We hope you find these useful. Please let us know of other languages
that are needed.
We are also considering developing EARLY MATH video materials to help
parents support math when reading and talking to their children. If you
have any suggestions regarding what you would like to see developed in
this area, we would appreciate your ideas! We view language, early
literacy, and math as interwoven in early development.
The development of these materials was supported in part by Grant
H324M020084 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special
Education Programs
Infant-Toddler language and early literacy activities: Free and
Reproducible
Developed by Angela Notari-Syverson, Ph.D, and Judy Challoner, M.S.
Illustrations: Don Syverson
To download materials go to http://www.walearning.com
and click on the purple button that says
"Free Parent Education Handouts" on the home page.
These materials include twenty home and community activities for adults
and children birth to three that encourage early language and literacy
development. They are appropriate for children with disabilities as
well as children who are developing typically.
Each of the twenty activities includes an activity description, and
hints for making the activity fun and developmentally appropriate. In
addition to the activities, you can download an activity checklist that
helps parents and caregivers notice their children's skills, and also
cues adults to examine and grow their own interactions with children.
The materials are specifically designed to address the three key skills
of 1) language development, 2) sounds and rhythms, and 3) general book
and print awareness.
The files are in PDF format to allow easy and secure downloading.
* A brief introduction to the materials
* Activities and hints for adapting them to the child's specific
needs
* Activity checklists for self-evaluation by the adult
The materials are made available by Angela Notari-Syverson and
colleagues, and may be copied and distributed as long as they are not
sold.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/esl.communication/attachments/20090129/213af565/attachment.html