"To have another language is to possess a second soul." ~ Charlmagne
With that being said, it is clear that ELLs have so much to share with our school but they also struggle tremendously communicating and closing the academic gap they find themselves. They are intelligent, kind, & determined.
My "cookies", that's what I call all my 71 ELLs (54 direct + 17 monitored) grades K-5.
They come from all over the world: Mexico, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Vietnam, China, France, Siberia, Philippines, and Africa. Some cookies were born in the US and only spoke the family's native language their whole life. We are a Title I school serving a high poverty community. Their exposure to adequate English language and access to technology only happens in school. My cookies require constant encouragement, love, trust, understanding, empowerment, and appropriate tools to succeed to narrow the achievement gap. They need opportunity to shine and prove to themselves, family, and classroom teachers they can learn. Yes! They can learn! They can speak, listen, read, and write. Yes, they may be behind a grade level or more, but they work hard, they try hard, and they fall hard too, but they get up and do it all over again... because they believe, I believe, and you believe they can learn!
My Project
My students will use the iPad to supplement and support their daily language learning. Using the numerous excellent educational apps that are available, my students will work toward meeting many language objectives in listening, speaking, reading and writing, as well as technology standards. Primarily, students will explore Brain Pop ESL and ABC mouse apps, website for content and language learning videos and activities, and engage in activities using Rosetta Stone, iQuestion, iSentence, Math and Reading Comprehension apps, and Duolingo for grade appropriate language content vocabulary. We are very excited to use book creator and green screen app to create, narrate, record, write and share stories. These 2 apps have been shared among ESL teacher to incorporate/embrace all 4 language domains our ELLs need to work on. This allows the teacher and student to focus on 1 or more language goals set by the student for each quarter/semester. We need your help!
It is clear to teachers, parents and ELLs that there is an academic gap that must be filled for each student to succeed in school.
This academic gap can be shorten by the opportunities given and encouragement shown to our ELLs. They do matter and we do believe THEY CAN LEARN! My hope is that with these iPads, my ELLs will be able to grow and improve language, close the gap, and share with their families. The true reason for learning is to pass it on - share knowledge & impact the life of others.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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