ELL+Committee+Meeting+Notes

**September 21, 2012 - Meeting Minutes**

 * || ** District ELL Committee Meeting **

Friday, September 21 9:00 – 12:00   CPEC, Conference Room A  || - Coding 301/303
 * # Introductions ||  ||
 * # Additions to Agenda ||  ||
 * # Assessments/Coding/Funding

- What does the code mean for the student?

- What are the schools’ responsibilities (for assessment, coding, programming, documentation).

- New Assessment information; resources at: [|www.learnalberta.ca] || Discussed what the coding numbers refer to, just to clarify to all group members. 301 born outside the country. When to take students off supports because they are at a English proficiency level to be successful in the classroom? You can remove a code and you can then add it back.


 * What are schools responsibilities**? Having assessment on file at least once a year and if using benchmarks, they have to be updated twice or more per year and information should be kept on file. Funding has to be spent on supporting children so there has to be documentation supporting this idea (support plan).

4 different tests for assessing ELL are used throughout this district, plus additional ones throughout. We looked at a document entitled ‘Assessment //Tools & Strategies; Language Proficiency Assessment’.// Teachers are responsible for recording student’s progress, i.e. running records, writing samples, benchmarks, etc. More emphasis will be put on the benchmarks and teachers will be expected to use them in addition to their other types of assessment. They are not mandated yet but may become mandated. If teachers are using benchmarks they should be doing it a minimum of twice a year. Coding only has to be done once a year. IDEA Proficiency Test (IPT) is a newer assessment piece that one of our schools will be piloting, if it is successful the IPT can be a tool other schools may want to use. Looked through the different types of tools for assessment. Learnalberta.ca is where you can find out more about assessment tools. || - ELL Wiki || ELL Wiki is our web-based resource to help support teachers who teach ELL students. As a group we contribute ideas/activities/resources to the website. || Possible date meetings: Friday mornings work well for everyone. ELL presentation that was started last year. Discuss with group members things that we “got” and things that we “need”. ||
 * Assessment**- Questions were asked about the GATES testing tool. Ideas were given from ladies who are familiar with early education ELL testing.
 * # Support plans ||  ||
 * # Student Intake Practices || Went around the table and asked each teacher what their intake process looks like. Looked at different copies of intake forms. ||
 * # Instructional practices to support inclusion of ELL students
 * # Ideas for ELL meetings – “Got It, Need It” || Newcomer orientation ideas.

ELL Committee Wiki
Group members are encourage to add to this wiki. Ideas to add:
 * games
 * links to websites
 * teaching tips
 * lesson ideas (divided into subject areas)

Video: Building a Whole School Approach ([]) Group worked through the resource sheet provided and discussed the questions. Discussed the importance of having a plan for welcoming families and involving staff and students to help with the orientation of new students/families. Discussed the importance of the cultural component for students new to Canada. There are many students who come to Fort McMurray without appropriate clothing for our extreme winter weather. Some are provided with winter wear when they enter Canada (in Vancouver, for example) but the clothing is not warm enough for conditions here. The group discussed the idea of organizing a winter clothing drive in the Fall to collect winter jackets, ski pants, etc.
 * How can schools build a whole school approach to welcome and support ELLs?
 * What can schools do to engage students and parents in the school community?

SLEP - Secondary Level English Proficiency There have been questions regarding SLEP because the website shows that materials for this assessment will no longer be available for purchase. A representative from Alberta Education has sent an email confirming that SLEP will continue to be an accepted assessment for ELLs. Use of the ESL benchmarks was also strongly encouraged. For more information and a copy of this information, email Merrie-Rae (merrie-rae.mitsopoulos@fmpsd.ab.ca)

For the remainder of the meeting, committee members discussed ideas for an ELL presentation for staff. Work on this project will continue at our next meeting.

Next meeting: May 11, 9:00-11:00 @ CPEC Computer Training Room.

February 3, 2012 - Meeting Notes
“Bumper Stickers” activity: Brainstorming key messages relating to teaching ELL Students:
 * Know your student
 * Everyday (BICS) vs Academic (CALP) Language
 * Provide opportunities for oral language development
 * Tips and good teaching practices for ELL students
 * Vocabulary development
 * Re-labeling of known concepts/skills
 * Strategies
 * Word walls, cloze activities, games with vocabulary, Rosetta Stone, PWIM, Kurzweil
 * Use appropriate resources and assessment
 * Do “D.I.” or “DI”
 * Celebrate multi-languages
 * Encourage diversity
 * TRIBES – mutual respect, appreciations, no put-downs, right to pass
 * ELL know more languages!
 * Limit text (use visuals)
 * Picture books
 * Visuals
 * Trial and error – Take risks
 * Pre-teach vocabulary
 * Cooperative group activities
 * Graphic organizers

Goal: //To create a presentation that will provide teachers with tools/strategies for ELL students.// Ideas:
 * Ideas for presentation**
 * Keep the presentation fun, interactive activities
 * Provide some basic information relating to ELL students
 * Typical challenges for students, recognizing the differences that specific languages bring
 * Typical challenges for teachers of ELL, recognizing the differences that cultures bring (“cultural literacy”)
 * BICS and CALP – “iceberg” visual
 * Examples of learning activities for ELL student