The Language Lowdown

Did you know that the ELPS are part of the curriculum and required in lesson planning just like TEKS? The ELPS are a set of standards that all LEP students should master as they acquire English. There are 5 categories of student expectations: learning strategies, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Language objectives support the ELPS. You write a content objective to support and focus on the learning standard (TEKS) and a language objective to focus on the ELPS. STAAR is a measurement of the TEKS acquired throughout the year and TELPAS is a measurement of the ELPS acquired throughout the year.

Language Objectives:

• Articulate for learners the academic language functions and skills that they need to master to fully participate in the lesson and meet the grade-level content standards (Echevarria, Short, & Vogt, 2008).
• Are beneficial not only for language learners but for all students in a class, as everyone can benefit from the clarity that comes with a teacher outlining the requisite academic language to be learned and mastered in each lesson.

When students know what is expected of them and scaffolding is in place, students will be able to master content standards.

• Students know what is expected of them.
• Beginning and Intermediate English language learners are able to focus their attention on what is significant.
• When teachers focus on meeting objectives aligned to content standards, students are prepared for the next grade level.

This is an awesome example of content and language objectives being used in Mrs. Becker's first-grade class at Johnson Elementary.

Ms. Kondikoff is reinforcing Kindergarten TEK 3(A) identify the common sounds that letters represent and ELPS crosscurricluar standard 3 (A) practice producing sounds of newly acquired vocabulary such as long and short vowels, silent letters, and consonant clusters to pronounce English words in a manner that is increasingly comprehensible. Ms. Kondikoff uses a chant with movement to help her young learners remember the sound that "m" makes. Songs and chants are effective for practicing oral language. The melody and rhythm are useful for improving students’ pronunciation and intonation of a second language. The rhythm and repetition also help learners retain the new language (Shin, 2017). Adding movement and gestures to songs and chants also helps students understand the meaning of new language and can further facilitate its retention (Coyle and Gracia 2014).

Ms. Kondikoff will receive a gift card for her excellent work in furthering the langague skills of all learners in her classroom. Congratulations Ms. Kondikoff! You're a Language Builder Superstar!

Just to see if you are actually reading our newsletter, we will be asking a series of questions regarding the content featured each month. Complete your answers in the Google form by 4:00 p.m. on October 17th. We will have a drawing for two winners from all of the correct answers. Winners will receive their choice of a Chick-fil-a or Starbucks drink delivered to their campus and will be featured in the next newsletter. Yep, that's right, we are bribing you to read it!

Click on the link below!

https://goo.gl/forms/QMyDkJ0oQHwh2gsE3

Coyle, Y., and R. G. Gracia. 2014. Using songs to enhance L2 vocabulary acquisition in preschool children. ELT Journal 68 (3): 276–285.

Echevarria, J., Vogt, M.E., & Short, D. (2008). Making Content Comprehensible for Learners . Boston: Pearson.

Shin, J. (2017). Get Up and Sing! Get Up and Move! Using Songs and Movement with Young Learners of English. English Teaching Forum, , 14-25.

We are here to help! Don't hesitate to reach out to any of us with questions or concerns. We are your support system for teaching Carroll's English Learners.

Monica Gattshall- ESL Coordinator

Pam Bass- RES/CES

Christine Burns -CMS/DMS

Elsa Erwin- DIS/EIS

Brandi Hunt- CHS/ CSHS

Joan Myers- JES/OUES

Lauren Tipton- WGES

Deanna White -PreK support at CES/OUES/RES

Monica De La Garza- ESL Paraprofessional

Email: monica.gattshall@southlakecarroll.edu
Website: http://www.southlakecarroll.edu/Page/355
Location: 2400 North Carroll Avenue, Southlake, TX, USA
Phone: (817) 949-8252