Multilingual Learners
Heartland Resources
Greetings
- Our goal is to ensure that Multilingual Learners acquire full proficiency in English as rapidly and effectively as possible and attain parity with native speakers of English.
Heartland provides a wealth of resources for our multilingual students. These resources are invaluable to the development of our multilingual student's English Language skills, as well as their overall literacy skills.
The Bilingual Advantage
Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
The words that we have at our disposal affect what we see—and the more words there are, the better our perception. When we learn to speak a different language, we learn to see a bigger world.
Being Bilingual is a Great Thing
Designated English Language Development
“Designated English Language Development” means instruction provided during a time set aside in the regular school day for focused instruction on the state-adopted English language development (ELD) standards to assist English learners to develop critical English language skills necessary for academic content learning in English. Our school has determined this to be 30 minutes a day.
The 30 minutes should include daily specific vocabulary building - both academic and social language. Students should also be practicing speaking and reading every day. This can be done with online programs that include interactive activities and videos and/or textbook and workbook activities.
In addition to vocabulary, speaking, and reading daily, English learners should also be working on grammar and writing skills. Many of the programs that students will be using will have a structured schedule of activities. Using something more structured is recommended.
Scroll down to see a list of resources students can use to meet their daily requirements.
Here is a suggested daily schedule for English Language Development, which can be adjusted according to each family’s needs or for the program they have chosen to use:
Vocabulary
5-10 minutes
Grammar
10-15 minutes
Writing
10-15 minutes
Reading
10-20 minutes
Speaking
5-10 minutes
ELPAC
Identifying students who need help learning English is important so these students can get the support they need to do well in English language arts/literacy, mathematics, science, and other subject areas in school.
The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California, or “ELPAC,” are the tests used to measure how well students understand English when it is not the primary language they speak at home.
Information from the ELPAC tells your child’s teacher about the areas in which your child needs extra support.
Initial ELPAC - given to new students if they have a primary language other than English. Used to identify a student as either an English Learner or as proficient in English.
Summative ELPAC - given to students identified as English Learners in spring. Used to measure students progress in English proficiency.
ELPAC tests 4 domains - listening, speaking, reading, writing
ELPAC Parent Guide - Here
ELPAC Starting Smarter Website - Here
ELPAC Resources for Parents - Here
PRACTICE TESTS ARE AVAILABLE!
ELPAC provides an opportunity for students to practice the test, become familiar with the types of questions, view the types of English Language Skills that they are expected to develop and understand what they need to be able to do on the actual test.
ELPAC Practice test - Here
VIRTUAL CLASS
ONLINE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH THE SCHOOL
Brain Pop ELL - For English Learners of all ages - The curriculum is comprised of short, animated movies as well as games, quizzes, and interactive features. It encompasses the four main language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Ask your HST for more login information. This program is part of our universal access, free to all students.
Moby Max - For TK-8th grade- This online platform finds and fixes learning gaps.
It includes mathematics, reading, vocabulary, phonics, grammar, spelling, writing, science, social studies, test prep and read alouds. Ask your HST for more login information. This program is part of our universal access, free upon request.
Learning Ally – For TK-12- Thousands of human-read high-quality books. The text is highlighted as it is being read. Free to EL students upon request.
Tutor.com – For Grades 9-12 Tutoring 24/7 in most content areas and several world languages. Math, Science, Social Studies, and ELA can all be tutored in Spanish 24/7 as well. Essay drop off service for feedback. All communication is offered through chat, a whiteboard, and microphone.
RECOMMENDED ALL INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM
SAVVAS – (Grades K-12) All inclusive curriculum with ELD supports: Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and more. Digital and print copies are available. Spanish versions/translations are also available. Engaging and interactive!
SUPPLEMENTAL VOCABULARY BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS
Wordly Wise 4th Edition provides direct academic vocabulary instruction to develop the critical link between vocabulary and reading comprehension. The robust activities, student engagement, and differentiated instruction provide the flexibility to meet the needs of today’s varying student population.
Interactive games provide the essential instructional factors for building academic vocabulary and fluency, including pictures, repetition, oral language, phonemic awareness and phonics.
Parent Education Workshops
The HST’s offering this club are excited to provide opportunities for productive and positive discussion around topics important to homeschooling families. We will meet virtually each month to discuss a variety of topics that will both inspire parents and give them tools to have a successful school year. Some of the topics we will cover are Back to School Homeschool Rhythm and Schedule, Universal Options and How to Best Use Them, and Morning Basket with Great Books to Include for Whole Family Learning. This Club will also allow space to cover topics that parents bring to us.
Virtual Meetings will be held the 2nd Monday of each month beginning October 11th from 9:00am -10:00am. Meetings will be recorded if you cannot attend. Click on the link in the Smore Newsletter for the recurring zoom meeting. Parent University S’more
Email Maryam Shafagi to join the email list: maryam.shafaghi@heartlandcharterschool.com
Supporting your home language
Heartland has several vendors that offer classes in many languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Mandarin, Portuguese, Thai, Latin and more! Click on the button below to access the flyer.
Online Educational Programs
Math Seeds teaches early math concepts, grades K-2
Reading Eggs focuses on letter sounds, phonics skills, sight words, and reading simple sentences for grades TK-2.
Reading Eggspress focuses on critical reading comprehension skills as well as phonics, spelling, and vocabulary skill building for grades 2-6.
Fast Phonics teaches phonics skills, letter-sound recognition, blending and spelling, children who are just learning to read as well as older children who are struggling at school.
Explode the Code Online - The phonics curriculum spans grades K through 4 in one comprehensive program. It is effective for grade-level and intervention instruction. The individualized instruction and reinforcement are based on continuous assessment. The research-based instruction is supported by auditory and visual cues to promote independent learning. The robust reporting features provide ongoing progress monitoring.
**FREE**
Duolingo is based on a methodology proven to foster long-term retention, and a curriculum aligned to an international standard.
Duolingo takes a functional approach by focusing on what learners actually want to do with a language. Lessons focus on a real-life goal — for instance, ordering at a restaurant. Learners develop the vocabulary and grammar needed to achieve that goal through lots of varied practice in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
**FREE**
English Interactive tries to offer practice in English skills for every level. Since most of the resources are outside this website, it's best to check the links in each level. Many of the resources offer multiple levels, and all of the links lead to free interactive practice materials. Great for self-studying language learners and for teachers & tutors to use in the classroom, online, or for curriculum assignments.
Materials available for reading in English for every age. Interactive children's books to listen, read, & repeat.
**FREE**
English Media Lab features several ESL exercises online, including an English TV section with videos by Levels - Beginner Videos, Elementary & High Level Videos. English Media Lab also provides interactive practice & reinforcement of grammar, vocabulary & pronunciation skills. The new feature on this site is the interactive games section. English Media Lab provides a wide variety of ESL/EFL interactive grammar, vocabulary, listening and classroom games alongside several puzzles - crossword puzzles, word search activities, cloze exercises & more.
**FREE**
USA Learns has four English courses to help you learn beginning and intermediate English. The courses include videos and interactive learning activities to help you practice and improve your English skills in listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, reading, writing, speaking and life skills.
Although the site is intended for adults to learn English online in a free online setting, there is no exclusion or age requirement for the site. Those individuals under the age of 18 (minors) may also register on the site for the purpose of learning English. The use of the site by a minor should be subject to the consent of their parent or guardian, and it is the sole responsibility of the parent or guardian whether to allow a minor’s use of the site.
**FREE**
Provides English learning and teaching materials for young learners, preschool, beginners, elementary and pre-intermediate. Materials are designed to appeal to all learning styles. Kinesthetic, visual and auditory learners used are common in all ESL Kids classrooms. * Video Lessons by course, * Printable Worksheets, * Self-grading exercises, * Flashcards, * Phonics Materials, * Teaching tips
Printable lessons, fun activities for kids, and more to help reinforce the vocabulary children learn from watching Little Pim episodes. (from 0 to 6 years old).
Video series, flashcard sets, books, and music keep kids entertained while inspiring in them a lifelong love of language learning.
CONTENT AREA PROGRAMS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS
Thoughtful Learning (Writing Grades 1-12)
Student Models of Writing
When you need an example written by a student, check out the vast collection of free student models. Scroll through the list, or search for a mode of writing, such as “explanatory” or “persuasive.”
Longman Social Studies Grades 6-12
Designed for students in grades 6-12, prepares students for success in a standards-based social studies program with a broad overview of World and American history. All activities are specifically geared to students in the early stages of English language acquisition, and help build content knowledge, skills, and learning strategies.
Books Online!
EPIC
EPIC is a digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000 books for kids 12 and under. The options include "Read to Me", "Audio Books", "Video".
Global StoryBooks
Global Storybooks is a free multilingual literacy resource for children and youth worldwide. Read, download, toggle, and listen to a wide variety of illustrated stories
StoryLine Online
Storyline Online - Reading aloud to children has been shown to improve reading, writing and communication skills, logical thinking and concentration, and general academic aptitude, as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.
ESL Reading Smart
ESL Reading Smart—this is a standards-based, online English language-
learning program for grades 4-12 that parents can look into to supplement
their curriculum.
More Curriculum Options
McGraw Hill StudySync Online Student with Designated ELD
StudySync supports literacy and skills development for all 6–12 students, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced English Learners. All lessons include resources, such as sentence frames, graphic organizers, glossaries.
The English Learner Resources: 20 lessons in each unit in addition to and supportive of the regular ELA curriculum; two unique, created texts written for Multilingual students at four proficiency levels (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced High) offering differentiated instruction and lessons specifically for Multilingual Learners; Organized around a First Read, a Close Read, and Skill lessons; Emphasize explicit vocabulary instruction, language acquisition, spelling and grammar conventions, and reading comprehension; Build toward a culminating writing and speaking performance task for the Extended Oral Project in each unit.
Wonders for English Learners: A K-6 ELL Program
Equity of Access for Multilingual Learners
Wonders for Multilingual Learners offers instruction specifically designed to create learning experiences that increase student engagement, build language skills, and inspire confidence. Lessons emphasize the building of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills to improve both academic and social language and accelerate progress in the core classroom.
Also available are Wonders for Multilingual Learners Newcomer components. Designed to build oral language skills through collaborative conversations, these components allow students to communicate in school and their community successfully.
Explode the Code (Print Version) - This multisensory program is geared to improving literacy with direct, systematic, phonics instruction. Explode The Code’s classic print program includes a sequence of skills-based student books with coordinating placement tests and instructional support. Build the essential literacy skills needed for reading success: phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and spelling with the Explode The Code series.
The Logic of English series offers English language learners an efficient way to master English reading, spelling, writing, and grammar. The materials also boost speaking and listening skills through vocabulary development, teaching students to hear and pronounce the 45 sounds of English, and systematic instruction in English sentence structure.
Starfall
read. Great for beginning readers and/or EL students. Also teachers
beginning math.
Transition Words
Click here for sample PDFs documents of Transition words.
See below for a downloadable file of transition words.
Graphic Organizers
Questioning Techniques for English Language Learners
Rainbow Resource Center
comprehension.