EAL Program Placement
What do B and A group names represent in EAL class titles?
The letters are not related to the students’ WIDA or proficiency levels in English. Children are assigned to groups based on a range of needs and skills.
What is one K-12 tool that is used to screen, place, and assess EAL students at ISP?
WIDA
What is the best way to teach academic vocabulary to your EAL students?
In authentic, meaningful contexts with lots of opportunities for purposeful communication.
What language acquisition stage can be perceived incorrectly as shyness, disinterest, or learning issues?
The silent period, receptive stage.
What is the 70-30 rule when teaching English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Seventy percent of the talk time should be student talk time. The remaining 30 percent should be teacher talk time.
If a student is not flagged as potentially EAL by Admissions/Administration and you think they might need support in English, what should you do?
Observe them, collect data, and refer them to the EAL team for screening.
When are all EAL students WIDA assessed?
When students are newly admitted to ISP (WIDA screener), change groups mid-year, or exit the program. All other students are assessed in the Spring with the full WIDA assessment.
Which strategy provides a model of sentence construction, language structures, and vocabulary for speaking and writing?
Sentence starters/stems and frames.
How many years does it take to become proficient in OR achieve proficiency in a new language?
Approximately 5-7 years and even longer for older children and adults.
Who communicates with parents about EAL-related issues: the HR or EAL teacher?
Both! It depends on the situation, but the more communication, the better…the goal is to be in agreement before the communication happens and copy each other on any correspondence.
If a student is an EAL Monitor student, what language instruction do they receive?
English support and scaffolding is provided by the homeroom teacher (with support from EAL teacher/s). These students also attend German, Spanish, or Czech classes.
Who is responsible for reporting on EAL monitor students who do not attend EAL pull-out classes?
Homeroom teachers, with the support of the EAL teacher and a WIDA rubric, will co-report on the four language domains.
What is one strategy you can use to encourage the transfer of oral language to written language?
Encourage students to speak in complete sentences, use graphic organizers, invite oral planning before writing, do explicit phonics instruction, etc.
How does acquiring social language differ from the acquisition of academic language?
Academic English is more demanding and complex than social English. Academic English is the language necessary for success in school.
When is the best time for EAL-HR teachers to share student information and teaching ideas, apart from grade-level team meetings?
Via email, hallway chats, organically during instruction, occasional lunch dates, etc.
How many students are currently in the Grade 1-5 EAL Program:
50, 75, 100, or more?
More than 100.
How does a student move mid-year, from one group to another or to exit the program?
WIDA, student data, consulting with teacher, notifying teacher / parents / office of the change.
What is an effective way to check for understanding with EAL students with limited speaking abilities?
Non-verbal, non-linguistic cues, non-verbal self-assessment, hand gestures, drawings, flat chat/chalk talk, etc.
How does a child’s accent affect their language knowledge?
It doesn’t.
What is one creative way you can co-teach with your EAL teacher during classroom instruction?
EAL teacher explicitly teaches vocabulary before lesson to all students
Literacy Stations: EAL Teacher works with select EAL students
Team Teach - EAL teacher supports with EAL strategies
Which data does the EAL Department use to make placement decisions for students in the EAL program?
We use a variety of data points: WIDA, DRA, F&P, writing samples, in-class observations, anecdotal notes, educational and linguistic background, and teacher input/recommendation.
What are the six language levels on the WIDA continuum?
Entering, Emerging, Developing, Expanding, Bridging, Reaching
What is one strategy to encourage EAL students to speak more in class?
1. Pair share/Turn and Talk/ Elbow Mate Chat/Table Talk
2. Allow wait time
3. Group work/projects
4. Barrier games
5. Providing sentence stems and frames.
Translanguaging is a pedagogical strategy that includes the intentional use of different languages. Think of an opportunity in your classroom where using translanguaging with your EAL students could be helpful.
Drafting in L1 first, then translating
Students take notes in L1, jot on sticky notes
Use bilingual glossary
List one way you can differentiate writing instruction for your EAL students?
Student writes in native language
Use dictation
Review writing prompts before writing to check for understanding
Provide sentence stems
Students outline a paragraph instead of writing.
Provide models from literature
Students copy a sentence or short passage exactly as it is written
Provide students with a paragraph or two that has blank spaces in the text