digital stories and refugee immigrants
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Digital Stories and Refugee Immigrants. Winooski Middle School Beginner’s English Language Learners “Our Stories”. Overview. More than 5 million English language learners ( ELLs ) attend school in the U.S. ( Ballantyne , Sanderman , & Levy, 2008). Some Facts. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Digital Stories and Refugee Immigrants
Winooski Middle School
Beginner’s English Language Learners
“Our Stories”
OverviewMore than 5
million English language learners (ELLs) attend school in the U.S. (Ballantyne, Sanderman, & Levy, 2008)
Some FactsOf 47 million throughout the U.S., 18% speak a
language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003c)
In the West (37%), Midwest (9%), and the South (15%)
California, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Hawaii, Arizona, and New Jersey
Vermont ELL Growth
Who are our English Language learners?
Some have had a rigorous formal education in their native country
Others, particularly refugee children, may have had limited or interrupted formal schooling before coming to the U.S.
“The largest and fastest-growing populations of ELLs in the U.S. consist of students who immigrated before kindergarten and U.S.-born children of immigrants” (Center on Instruction, 2007)
Cultural Views of Foreign-Born English Language Learners
ELLs generally have an idealized view of the U.S.
Unless they have had an opportunity to study U.S. history and culture before arriving, most ELLs are not aware of history, customs, and traditions
In general, ELLs experience their own differences as positive
The Vermont Context2007-2008 school year – approximately 1, 650
ELLs in Vermont
From 1998-99 to 2007-2008, the ELL enrollment in Vermont increased by 81 percent
Vermont ELL students speak over 90 languages and come from 97 countries on 6 continents
Student Digital Stories16 students in the beginner’s English as a
Second Language classroom completed their digital stories
Language groups included Bhutanese, Nepali, Iraqi, Vietnamese, Somali, and Thai
Student Digital Story Project“This I Believe”Short stories,
narratives, biographies, and poetry
Lots and lots of writing!
Lots of Group Work!
Summary of FindingsWriting
improvementValue of writing
revisionCommunity &
Collaboration