What is the definition of an exceptional teacher of English Learners? Presented by: Jessica Feeser, Sarah Hutchison, and Adam Pitt

Introductions

Who is in the room?

Objectives

• Discuss and reflect on the qualities and skill sets of exceptional teachers of English learners.

• Learn from each other specific, creative ways to work with staff.

• Learn strategies to support English Learners across the curriculum.

• Make decisions and take action for real change.

What comprises an exceptional teacher of English learners?

Take the next three minutes and jot down what you think defines an exceptional teacher of English

learners.

• Wordle

Urgency

Urgent, so urgent…

Video link…

Why we feel a sense of urgency

• Data on levels

Action Step #1

Give One – Get One

List two ways to build a sense of urgency in your school:

• One way that you will help students to feel the urgency

• One way to get your colleagues to feel urgent about this work.

When you are finished, share with two people and add any good ideas to your list.

Professional Development

Why we can’t do this work alone…

• Data on schools and numbers (can we make this a percent of the school population too?)

Professional development

Our Thoughts

• Teachers are engaged in hands-on relevant and purposeful PD

• PD is done so that the strategies are the experience

• Teachers are creating their own meaning and feel their voice is heard

• Create a safe place

• PD can be both formal and informal

Action Plan #2

The Sticky Chat

Think about professional development (PD) at your school.

What is a PD that you have done, seen, or would like to try?

Write one for informal and one for formal.

Silently Stick it.

Professional Development Ideas

• ENL Academy/Advanced Institute

• Literacy Lunch/Lunch N Learn

• Food for Thought

• Book Clubs

• Student Interviews

• Rounds

• Barnga/Cultural Simulations

• Peer coaching

• Follow up sessions are key!

Champion

Champion Building Awareness Creating Discourse

WIDA provides a great way for us to start talking to our peers about what ESL students CAN DO!

We must start talking about our students and what they CAN do!!!!

ESL newsletters Passion vs. Reason

Invite staff/parents/community members to your class

Find their language and speak it

Get press Be the voice for your student when they are unable to speak for themselves

Showcase student work Ensure equality in all things

Publish student work –www.lulu.com

Listen to what students and their families are communicating to us

Getting Press

Panel of Students

All teachers are LANGUAGE teachers

Pieces of the puzzle

• All towards creating a culture where all are seen as a language teacher

• Going from the island to the shore to meet up with all the other people in the universe.

• Need some help on this one…

Urgency

Champion

Professional Development

All teachers are LANGUAGE teachers