REFLECTION

Standard Selection

I’ve been teaching ESL from PreK to Grade 3 for two decades now, and during that time, I’ve seen the field evolve and change. It’s essential for me to stay current and ensure my students are meeting the appropriate benchmarks. 

That’s why I chose to align my teaching with the Washington DC standards for ESL and PreK. The reason is simple – these standards are designed to be inclusive and comprehensive, ensuring that all students, regardless of their language proficiency level, can succeed. 

I believe this framework aligns with my commitment to ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive.

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Big Ideas

When discussing this standard with my cohort, we focused on the overarching big ideas of the standard. In this case, it revolved around building foundational language skills in young learners. 

The primary aim is to enable students to develop their language abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English. We emphasized the importance of creating a safe and engaging learning environment that fosters growth, adaptability, and a love for language.

Photo by Yan Krukau

The big ideas of Standard 1 are:

• Communication is essential for success in school and in life.
• English language learners need to be able to communicate effectively in English in a variety of settings.
• Communication is a two-way street. It is important for ESL Preschool students to be able to listen and understand English, as well as speak and write English.

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Essential Skills for Meeting Standards

Uncovering how to identify these skills through the verbs in the standards.

The standard contains a range of verbs that help identify the skills students should develop. It’s about more than just language acquisition, it’s about: 

• comprehension, 
• effective communication, and 
• critical thinking. 

The skills that students should develop in order to meet Standard 1 include:

• Listening comprehension
• Speaking
• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Pragmatics (using language in a socially appropriate way)

Understanding the Standard Verbs

First, let’s take a closer look at the verbs used in the standards. 

Verbs like 

• “identify,” 
• “analyze,” 
• “demonstrate,”
•  “construct,” and
•  “compare” 

provide us with valuable insights into the skills our students need to develop.

Identifying Core Skills

Each verb hints at a different skill. For instance:

• Identify ⟼ implies recognition and comprehension.
• Analyze ⟼ suggests critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Demonstrate ⟼ signifies the ability to show or explain a concept.
• Construct ⟼ implies the creation of something new.
• Compare ⟼ points to the skill of finding similarities and differences.

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Projects and Activities

Photo by Max Fischer

For In-Person Engagement

I’ve found that interactive activities allow students to actively apply their language skills in a social context.

Here are a few additional in-person projects or activities that can be use to engage students who are learning to meet Standard 1:

• Dramatic Play:
  Set up different dramatic play centers in the classroom, such as a kitchen, a doctor’s office, or a grocery store. 

This is a great way for students to practice using English in a variety of contexts.

• Interactive Vocabulary Games:
  Turn vocabulary-building into a game. Activities like bingo, word matching, or charades can make learning new words fun and engaging. 

You can have students create their own vocabulary flashcards and play interactive games using those cards.

• Language Immersion Days:
  Dedicate occasional full days to immerse students in English. Designate these days for various themes like “Science Day” or “Art Day.” 

Conduct lessons, activities, and discussions entirely in English, challenging students to engage in new topics while enhancing their vocabulary and comprehension.

• Morning Meeting:
  Start each day with a morning meeting where students have the opportunity to:

•  greet each other, 
•  share news, and 
•  participate in activities such as singing songs or playing games. 

These are great ways for students to practice listening and speaking English in a relaxed and supportive setting.

• Read-Aloud Circle:
  Choose age-appropriate picture books or short stories and hold a daily or weekly read-aloud circle. 

Encourage students to follow along and ask questions or discuss the story afterward. This activity fosters listening skills, vocabulary development, and comprehension.

• Show and Tell:
  Have students bring in items from home to share with the class. This is a great way for students to practice speaking English about their own experiences and interests.

For Online Interactions

Photo by Yan Krukau 

I incorporated digital storytelling and interactive language games. These not only make learning fun but also provide a structured way to practice language skills independently or in a small group setting. Here are a few additional online projects or activities that can be use to engage students who are learning to meet Standard 1:

• Interactive Games:
  Use online interactive games to help students practice their vocabulary and grammar skills
• Interactive Language Apps and Websites:
  Integrate language-learning apps and websites into your virtual classroom. There are many apps designed for young learners that gamify language acquisition. 

These platforms can help students practice their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills independently. Here are a few of them:

• Duolingo Kids: https://abc.duolingo.com/
• Lingokids: https://lingokids.com/
• LingoDeer: https://www.lingodeer.com/
• Pili Pop: https://pilipop.com/
• Little Pim: https://www.littlepim.com/
• Muzzy BBC: https://muzzyonline.com/
• DinoLingo: https://dinolingo.com/
• Mango Languages: https://learn.mangolanguages.com/

• Online Research Projects:
  Assign small research projects to your students, giving them the opportunity to explore English-language websites, collect information, and present their findings. This not only builds research and critical thinking skills but also enhances language proficiency.
• Storytelling:
  Use online storytelling games and apps to help students develop their listening comprehension skills.
• Songs and Chants:
  Use online songs and chants to help students practice their speaking and pronunciation skills.
• Virtual Pen Pals:
  Connect your students with pen pals from English-speaking regions via email or virtual platforms. This real-world interaction promotes writing skills, cultural exchange, and the development of friendships, making the language learning experience more authentic.

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Assessment and Progress Monitoring

Assessing students’ mastery of the standard and monitoring their progress can be challenging, especially when dealing with varying literacy skills. 

Photo by note thanun on Unsplash

• For assessment, I rely on a mix of formative and summative evaluations. For instance, I use regular quizzes and short writing assignments as formative assessments to gauge ongoing progress.

• To accommodate varying literacy levels, I provide alternative assessments such as oral presentations, hands on projects or visual projects. These can be more accessible to students with limited literacy skills.

• To monitor progress, I maintain a portfolio for each student that contains samples of their work over time. This helps me track individual development and make data-informed decisions about adjusting my teaching methods.

So, to align with the Washington DC standards for ESL and PreK is not only a professional choice but a commitment to ensuring that all my students have a strong foundation in English language skills. 

This reflective process has helped me refine my teaching strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, and I’m excited to see my students flourish under this framework.

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Here are some infographics you might find useful:
InfoGraph 💐: Classroom Behavior Strategies (M4U2A1)
InfoGraph 💐: Everyone Learns Differently (M5U4A2)
InfoGraph 💐: Reading Activities Resource for Families (M5U4A2)
InfoGraph 💐: Digital Citizen Poster (M2U1A3)

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