The Intentional TESOL

Today’s episode is focused on using the NYSESLAT performance level descriptors to set appropriate instructional goals based on students’ proficiency levels.  Thank you to my guest, Dr. Sandra Vargas, a NYC public school teacher and educational consultant as she helps us on our journey of meeting students where they’re at and temporarily supporting them with the appropriate scaffolds.

LINKS

Language Objectives Matter video

https://www.hudsonvalleyrbern.org/

NYSESLAT Performance Level Descriptions

Today’s episode is about asking for help!  I’m asking you to notice where you feel pain in your life… talk about it… brainstorm solutions…. Then figure out what works!  You’re going to be so satisfied with your progress when you’re done!

Let’s work smarter, not harder together and I’ll show you how because I am the Intentional TESOL!

LINK

⁠Brendon's 4 Core Desires⁠

LET'S CONNECT!

⁠⁠⁠⁠The Intentional TESOL Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠

Today’s episode is a celebration!  I’m no longer “developing” in writing my objectives or at least that’s what my latest observation says!  I’m walking you through my past three teacher evaluations to show how I went from not meeting and assessing all my objectives, to figuring it out!  It’s a process of continual improvement!  One small thing at a time, after I dealt with the accompanying emotions and then had the strength to move forward!

IMPORTANT TIME STAMPS:

8:10 - Content and Language Objectives with the activities in my lesson

11:00 - Why Language Objectives Matter

ARTICLE: 4 Ways Teachers of ELs Differ From Reading Teachers
ARTICLE: Language Objectives: The Key to Effective Content Area Instruction for English Learners

⁠⁠The Intentional TESOL Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠My Website⁠

Today’s episode is a moment for you to reflect on the past two episodes.  There were many great strategies in those episodes.  Now, I’m asking you to take a step back from new ideas and to go inward to focus specifically on your situation!  I’ve learned that no one size fits all.  I’ve learned what works for one, doesn’t necessarily work for others.  I’ve learned you have to do what works for you and your unique energy!  So, ask yourself what matters to you and the students that are in your classroom?  Don’t make generalizations!  Think specifics!  No one size fits all!  Only you know your unique situation!  Only you can decide where to focus your energy next!  Just make sure it's essential to you. Kendra Adachi defined this in her book Lazy Genius as, “ it directly adds value to what matters to you!”

Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld's episode (triple meta- awareness)

Mike Fisher's episode (vocabulary)

Today’s episode is an incredible conversation with Mike Fisher, a former teacher who is now a full-time educational consultant and instructional coach. He has worked with schools across the United States, as well as Canada, China, the Philippines, and Thailand.  In his book, Hacking the Common Core, he wrote a meaningful chapter called MOREcabulary. This conversation is an update on that information for students in 2024!  We talk about the importance of vocabulary within the confines of the social construction of language, cross cutting concepts (from the new Science standards that relate) and how to create a classroom culture that supports vocabulary development without it being “one more thing” to add to your already busy day!

Thanks for listening today!  Our goal as always is: Let’s work smarter, not harder together!  Mike and I’ll show you how together so thank you for listening to the Intentional TESOL!

LINKS

Shawn Achor - "The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance"

OUTLINE:

1:35-Episode starts

2:30: The Happiness Advantage

5:45: The US Department of Education gives recommendations for Elementary ELL instruction... which of their 5 recommendations do you think is the most important?

6:38-Social Construction of Language

7:10- Don't worry about words being "too big" or "developmentally inappropriate"

8:00- Oral language is really important first!

9:20-Using related words to help determine meaning in context!

11:50-Cross-cutting concepts

12:28-Vocabulary Instruction Tips: Before and During

13:48-"Fewer is better than more" to reduce anxiety

17:50-"Biggest Bang for your Buck" with vocabulary and standards!

20-Make it easy! Have students use the words they are learning!

Today’s episode focuses on the perspective of an ENL or ELD teacher in an integrated co-teaching setting.  In this conversation with Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, the author of 29 books on these topics of which 9 are Corwin Press best sellers (Way to go!!!), we discuss how she got started and why she really focuses on the benefits of collaborative teaching!  Within that co-teaching, she explains three areas of focus for the ENL teacher’s lens when co-planning.  We discuss some of the more specialized parts of the trade of supporting expanding and commanding kids in co-taught classrooms, and the bilingual advantage that emerges in these learners! 

Thanks for listening to my "wonderings" behind what she does! It helps me become more intentional in my ELD teaching focus!

Please accept my challenge: How can you continue this attitude of "everybody wins" by working together?

LINKS

Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld's website

My website--all upcoming PD opportunities are linked there!

They're still all free!!! (My favorite 4 letter 4 word!!!)

OUTLINE:

2:25-Episode starts: 2024 motto and goals

12:00-Andrea Honigsfeld's Interview

14:04-What is the main purpose of what you do?

15:17: Why is collaboration essential?

22:12- What does the ENL teacher bring to collaboration?

25:10-How can we support experienced multilinguals?

31:00-Teach in a way that understanding endures!

32:00-The bilingual advantage that emerges!

35:33-Be excited about working with ELLs and work with them in ways that are engaging and challenging!

37:45-Action Steps! My challenge for you!

Today’s episode focuses on the end of 2023 and how fitting that it ends on episode 23!!!  I ask you to think about your values and what really matters to you!  Make sure the time you spend is matching your values!  I’m encouraging you to enjoy the quality time off from break focusing on what brings you joy and fulfillment there, so you can come back even stronger when school starts again in January.  There are a variety of options to get the support you may seek in our ENL community and I hope to see you participating in what you need!  I know we’re always better off collaborating and sharing ideas, feeding off that synergistic energy, than we are doing things alone!  

LINKS FOR FUTURE CLASSES (AFTER BREAK!!)

ELL-17: Tweak Reading and Writing for ELLs (K-5):

Robust Vocabulary Instruction: March 4-May 10, 2024

Today’s episode focuses on designing instruction for our students by allowing variability and flow into our instruction.  In this conversation with Melissa Katz, the Director of the Collaborative for Inclusive Education in NYC, we discuss universal design and unnecessary barriers that might block ELLs from learning.  At the end, you will hear from a recent lesson how I tried to remove the barriers to learning so that students are inspired to keep reading non-fiction texts.

The Collaborative for Inclusive Education

Today’s episode focuses on what NOT to do when co-teaching! Three tips and one activity for reflection to make the most of your synergy together as collaborative teachers!!!

Today’s episode focuses on vocabulary!  After a lot of contemplation this year about what’s most important for an ENL/ELD teacher … I’ve decided it comes down to vocabulary and how we use it!  Transferring it from home language(s) to English…understanding it through reading and listening…producing it through speaking and writing… and most importantly developing it when it isn’t there yet!  So, thank you for listening to why a focus on vocabulary development is the job of ELL’s teachers…. the reality being that we’re all teachers of ELLs.... therefore, we should all focus on explicitly teaching vocabulary!

LINKS

My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian

Register for the Evidence-Based Instruction for ELLs Series FREE, if you want to learn more about the vocabulary routines!

LET'S CONNECT!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Intentional TESOL Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website