Assessment 360°: A Panoramic Framework for Assessing English Language Learners

Author(s):  
Nancy Lewis ◽  
Nancy Castilleja ◽  
Barbara J. Moore ◽  
Barbara Rodriguez

This issue describes the Assessment 360° process, which takes a panoramic approach to the language assessment process with school-age English Language Learners (ELLs). The Assessment 360° process guides clinicians to obtain information from many sources when gathering information about the child and his or her family. To illustrate the process, a bilingual fourth grade student whose native language (L1) is Spanish and who has been referred for a comprehensive language evaluation is presented. This case study features the assessment issues typically encountered by speech-language pathologists and introduces assessment through a panoramic lens. Recommendations specific to the case study are presented along with clinical implications for assessment practices with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations.

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110547
Author(s):  
Gretchen P. Oliver

With the growing population of culturally and linguistically diverse students in K-12 schools, explicit English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL)-focused leadership is needed to support culturally responsive teaching practices, as well as provide socially just and equitable educational opportunities for all students. This study focuses on how one school district and its high school have distributed and sustained ESOL-focused leadership (knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices) to promote inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for ELLs. Findings from this case study provide examples of the presence of ESOL-focused leadership and how it supports ELLs and their teachers. Practical implications for meeting ELLs’ unique needs are shared.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen McCoy ◽  
Sarup Mathur

Teachers across the world have become barraged with various techniques to meet the educational needs of multiple subgroups, e.g., autistic, behavior disorders, English Language Learners (ELL), gifted. They have the responsibility of creating environments in which learners become more knowledgeable and skilled from the time when they entered the classroom. For the current and future generations of learners and their teachers, the emergence of technology has created new prospects for accommodating the learning styles of diverse classrooms. The versatility of technology can be used to organize and design material that promotes successful acquisition and retention of expected middle school content within the inclusive settings. In this paper, the authors provide a greater understanding of how technology can be an effective change agent for learning in middle school inclusive settings. Suggestions are included for teachers’ capacity building to integrate technology to accommodate diverse student learning needs and styles.


Author(s):  
Jennifer G. Beasley ◽  
Marcia B. Imbeau

This case study highlights the essential components of differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students, including those most advanced, and English Language Learners by using a variety of technologies. Many teachers in the study had access to technology, but few received limited professional development. Roadblocks that many teachers encountered are identified with possible solutions for addressing those concerns. The recommendations provided for addressing concerns that classroom teachers face are (1) how to differentiate instruction for all learners, (2) how to learn and sustain growth in using the tools of technology in lesson planning and implementation, and (3) how to manage all of the various components so that chaos does not ensue and every students' learning is maximized. A review of all of these issues can be beneficial to other teachers in heterogeneous classrooms who want to use technology as tool for differentiating instruction.


Author(s):  
Jennifer G. Beasley ◽  
Marcia B. Imbeau

This case study highlights the essential components of differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students, including those most advanced, and English Language Learners by using a variety of technologies. Many teachers in the study had access to technology, but few received limited professional development. Roadblocks that many teachers encountered are identified with possible solutions for addressing those concerns. The recommendations provided for addressing concerns that classroom teachers face are (1) how to differentiate instruction for all learners, (2) how to learn and sustain growth in using the tools of technology in lesson planning and implementation, and (3) how to manage all of the various components so that chaos does not ensue and every students' learning is maximized. A review of all of these issues can be beneficial to other teachers in heterogeneous classrooms who want to use technology as tool for differentiating instruction.


Author(s):  
Chiu-Yin Wong ◽  
Wendy A. Harriott

This chapter describes the experiences of a first grade teacher who was classified as gifted and talented during her school years. Currently, she teaches classes with a diverse group of students (e.g., English language learners, gifted and talented students). Adopting a qualitative case study method, the authors conducted an in-depth interview with the teacher and share her story related to how her giftedness affects and enhances her professional work as an educator. Further, this chapter illustrates the teacher's story related to her personal interactions and relationships. Finally, based on the literature, implications for other educators who are gifted and talented are discussed.


Author(s):  
Shelly Sanchez Terrell

Recent research shows that online tools such as: games, wikis, speaking avatars, and interactive stories can be a positive force for English Language Learners (ELLs). It also shows that when ELLs have access to online tools, they are motivated to practice English outside the classroom (Aydin, 2007; Colombo & Colombo, 2007; Son, 2007). Most of this research is undertaken with older learners. This case study attempts to determine if young learners are motivated to practice English outside the classroom if provided with access to various online tools managed via a wiki. A wiki is a free educational web space, which allows a number of people to work together collaboratively on documents with embedded elements and linking. The teacher interviewed parents and kept observational notes. The study results suggest that the online tools improve the listening and speaking skills of young learners.


Author(s):  
Penelope Debs Keough

Alarming statistics presented by the United States Department of Education reveal a disproportionate number of students of minority language (English language learners) qualify for special education. As far back as 2007, the DOE recognized there was a concerted effort needed to reduce racial and ethnic disproportionality in racial and ethnic identification, placement, and disciplinary actions for minority students' representation in special education. This chapter will examine and address solutions to prevent the over identification of English language learners in special education specifically in the area of identification. As a further objective, the ramifications of this over representation will be examined, and the authors hypothesize about why the over representation occurs. Confusion over the Unz Initiative (1998, Proposition 227) may have inadvertently led to the over identification. A case study, leading to case law, concludes the chapter.


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