Connecticut State Department of Education
Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) Education page provides:
State of Connecticut Testing Requirements:
An overview of the link above involves the division of accommodation versus modification on an evaluation form, followed by a four Step process. While these steps might seem extremely simple to some, the proper and explicit instruction of these ideas is crucial to a students performance and learning. When opening the link above you will find a detailed description of these steps, the variety of accommodations that can be used and examples of forms are shown. This information is something that should be kept with a teacher at all times to promote efficiency, thankfully we have mobile technology to assist us through these changes.
1. Expect all students to achieve grade level academic content standards
2. Learn about accommodations for instruction and assessment
3. Select accommodations for instruction and assessment
4. Administer accommodations during assessment and instructional time periods
Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) Education page provides:
- An overview of the guidelines
- Common Core and ELA/Math connection framework
- Bilingual education statute
- English Language Learner identification protocol
- specific grade curriculum, K-12
State of Connecticut Testing Requirements:
An overview of the link above involves the division of accommodation versus modification on an evaluation form, followed by a four Step process. While these steps might seem extremely simple to some, the proper and explicit instruction of these ideas is crucial to a students performance and learning. When opening the link above you will find a detailed description of these steps, the variety of accommodations that can be used and examples of forms are shown. This information is something that should be kept with a teacher at all times to promote efficiency, thankfully we have mobile technology to assist us through these changes.
1. Expect all students to achieve grade level academic content standards
2. Learn about accommodations for instruction and assessment
3. Select accommodations for instruction and assessment
4. Administer accommodations during assessment and instructional time periods
Concerns for ESL Students:
It is difficult for teachers to create differentiated lesson plans for students that work with all of the new rules and application of changes in the field of education. Common concerns for test takers are the level of social language versus academic language mastered and most importantly, the assistance that an ELL student is or is not receiving. Legislation requires that every student who is in the country for a year receives services but after the time, and exactly that time, it is cut off. It is important to always keep in mind how this student is feeling and how you or anyone else would feel if you were in there shoes. Being spoken to in a foreign language is hard enough, now imagine being instructed to answer mathematical equations, respond to short answer questions and create essay like compositions, in your native language.
It is difficult for teachers to create differentiated lesson plans for students that work with all of the new rules and application of changes in the field of education. Common concerns for test takers are the level of social language versus academic language mastered and most importantly, the assistance that an ELL student is or is not receiving. Legislation requires that every student who is in the country for a year receives services but after the time, and exactly that time, it is cut off. It is important to always keep in mind how this student is feeling and how you or anyone else would feel if you were in there shoes. Being spoken to in a foreign language is hard enough, now imagine being instructed to answer mathematical equations, respond to short answer questions and create essay like compositions, in your native language.
The most common form of testing that ESL students take is the LAS Links:
The website provides 5+ videos on "Getting Started with TAS, Managing your Organization/Roster, Test Session Setup, Test Administration, Test Scoring and many other helpful videos that will make the experience much smoother, for both the teacher and student. The website also provides an abundance of other products by grade level, subject area or specialty.
Click here for Accommodations with the Smarter Balanced Test !!!
Some specific accommodations for ESL students are:
•Time extension
•Text Reader for Test Items (Including Directions) on MIST Application Not available for Reading Tests
•Reader for Test Items in English(Including Directions) by Certified Staff ONLY Not available for Reading Tests
•Native Language Reader Directions Only (Certified Staff or Non Certified Staff)
•Word to Word Dictionary
The website provides 5+ videos on "Getting Started with TAS, Managing your Organization/Roster, Test Session Setup, Test Administration, Test Scoring and many other helpful videos that will make the experience much smoother, for both the teacher and student. The website also provides an abundance of other products by grade level, subject area or specialty.
Click here for Accommodations with the Smarter Balanced Test !!!
Some specific accommodations for ESL students are:
•Time extension
•Text Reader for Test Items (Including Directions) on MIST Application Not available for Reading Tests
•Reader for Test Items in English(Including Directions) by Certified Staff ONLY Not available for Reading Tests
•Native Language Reader Directions Only (Certified Staff or Non Certified Staff)
•Word to Word Dictionary
Think of it like this:
You have a new student come into your classroom from the Middle East, with little to no English skills. As a teacher, you must first teach them simple survival English such as "bathroom, water, food etc". Now let's just say this student had to leave the country to spend time with family after 4 months of being in the classroom. They go and return about 7 months later. According to Legislation, the student now has ONE month to master their English language and be able to take standardized tests in what is a considered the "regular way. Their will be no outside assistance and consequently, this turns into a job for the primary teacher.