Spring 2022 Archive
Supporting Language Acquisition through Connection
Welcome to our 2020-21 designated ELD community. Here is the archived posts for Spring 2022.
May 16: TELL—End of Year
End of Year TELLTesting Window is now open!
May 16-June 3
Reminders:
This is a summative assessment test NOT progress monitoring.
60-90 minute assessment with more questions than the progress monitoring
Give over 2 periods or during finals
BEFORE the day of the assessment...
Check your lists of students (do this now so we can help adjust your classes accordingly).
Print your current testing tickets.
Double check to make sure everyone has headphones with a mic that work.
Check with coordinators if you need headphones.
February 28: Spring dELD Training
After the crazy beginning to semester 2 and as we move forward, it is vitally important that we continue conversations that deepen our understanding of language outcomes for students. With this in mind, we have tailored the Spring dELD Professional Learning for each site to engage in site specific learning.
Who must attend?
EL Coordinator(s)
All Designated ELD teachers
Site EL Administrator(s)
When is it scheduled?
This is an all day professional learning from 8-3pm. The first 4 hours we will cover the agenda below, and the last two hours are set aside for you and your EL team to connect. If you would like for us to participate in your site team time, please let us know.
Please see your EL coordinator(s) for details. Here is spreadsheet with site specific dates.
Where will it be?
On your campus. If a location cannot be found, we are happy to facilitate the meeting at the Mollison Complex.
Agenda:
Establish multilingual student success in ALD: What is our expectation of learning growth in ALD?
Deconstruct TELL Data: What do the benchmarks tell us?
Evaluate the next best step to move students towards success: How do we get students there?
We look forward to joining you at your site to learn!
February 15: TELL Benchmark 4 (optional) Window Open
Benchmark 4 testing window is scheduled for February 16-March 9. We are working to get sessions open by Tuesday, February 15; however, with the large volume of new students, many classes will not be complete until February 16.
If you run into trouble, contact Camila Kcomt via email or phone. Joann Phillips will not be in the office to troubleshoot until Tuesday, February 22.
This is the optional benchmark. All courses will be updated and have a benchmark 4 session scheduled.
You may choose to:
Use TELL as ELPAC prep. (If you would like to open your site’s window earlier, contact Joann directly).
Test only newcomers as they will not be taking the ELPAC along with other students.
Forgo TELL testing this benchmark only.
February 7: Student Survey
As you know, we have had a rapid increase in our English learner population over the last two years with an increase of over 35% at all proficiency levels. In an effort to help best support both students and staff, our hope is to gather data and identify trends to tailor professional learning opportunities that will help accelerate English acquisition for all levels of English learners.
Today, as you may have seen, this teacher survey was sent out. Additionally, there is a sister survey to gather student responses to these questions. If you would like to include your students in gathering this information, please guide your students in completing this student survey during your ALD classes. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes.
January 31: ELPAC Group Testing Assessment Department Office Hours
All week next week, Sara Quarders and Heather Ustaszewski from the Assessment department will be in an open Zoom to assist any teachers that will be giving the Summative ELPAC. If after reviewing the training materials, teachers are still having issues or have questions regarding logging into systems, launching test session, monitoring students, or student login issues, either in person or remotely, they can drop in at any time to the Zoom and Sara or Heather will be available to assist them or troubleshoot any issues.
WHAT: Zoom Office Hours for Summative ELPAC
WHEN: Monday, January 31 through Friday, February 4, 7:30am - 3:00pm
January 25: ELPAC Testing & TELL Updates
ELPAC Testing
ELPAC testing season is here, February 1-March 25. A few things to keep in mind:
ALD students will take the GROUP TESTS (listening, reading, and writing assessments) in their ALD class.
A team from the district will be pulling students from classes to complete the speaking test.
Students who have entered US schools AFTER January 1 WILL NOT test during this window. These students will test in May with EL Programs.
Your site EL coordinators and site testing AP will be reaching out to you with specifics about your site's testing plan.
A big thanks goes out to Sara Quarders and her team. She has provided a slide deck walkthrough to guide your Moodle training prior to giving the GROUP TEST.
Now is the time to encourage your students to test their best. Here are some resources to help guide your conversations as well as give students the opportunity to practice with what the testing interface will be like when they test:
TELL Benchmark 4
Benchmark 4 testing window is scheduled for February 16-March 9.
This is the optional benchmark. All course will be updated and have a benchmark 4 session scheduled.
You may choose to:
Use TELL as ELPAC prep. (If you would like to open your site’s window earlier, contact Joann directly).
Test only newcomers as they will not be taking the ELPAC along with other students.
Forgo TELL testing this benchmark only.
Student Interface and Training Tests
Note this link may need to be reloaded to refresh the testing interface.
Students can log in as GUEST. Choose their grade and scroll down the tests to English Language Proficiency Assessments (ELPAC) Practice Tests for access to practice working through each test (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) within the testing interface.
