June 2016

Welcome to the monthly E-News for the Mid-State Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBE-RN), located at OCM BOCES in Syracuse, NY.

Please share this information with colleagues in the field. You can also send us items that you'd like us to include in next month's E-News. Mid-State RBERN can be reached at:

• Phone number: 315-433-2664
• Fax number: 315-431-8585
• Email: rbern@ocmboces.org
• Website http://rbern.ocmboces.org

Thank you for your interest in the education of New York's English Language Learners.

OBE-WL News

• Supplementary Certification Pathway for ESOL Teachers to Obtain Content Area Supplementary Certification

• Supplementary Certification Pathway for Content Area Teachers to Obtain Supplementary Certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages
• Dual Language Learners Toolkit
• Reporting English Language Learners Who Score Proficient in Regents English in August
• Guidance Relating to the Rights of Individuals Over Compulsory School Age to Attend High School
• Title III Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives Improvement and Corrective Action Plan for English Language Learners
• Guidance Regarding Bilingual Programs and English Language Learner Parent Information Resources in New York State
• 2016-2017 Exam Schedule
• New Parent Orientation Videos
• New Glossaries: High School Integrated Algebra - Swahili Living Environment – Swahili, Karen & Nepali
• NYS Seal of Biliteracy

Dear Colleagues:

This month’s topic is: Continuous Learning and ELLs.

The content of this month’s E-news will hopefully provide stakeholders with resources to help combat the loss of academic learning, or the “summer slide”, students experience during the summer vacation.

Upcoming Events

• Co-Teaching Symposium for Administrators with English Language Learners
  June 28th, 8:30-3:30, Seneca Large & Small Conference Rooms at OCM BOCES: 110 Elwood Davis Rd. Liverpool, NY.
  
  Join Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, renowned expert of co-teaching for English learners, for an all-day symposium exploring how to offer much needed leadership support for the implementation of the Integrated ENL program requirement of the new CR Part 154. During the symposium the presenter will discuss how leaders can support collaborative instructional and assessment practices for ELLs. Dr. Honigsfeld and Dr. Dove's latest joint publication Collaboration and Co-teaching for English Learners: A Leader's Guide will serve as the foundational resource and will be included. It is the leadership companion to their best-selling teacher's guide entitled Collaboration and Co-Teaching: Strategies for English Learners. http://coteachingforells.weebly.com/
• Northern Region ESL PLC Meeting
  Wednesday, June 22nd, at the Liverpool Public Library, 4:30-5:30 PM followed by dinner at Nick & Angelo’s Ristorante, Liverpool, NY
• Northern Region ESL PLC Summer Luncheon & Cruise
  Thursday, July 28 from 11:30-1:30, Sherwood Inn; Mid-Lakes Navigation Sightseeing Cruise 2:00-2:50.
• Save the Date NYS TESOL 46th Annual Conference:
  Collaboration in the ENL Classroom and Beyond
  November 4 & 5, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza in Syracuse, NY.

RBE-RN Library

Check out books and other resources, we even have iPads to loan for you to pilot in your classroom.

This month's book highlights: Visual Impact: Creative Language Learning through Pictures

David A. Hill provides creative ideas for the ENL classroom, including activities, games and lessons in this month’s highlighted book, Visual Impact: Language Learning through Pictures. This book provides activities based around the concept of using pictures to enhance language learning. It gives helpful ideas about how to best use visuals and provides a variety of specific activities. The format is easy to use, and this book will be a useful summer resource.

To find this book, do an enhanced search at the RBE-RN Library by author or title.

Resource Spotlight

• 11 Tips to Help ELLs Avoid the Summer Slide
  A recent TESOL blog by Judie Haynes offers wonderful and creative ideas for teachers to share with parents of ELLs. For example, plan a public library day to meet your students and their families there.
• Summer Slide, ELLs and the Common Core
  Diane Staehr Fenner and Colorín Colorado provide an article with many resources for students and their families.
• Virtual Field Trips, DIY Projects and Summer Reading
  This Edutopia blog recommends the 10 best virtual field trips, DIY projects, and resources for reading, writing and math.
• Avoid Summer Slide Activities-Charleston Library
  This is the Pinterest site for Charleston Library’s extensive summer resources.
• NEA-Summer Reading Tips
  Diverse book recommendations and suggestions for encouraging children to read. There are also resources from read brightly, a new website promoting reading at all ages.
• 5 Easy Ways to Help Prevent the Summer Slide
  This blog gives some great ideas to help keep your students reading all summer long.
• The Best Resources On The “Summer Slide”
  Blogger and Author, Larry Ferlazzo offers an extensive list of resources all related to the summer slide.
• Summer Learning
  Check out this video featuring Pedro Noguera discussing the summer learning loss and the impact it has on low-income students.

Content Corner

• Books Celebrating Diversity
  Colorín Colorado had developed book recommendations by several categories including: Bilingual Books, Immigrant Stories, Holidays and Festivals, Folk Tales, Sports, Social Studies and more.
• Good Reads for English Language Learners
  The Young Adult Library Service (YALSA) has built a list of recommended reading for ELLs/MLLs ages 12-18.
• Get Ready for Summer: Ideas for Teachers to Share with Parents
  This outstanding article from Reading Rockets provides teachers and parents with a variety of fun activities including websites and printables for the summer.
• International Children’s Digital Library
  The ICSL’s goal is to have every culture and language represented through books available on their site to read for free. They believe that every child should be able to know and appreciate the literature from their home country.
• Eight Fantastic Apps for Summer Reading on iPads
  Students who have tablets can prevent the summer slide by downloading e-books.
• 50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Read
  The NEA offers many selections of multicultural books by age level. They also offer interesting articles under “Read across America.”
• Fun and Free Summer Learning Resources
  Many different ideas and resources for all content areas.

Home Strategies

• Summer Learning Resources for Parents
  Keep your children interested in reading all summer long without making it a chore.
• Reading Tips for Parents (In 11 Languages)
  Reading Rocket’s one-page parent tips offer simple ideas for ELL parents to help kids become successful readers. The tips are listed by age, and are available in 11 different languages!
• Creating a Home Library
  Here are some ideas for creating your own home library. Locate books of interest to your child and put them in a special place where you can read together over the summer.

Newcomer Nook

• 8 Super Summer Site Word Activities
  Beach Balls, Hopscotch, Jumping Words and Sand Writing are just a few of the games incorporating active movement offered here.
• 48 Ultra-Cool Summer Sites for Kids and Teachers
  Edutopia offers a list of great sites to keep kids productively learning this summer.
• Activities for Summer School ESL (or for home, too)
  Judie Haynes at offers a variety of lessons and activities appropriate for summer learning.
• Bilingual Spoken Books
  Choose from a long list of languages first to determine the narration language for these illustrated online children’s books.
• Board Games That Promote Language Learning
  Bananagrams, Tell Me a Story, and Guess Who? are just some of the games highlighted here for ELLs and MLLs.
• Wonderopolis
  Encourages kids to ask questions, explore, and learn by completing the phrase, “I wonder….” It is great for ELLs because of its visual support and highlighting of key words. It will also give a definition when you mouse over a word.

• EF English First High Flyers
  Vocabulary games that incorporate reading, listening, speaking, and spelling.
• Word Games for Kids-Futaba
  Picture-word matching game that can be played with multiple people.

For Administrators

• MaryEllen Elia: Avoid Summer Brain Drain
  The State Library works with 23 library systems across New York to provide a free reading program for children. The program not only offers information on different reading materials, but provides activities like art, music, storytelling, and works with organizations around the community.
• Summer Learning Infographic
  Statistics about the summer slide and tips to help avoid it.
• Summer Learning Programs, ELLs and the Achievement Gap
  Statistics specific to ELLs and summer learning plus some sources of funding school districts can consider when developing summer programs.

ELLs in the News

“ELLs in the News” features timely articles about ELL/MLL education provided by a variety of online news sources.

• Mispronouncing Students’ Names: A Slight That Can Cut Deep
  Education Week, May 2016
• The Background Building Controversy and the Common Core Standards
  Paridad, May 2016
• Gifted, but Still Learning English, Many Bright Students Get Overlooked
  nprEd, April 2016
• Albany High Teacher Helps Refugees Attend UAlbany
  timesunion, April 2016

References

• Judie Haynes TESOL Blog
• Teaching America’s ELL-A Special Report
• Colorín Colorado ELL News Headlines
• ELLs: A Mosaic of Language and Culture, NYSUT
• UnboundEd

Coming Next Month

Our topic will be:
SIFE (Students with Interrupted/Inconsistent Formal Education)

Citation Reference

Andrea Honigsfeld Picture:

Molloy College: Collaboration and Co-Teaching Conference: Integrated Services for English Language Learners. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2016, from here.

Check out Mid-State RBERN’s blog!

Check out Mid-State RBERN’s blog!
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