School Support Services Newsletters
TEAM Solutions Secondary School ESOL Newsletter Term 3: 2005
Dear Colleagues
"Ko te reo te mauri o te tangata"
Language is the essence
This succinct statement summed up Stuart Middleton's energising closing address at the NZATE English Conference, 'Hotwired in the Pacific' when he addressed us on 'Roadmaps for the Super-highway'. He affirmed the importance of language as a road map of culture. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining close links between English and ESOL in schools.
We hope that you have had a relaxing break and are feeling energised for the new term. This newsletter focuses on professional development opportunities, updates, clusters and new resources.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Workshop for ESOL HoDs: This is an opportunity for ESOL HoDs/Teachers in charge of ESOL, to look at key tasks and issues including the following:
- Working effectively as an ESOL HoD
- Building a strong team (including coaching & curriculum planning)
- Creating a whole school ethos - making links across the curriculum
| Date: |
Monday, August 8
NB this date has been changed from August 16. |
| Time: |
9am - 3pm |
| Venue: |
Kohia Teachers’ Centre (Register through Kohia: Ph. 623 8977) |
| Facilitators: |
Jenni Bedford and Lyn Groves |
AKTESOL Meeting:
Cross Cultural Links
| Date: |
Wednesday, August 10 |
| Time: |
6.30 for drinks and nibbles to 9pm |
| Venue: |
Kohia Teachers Centre
|
| Programme: |
The following speakers have been confirmed:
- Ahmjed Hanna - features of Arabic language and culture and the impact on new learners of English
- Natalie Kirton - visual language for new learners of English
- Song Lam Wong - hitchhikers' guide to Chinese culture
|
A few enthusiastic presenters are still to confirm.
There will be a book display focussing on culturally relevant books and dictionaries. Linda Grant from One English and Carol Gilling from Pearson Education New Zealand will be there to discuss these with you.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION UPDATE
International student matters
For enquiries about the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students/International Education, contact:
Judy Simpson
Senior Advisor - International Education
Ministry of Education
Level 4
39-45 College Hill
Private Bag 47911
Ponsonby
Auckland
Phone: (09) 374 5400
Direct: (09) 374 5512
English Language Learning Framework (ELLF)
This Ministry document explains what mainstream and ESOL specialist teachers need to know and to be aware of in order to maximize the learning and participation of students who are learning English as an additional language. It is to be used in association with the ELIP (English Language Intensive Programme) folder. A group of secondary schools are trialling ELLF this year. Results of the trial will be available at the end of the year.
Progress Assessment Guidelines
This resource will be sent to schools shortly. It covers a range of assessments and their uses as well as supporting the Funding Assessment Guidelines resource.
REFUGEES
The 5th World Refugee Day in Auckland
This was held on Friday, June 17, at Mt Albert Grammar School. For the first time it was separated from the community celebrations on June 20 at Kings College. Mt Albert Grammar School and TEAM Solutions organised the occasion with the assistance of communities who provided delicious food.
All this would not have been possible without the support from the schools. Thank you to all those who contributed with such generous spirit.
Please contact Lyn Groves if you are able to host this term's cluster meeting.
NCEA
Two new units based on unit standard 12420 can now be accessed on English online. Both have themes that can easily link to prior learning of our students.
Go to English units for NCEA Level 2
On Location: Unit Standard 12420
Students read non-fiction texts in which the writers develop strong senses of the locations or experiences they describe. After studying close reading exemplars, they complete a close reading activity on the text provided. Their close reading work can be assessed for unit standard 12420 Read transactional text closely. This activity assesses one of the two close readings required for unit standard 12420.
Growing Up: Unit Standard 12420
Students read non-fiction texts in which the writers describe experiences of growing up. After studying close reading exemplars, they complete a close reading activity on the text provided. Their close reading work can be assessed for unit standard 12420 Read transactional text closely. This activity assesses one of the two close readings required for unit standard 12420.
Level 2 research (2.8) - we hope to run some cluster-based workshops based on units and exemplars for this assessment standard. Let Jenni know if you are interested in attending or sharing your expertise.
CLUSTERS
Cluster meetings are a great opportunity to keep up to date, share resources and learn from colleagues. Most clusters meet once or twice a term. One of the cluster meetings this term will focus on AsTTle and its relevance for new learners of English.
Contact us if you would like to attend a cluster in your area.
RESOURCES
Towards NCEA English by Juliette Hayes and Dinah O'Meara
This is a practical resource to introduce students to the language, skills and assessment methods that they will later encounter in Level 1 English Achievement Standards, while working at Levels 4 and 5 of the New Zealand English curriculum.
Each chapter takes a thematic approach. The resource includes a Teacher's Guide, suggested answers to the close reading exercises and a set of photocopiable templates
Microbes (Stage 2): written by Shirley Smith and produced by the MoE, to accompany the ELIP folder. If you have not received your copy, contact Gillian Barron at the MoE: gillian.barron@minedu.govt.nz
A number of teaching resources gathered from the NZATE Conference are listed below. If you would like to hear more at a cluster meeting, contact Jenni Bedford or Lyn Groves:
- Power Researcher, a new piece of software, to assist your students with their research assignments. Endorsed by the Ministry of Education and available from Heinemann. For an overview: www.powerresearcher.com
- Navigating TKI - some user friendly tips and great links to useful sites
- The Rabbit Proof Fence'- comparison between the book and the film. Focuses on teaching students how to compare and contrast. Good for NCEA Level 2.
- Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter. Suitable for students at upper intermediate level English.
These reviewed resources have been added to ESOL Online since the last update:
Classroom Resources: Secondary
The ESOL unit standard assessment activities have been updated to match the revised standards.
Professional Reading: Course Design
Integrating EAL Learners into the Mainstream Curriculum
Constant Leung discusses the trends in integrating English language learners into the mainstream curriculum.
Professional Reading: Language Acquisition
Bridging the Home-School Divide in Chinese- and English-Speaking Children's Bilingual Development: Some Guidelines (Bilingual Basics)
This paper examines how to bridge the home-school language divide to foster additive bilingual development in children.
Professional Reading: Science
Essential Elements of Effective Science Instruction for English Learners
This publication discusses how science teachers can help their English language learners develop scientific talk and academic scientific writing skills.(From the California Science Project.)
Contacts:
Jenni Bedford
Ph. 09 6238880 ext. 48349
Fax: 09 623 8881
j.bedford@ace.ac.nz
Lyn Groves
Ph. 09 6238880 ext 46364
Fax: 09 6238881
l.groves@ace.ac.nz
Denise McKay
Ph. 09 623 8880 x46335
Fax: 09 623 8881
d.mckay@auckland.ac.nz
Helen Panayiodou
Ph. 09 6238880 ext. 48334
Fax: 09 6238881
h.panayiodou@ace.ac.nz
Song Lam Wong
Ph. 6238880 ext. 48347
Fax. 623 8881
sl.wong@ace.ac.nz
Charlie Lee
Ph. 6238880 ext. 48472
Fax. 623 8881
c.lee@ace.ac.nz
