Lunch bunch notes

ELL Lunch Bunch

Questions:
•    Professors were interested in knowing how to measure gains for preschool ELLs.
•    Is PP2V a good assessment to use with ELLs?
•    Why are successful dual language programs being ignored?
•    How can we get teachers to attend more training on second language acquisition (especially PreK teachers)?
Notes:
•    Professors were interested in knowing the effects of TAKS on teachers/ balance between measures of accountability & teaching what matters
•    Students who do well on benchmarks keep doing the same thing and we need to help move teachers into challenging students further.
•    Teachers need more content knowledge to differentiate for ELLs
•    Professors were interested in discussing how students, who are coming to the university ill prepared for basic Reading & Math, can be supported.
•    Discussion was had concerning culture/climate and valuing students
•    Many districts are not moving to only hiring ESL certified teachers
•    We are in crisis with finding bilingual teachers.
•    We are also not finding classrooms where students are being adequately prepared to transition from Spanish to English instruction.
•    Many areas in Texas do not recognize the value of language and culture.