Strengthening English Language

Literacy Instruction

LDS Church Schools Principals’ Conference

Presentation Instuctions•Quick Write: You will need paper and pencil

•Turn & Talk

•Determine Partner A and Partner B

•Listen carefully, you may be asked to report on what your partner said

Ticket Out the Door

“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise” (Alma 37:6).

Strengthening English Language Literacy Instruction

Increasing proficiency in English is, and will continue to be, an ongoing priority for church schools. It’s not going away, it’s not a one-time “program.”

Quick Write -2 minutes (Name on Paper)

Why is increasing English proficiency a priority for church schools?

Common Understanding 1

The opportunity to increase proficiency in English occurs naturally, and must be done in ALL classes, ALL subjects, ALL grades—it is everyone’s job (i.e. it is not something that can be accomplished only by English teachers).

Common Understanding 2

Increasing proficiency in English will increase academic performance in all subjects.

Turn & Talk (Speak English)Did you agree or disagree? Why

Common Understanding 3

The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) is the instructional model to which school employees are responsible (for teachers to use in instruction and principals to supervise).

Common Understanding 4

The goal of increased English Language Proficiency will result in greater emphasis on various aspects of the SIOP model.

Common Understanding 5

Effective professional development includes practice, observation, and coaching in the classroom in addition to simply listening to workshop presentations.

Turn & Talk (Speak English) – How does practice, observation, and coaching in the classroom differ from simply listening to a workshop presentation?

Common Understanding 6

Effective teaching, like student learning, improves as it is measured.

1 minute quick write: (Ticket out the door)

List as many effective teaching practices or strategies as you can think of that can be observed and measured. (Clue: Think SIOP)

Common Understanding 7

Increasing English language ability will help students be more confident in taking charge of their own learning: attending school, sitting exams, creating personal plans and goals, and acting upon those plans.

Turn and Talk (Speak English)Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Common Understanding 8

Beginning with the end in mind.

OK, let’s get started by

Our work on literacy this year will include some things you should KNOW, but it will focus on a few specific things you need to

DO. See

Matthew 7:21

We have been given 9 specific instructional challenges that 1) are appropriate for all teachers

and all classes.2) you can IMPLEMENT.3) ITEP missionaries will support.

Instructional Challenges

They are organized into three areas.1) Best practices of instruction2) Building blocks of reading3) Writing

Instructional Challenges (cont.)

Four modes of language:

Instructional Challenge #1

Reading

Listening

Writing

Speaking

Expressive

Language

Receptive Language

…you don’t

know if they have learned until the

ideas come OUT!

These dominate instruction

, but …

Instructional Challenge #1

Consume ProduceStudents have to produce more

language during instruction.

A lot more.Students will get more proficient as they construct and USE language, not just take it in and memorize it.

Instructional Challenge #1

Design every lesson so that • every student

• individually (not as a group)

• uses expressive language (writing and speaking)

• two times.

Group Discussions

Turn and Talk

Quick Writes

HOW?

When performance is measured it improves. When performance is

measured and reported back, the rate of

performance accelerates.

Thomas S. Monson

“For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom;”

2 Nephi 28:30