Maine News
May 2, 2008
1st Foreign Language Association of Maine (FLAME) and ESL Conference
Since the Maine ESL Network disintegrated last year, Maine was left with no state ESL/Bilingual conference. The Foreign Language Association of Maine (FLAME) was approached to explore the option of having a joint conference with a few ESL workshop sessions. The FLAME advisory board and the conference committee embraced the ESL community and allowed ESL workshop sessions and a business meeting to take place within the FLAME conference. The conference, “We Continue to Light the Way,” was March 6-7 in Portland.
Workshops, Workshops and more Workshops:
The Department of Education ESL/Bilingual Office has been offering ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode – video conferencing) ESL Professional Development workshops. The free workshops are offered once a month (February to June) from 3:30-5:00 p.m. The discussion topics include: Scaffolding Learning: What is it? How is it done?; Lesson delivery options to overcome English language content barriers; and Contextual factors affecting Ells’ academic success. For more information please contact the ESL/Bilingual Office at esl.doe@maine.gov
Project Opportunity is also offering two workshops in May. The May 9th workshop is entitled "The Changing Face of Maine: What is the Impact on Maine Schools?" The workshop is designed to show the demographic changes of student populations in Maine and discuss the impact these changes have on school systems. The presenter will provide information about requirements and resources to be able to provide appropriate services to English Language Learners (ELLs). On May 16th, Project Opportunity is offering a Praxis II® Preparation Workshop in Portland. The workshop will examine and provide an overview of the test categories. We will also discuss how to prepare for the test and a few study tips will be offered. For more information on either one of Project Opportunity’s workshops, please contact Rebecca Sawyer at Rebecca.sawyer@umit.maine.edu or Shelly Chasse-Johndro at shelly.chasse@umit.maine.edu
The Multilingual and Multicultural Center in Portland is offering Professional Development Opportunities with Don Bouchard. This academic year’s focus is on aspects of teaching to English Language Learner (ELL) population to help impact their learning in a positive manner. For more information on these workshops, please contact The Multilingual and Multicultural Center at 207-874-8135.
Summer Courses at Higher Institutions in Maine
Project Opportunity is offering four one-week summer institutes through the University of Maine (UMaine). The summer courses are: Methods: The Teaching of English as a Second Language; Multiculturalism and Diversity in ESL/EFL Content; Testing and Assessment in ESL/EFL Context; and Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition in ESL Content. For more information, please contact Rebecca Sawyer at Rebecca.sawyer@umit.maine.edu or Shelly Chasse-Johndro at shelly.chasse@umit.maine.edu
The University of Southern Maine (USM) is offering a number of ESL courses such as Aspects of Reading for Multilingual Readers; Linguistics and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom; ESL: Language Testing and Assessment. To view course listings, please visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/reg/dsis/ or contact USM at 207-780-4141.
Thomas College in Waterville is tentatively offering Diversity & Multiculturalism for Educators in the Summer II courses schedule. Summer II courses begin on Monday, July 7 and end August 25. More information will be available after May 5.
Portland Public Schools Multilingual and Multicultural Center
From www.portlandschools.org/schools/multilingual: "The Multilingual and Multicultural Center oversees Portland Public Schools' English Language Acquisition Program for students whose home language is not English." On March 7, the Center hosted the third annual Rock Around the World fundraiser, featuring dancing, hors d’euvres and a silent auction of multicultural goods and services. On May 10, the Center will conduct “Who am I? – Literacy Celebration” for more information, visit http://www.portlandschools.org/schools/multilingual/events/literacy.html or call 207-874-8135.
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February 4th, 2008
All Maine schools are testing their ELL students with the Access Test this month. The testing window will close on February 1st with test results to be sent out early April to the schools. ESOL teachers will then meet with the LAC’s to determine if more appropriate placement for the student is indicated for the remainder of the year as well as for next fall.
ATM ESL Workshops are being offered through the Maine Department of Education with Donald Bouchard. They are scheduled for February 13th, March 19th, April 16th, and May 15th. Don will focus on Contextual factors Affecting ELL’s Academic Success, Tips for Teaching ELL’s, Scaffolding Learning, Options for Overcoming English Language Barriers. For more information, contact nancy.mullins@maine.gov
Wednesday, January 23rd Schools Moving Up and CREATE offered an encore presentation of “Building Oral Language into the Basal” with Diane August. The on-line presentation highlighted methods to develop language proficiency skills in the context of language arts, math, and science in elementary and middle schools. Included were examples of read-alouds of expository and narrative text, and hands-on experiences to build academic language.
In the Augusta area, we are sponsoring a Dancing Around The World benefit for a local woman from Cameroon whose brother was recently killed and sister raped. It will be held at Hallowell City Hall on March 1st from 6:30- 10:00 p.m. Drumming and dancing from Cameroon, D R Congo, North and South America. All welcome!
Project Opportunity out of Orono, Maine is offering two classes this Spring Semester; Curriculum and Development in ESL Content, and Mathematics and the ESL Learner. For further information, and for Links to their web site, go to: WWW.2umaine.edu/projectopportunity/Courses.htm
The Annual Rock Around The World is happening this year on March 7th at the Italian Heritage Center, Portland. Call 874-8135 for ticket information. Proceeds to benefit the Multilingual Summer Academic Program.
Shalom,
Nancy Kelly, Scribe
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Maine Report NNETESOL Baord Meeting Nov 9, 2007
Department of Education news:
ELL Changes to the Maine Comprehensive Assessment System
The PAAP, an alternate portfolio assessment system, is to be used for only those ELL students who have an IEP. Accommodations have been added to address the needs of ELLs, including a list of bilingual dictionaries. Policies and Procedures of Accommodations to the Maine High School Assessment is being finalized
ACCESS for ELLs® Level 6 Composite Score is the state’s definition of proficiency and therefore it is federally and state required that all ELLs who were administered the ACCESS for ELLs® last year and did not receive Level 6 Composite Score must be administered the ACCESS for ELLs® this year. All students who have been identified as ELL must be tested with the ACCESS for ELLs® annually.
Handbook for Policies and procedures for ESL programs and services – covering from Home Language Survey to who participates in state assessments and how to run a Language Acquisition Committee – is being compiled through the esl.doe@maine.gov. Suggestions and inclusions are welcomed from around the state through this website. It was suggested that a handbook be designed with basics including legal requirements, job descriptions, program design and state assessment policies.
Professional Development
ESL conference calls are being conducted monthly in response to requested topics of interest and need. Upcoming is how curriculum can match ACCESS for ELLs® with the Maine Learning Results grade specific standards. The possibility of using long-distance ATM learning sites will be explored for these professional development opportunities.
Spring and next school year’s workshops will be focused on teaching standards, and how to design lesson plans/curriculum to match ACCESS for ELLs® with the Maine Learning Results grade specific standards. The possibility of using long-distance ATM learning sites will be explored.
A spring workshop is being planned in conjunction with the Maine Support Network to address assessing speech and other special needs of ELLs. Teams from districts will be encouraged to include speech pathologists and special education
Department of Education Distinguished Educator Don Bouchard is conducting trainings across the state on a part-time basis. This is the first time the role of distinguished educator has been held by an ELL professional.
FLAME/ESL Conference is March 6 and 7, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, speaker the night of March 6, and then workshops day of March 7th. Call for papers and details on the conference will be sent out shortly.
Project Opportunity
Project Opportunity was refunded since July 2007 1.5 million for five years.. One of the primary goals is to develop three courses related to math, science and the mainstream classroom. The focus is on capitalizing on students’ background knowledge and mathematical and scientific concepts in order to bridge to the mainstream classroom. Another initiative, Scholarships for Maine’s Future Teachers, engages pre-service teachers in learning about ELL issues by providing tuition as well as materials for professional development opportunities.
Susan Douglass with the Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. is being brought to the University of Maine at Orono through Project Opportunity on December 7, 2007 to present on Understanding Islam. Project Opportunity has been refunded for five years through a Title III grant.
Portland Public Schools
$300,000 has been awarded to Portland Public Schools by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Foundation's program, Caring Across Communities: Addressing Mental Health Needs of Diverse Children and Youth, was designed to fund communities to establish school connected mental health services for students who require them, with an emphasis on overcoming the cultural and language barriers of children residing in immigrant and refugee families. Through a comprehensive process of community engagement, this project will help reduce mental health care disparities among refugees and immigrants by: (1) addressing the training needs of professional and paraprofessional staff; (2) building trust and cultivating strong relationships between clients and providers; (3) developing school-based and community-based intervention programs; and (4) establishing outreach and mental health awareness strategies within the eight target linguistic groups. These are outcomes that can help build capacity among school-based staff, community mental health providers, and other youth serving organizations that are collaborators on this project. The ultimate outcome the project will measure is the degree to which the target communities increase utilization of mental health services.
Portland Public schools released an interesting statistic recently: Five years ago PPS counted 700 students as LEPs. This year they count 1500. This owes not only to newly enrolled students but also ACCESS changing the definition of full English proficiency. Grace Valenzuela, of Portland Schools Multilingual Programs also reports that staffing devoted to ELLs , has not increased in the past five years.Sept. 2007
Maine State Report:
· WIDA is offering training sessions throughout the consortium states around best practices and standards as well as access for ELLs, using the WAPT.
- Linda Ward and Don Bouchard presented the Collaborative Assessment Protocol at the University of New Hampshire recently.
- Project Opportunity is being funded again at the University of Maine at Orono. There will be a spring conference through this project.
April 2007
ACCESS TROUBLE
Maine has just received its score reports for the third testing cycle of the ACCESS for ELLs. An error occurred when scores which failed to reflect a new scaling system were mistakenly delivered.
The new scoring system relied on a Cut Score Review meeting for ACCESS in Atlanta, GA on January 31-February 1, 2007. Four participants from across Maine attended. Participants looked at the Cluster test items and defined each item more specifically to a grade level.
Dept. of Education ESL/Bilingual Programs’ Nancy Mullins has been facilitating conference calls in order to provide a state-wide forum for discussion on hot topics such as the administration or content of ACCESS. Conference calls will continue monthly and on an as needed basis. A listserv and possibly a Blog to serve ESL educators are needed and have been requested.
Looking ahead
ESL/Bilingual Programs is currently working on its professional development events and schedule for the school year 2007-2008, and is currently interviewing candidates for a half-time professional development position. This position will coordinate professional development throughout the state and assist in the implementation of a Needs Assessment survey.
Maine is awaiting the award results of Offlice of English Language Acquisition’s National Professional Development grants and the success of the University of Maine and University of Southern Maine's proposals.
Maine is being considered for a pilot computer program which identifies appropriate testing accommodations for English language learners. Rebecca J. Kopriva of University of Maryland College Park, with $1.7 million in federal funding, hopes to help educators identify the most appropriate kinds of accommodations to give children who take part in large-scale standardized testing arena. They are lining up states willing to help refine the system and to try out the test version when it is ready next school year.
Under the microscope
The Portland school district, which represents approximately 30% of ELLs in Maine, is currently being audited under Title III. The district has also formed a committee to examine protocols for identifying ELLs with disabilities. Maria Wilson-Portuondo of the Education Alliance at Brown University has been consulted and may facilitate the process. Project Academy, which are monthly meetings of Ell educators from across the district, are looking at the ACCESS results and considering program implications. Rates of incoming ELLs continue to rise, with the greatest numbers coming from backgrounds with limited formal schooling.
During the past 10 years, Maine schools have seen a 60% increase in their population of linguistic minority students who speak 80 different languages other than English. Also during the last ten years, the Maine Learning Results has defined what all students should know and be able to do. How do the changing nature of K-12 public education and the increasing change in student demographics impact schools? What academic, socio-cultural, or other issues should school leaders address to enable refugee and immigrant students to meet rigorous standards? What knowledge, skills, and attitudes should school leaders bring to bear in order to create school conditions that support the success of these students?
Training gains
Multicultural Education Programs at the College of Education & Human Development, University of Southern Maine began to formally admit students during Fall 2006 into the newly created Graduate Certificate Program in Culturally Responsive Practices. This 12-credit (4 courses) certificate was designed to accommodate individuals who wish to obtain a basic background in culturally responsive practices, especially teachers, counselors, leaders in education, and matriculated and non-matriculated non-degree graduate students.
For the second consecutive summer a week long course, Successful Leadership for Diverse Schools is being offered at USM for educational practitioners to bring light to these questions and issues.
USM continues to offer the Newcomer Extended Teacher Education Program (Newcomer ETEP) to recruit language-minority candidates with experience and aptitude for teaching and to facilitate their entry/advancement into the profession through provision of professional development, and certification. Students gain admission into the program based upon their background experience, credentials, prior education, and English proficiency.