TESEL Program

Do you work for Fitchburg, Leominster or Lowell Public Schools? If so, check out the TESEL program and see how you can earn your ESL license.

WIDA

Last year, Massachusetts became a part of the WIDA consortium, which means it adopted its standards, tests, and other resources. Today as I was looking through their website I found that you can purchase the
WIDA Standards for your iPad. It was just released at the end of last month. When I was an ESL teacher, I would have found this app very helpful.

Here is their description about the app:

The WIDA Standards iPad Application delivers the content of the 2012 Amplification of the English Language Development Standards in an easy-to-use app format. The app includes:

* Curriculum and instruction planning tools from the printed version

* Searching by standard, grade level or language domain

* Grade-specific example topics

* Expanded and integrated strands

* The WIDA Can Do philosophy

* Description of how to use and understand the WIDA Standards

* Description of the Features of Academic Language in the WIDA Standards

The WIDA Standards app contains the content found in the paper version of the 2012 Amplification of the English Language Development Standards.

Go download it today. 

Why Are Video Games So Attractive?

Ever wonder why your students can be enthralled in a video game for hours, but not in your classroom? Read this article about designing your classroom like a video game. The author, concludes with these points:

10 Strategies To Design Your Classroom Like A Video Game

1. Realize self-directed learning not by merely suggesting it, but making it necessary to get anything done.

2. Design learning experiences so that students see visible progress on a daily basis.

3. Make objectives clear, and offer students multiple ways to accomplish them.

4. Give students the tools to design and build what you hadn’t thought of.

5. Design with iteration in mind: one skill builds on the next–and students need it all to succeed.

6. Use project-based learning where students design the entire process from brainstorming to publishing.

7. Give students malleable learning tools and resources that they can customize–or “upgrade” to fit their approach to learning.

8. Make learning both collaborative and competitive.

9. Consider challenge-based learning and place-based education, where students solve problems important to them, in communities that are watching.

10. Gamify your classroom in a way that focuses not on standards, data, or “proficiency,” but personal progress meaningful to the student.

Level It Books

Want to match your students to the books in your classroom? Not sure what level your books are? I have the app for you - Level It Books.

I don't know much about this app, and the reviews are so-so, but I do think its worth a try. Its made for an iPhone, but it will also work on the iPad (just make sure to search for it under iPhone apps.) You can scan a book's bar-code or type in the title and information about the book will come up. You can view the Lexile, Guided Reading, Grade Level Equivalent, and/or DRA levels for each book. From what I have read, they are constantly adding books to this app. 

Leave a comment if you have used this app, or plan to, and let us know how it works. Happy Reading!

Back to School with iPads

Do you have access to iPads in your classroom? Are you struggling to figure out how to use them? 

Check out this graphic detailing how to use the iPad in the first 5 hours, 5 days and 5 weeks. Its a nice gradual increase of using the iPad in different ways in the classroom.

First 5: iPad Classroom

Happy First Day of School!

What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? What do your students think of you? Listen to this inspiring TED talk about being a Champion for your students.


Kids don't learn from someone they don't like. How are you going to inspire your students this year?

Webcast: Academic Language and English Language Learners

Featuring Dr. Robin Scarcella, providing an overview to academic language instruction for English language learners, as well as teaching strategies, activity ideas, and recommended resources.

Posted on Colorin Colorado.