What it might look like

So, after meeting with Paul (which was extremely helpful, Thank you, Paul) and reading all of these great posts and looking into a variety of tools. I am definitely planning to use the station rotation model in my classroom. I believe my room is already well equipped for this model and the content of ELA will work well utilizing this model.

I mentioned in my previous post that I want input from the students right from the get go. But I do plan to provide a variety of options for students when rotating to various stations. If students are going to "own" their learning, they have to "own" what tasks they do when, as much as possible. So, aside from whole class instruction or discussions, students will be able to choose to do an independent activity, like independent reading or skill building on the computer or work with a partner or small group on another activity.

Here are some of my initial thoughts on what some of those choices may include:

                Journaling

                Independent Reading

                Building  skills in Grammar

                Building skills in Vocabulary

                Building skills in Writing

                Building skills in Comprehension

                Peer discussions (this could be brainstorming ideas for writing or after reading discussions)

                Peer editing (after writing)

                Peer tutoring (on any skill)

Some of the tools I plan to use or at least look into further are Edmodo, Google Docs, NoRedInk, VocabAhead, Quill, TurnItIn, BlogSpot, Newsela, MyOn, Learnthat.org, Grammarly or Grammar Monster.

I would also like to incorporate web quests, movie creator and comic creator tools.

I am wondering if we will be granted access to YouTube. I have often found great resources on YouTube but was unable to access them in the classroom. I know (and the students know) there are work-a-rounds, but I would rather just have it as a legitimate resource.

Who's who in the Blended Learning Community? 

I wanted to research possible schools sites to visit for Blended Learning. This link covers Blended Learning school that were part of research paper/case study for school and the methods in place that supports each model.

- District: Henrico County Public Schools, Henrico, Virginia
- District: Albuquerque Public Schools, New Mexico
- District: St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, Louisiana
- School: Digital Harbor High School, Baltimore City, Maryland

http://www.blackboard.com/resources/k12/bb_k12_wp_blendedlearning.pdf

Also:

http://www.blendedlearning.org/directory/

What does the research say about blended learning and the ESL student?

Although few and far between, there are some case studies/reports being done on Blended Learning and ESL/ELL classrooms. Here are three of the best ones I have found so far:

Blended learning environments take the interactive whiteboard initiative one step further, putting the device straight into the hands of the ELL students, allowing them to interact kinesthetically with laptops, computers, and mobile devices. The personal, hands-on relation between student and technology furthers engagement and the student’s connection between language reception and individual retention/understanding.

http://blog.wowzers.com/bid/275662/Blended-Learning-Environments-Enhance-ELL-ESL-Progress

Shared site which shares information about technology: in education using Blended Learning and other to enhance learning for the ELL/ESL student.

http://www.slideshare.net/sandracosta0/blended-learning-technologies-in-esl-classroom

The key idea behind blended learning is that students have some control over time, pace, path, and place. Allowing students to take some control of their learning increases their motivation to learn and allows them the time needed to work through the material.

http://blog.edmentum.com/blended-learning-effective-model-english-language-learners

Blended Learning in an ESL Class: A Case Study

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~mpolat/articles/article1.pdf


A general definition of blended learning is a combination of face-to-face and computermediated instruction. Blended learning is seen as natural evolution of the learning agenda and even as the most important advancements of this century . Blended learning “may even become so ubiquitous that we will eventually drop the word blended and just call it learning.” 

High School Career Counseling Goes Blended

EJ Carrion, the co-founder of the Student Success Academy (SSA), noticed at his high school internship the challenges guidance counselors faced on a daily basis. The counselors were overwhelmed and did not have enough time in the day to assist students in college and career counseling. According to Jessica Slusser, "On average most students spend 38 minutes with a guidance counselor."

The Student Success Academy (SSA) have consultants who provide guidance to students by assisting them in finding college and career opportunities as well as helping students create and follow an action plan. The online curriculum offers resume building tools, test taking advice, college planning and interview advice.  The Success consultants are college students who attend one of the top 150 colleges in the country. They were selected because of their leadership skills, philanthropy and academic performance. All consultants have received scholarships, hold a leadership at their college/university and have experienced a professional internship.  SSA consultants spend approximately 12 hours a year with students. EJ Carrion and the Student Success Academy believe guidance counselors are stilled need. This curriculum is not to replace guidance counselors, but to help counselors have more time to be more involved in each student’s action plan.

Currently, the Student Success Academy is involved with 9 schools and work with over 250 students. According to Jessica Slusser, “Out of the first 150 students who went through the program, 92% were able to find a local mentor in their career field and 98% of students say they now have a plan after high school. Many students who’ve gone through the program moved up in their class and even students at risk not to graduate completed their diplomas.” The Student Success Academy hopes to be in every high school and to have every junior be matched up with a SSA consultant.

http://gettingsmart.com/2013/07/high-school-career-counseling-goes-blended/

Hola again,

As an ESL teacher, I have been using iPad, apps and laptops in my classroom for years. The students are motivated and there are tons of apps to support reading, writing and speaking for new arrival students. I am especially looking forward to the students having the Chromebooks and being able to work from home on computers, rather than doing homework on their phones.

I was excited to be able to be part of the group that met for a technology conference this summer. First train ride and it was awesome! However, after attending the ESTE conference in Philadelphia (where I might add, I had my first Philly steak sandwich and LOVED it, although I was skeptical about the Cheez Whiz), I was disappointed in the lack of attention given to limited English proficiency students in the area of technology. Out of the hundreds of lectures, classes, seminars, discussions and sessions, only three were either directly or indirectly addressing the English language learner. Using Chrome to support ELL, ESL and Struggling Readers, Digital Storytelling: Apps that get ELL's Talking and, Using Technology to address the needs of students in Poverty. I spoke to countless sponsors, presenters and educators who all agreed that there was a very clear void in this area.

I would be amazing if we could present at ESTE next year, using the Blended Learning model with the ESL students. Hmmmm...something to ponder...

Research on Blended Learning/Counseling

Findings on Blended Learning/ School Counseling

From Proof Points: Blended Learning Success in School Districts In Salt Lake City were losing 10% of students every year. Now after 3 years of blended learning at the selected high school  their graduation rate rode to 89% which was higher than the district’s and state as a whole.

Used the Flex model of blended learning. Students attend school every day but at their own selected time between 7am-5pm. Important relationships were teachers establishing mentoring relationships with students. School Counselors work with students to personalize their education plan by setting career goals and choosing which courses are most appropriate online, face to face, and/or community college courses. Test scores showed improvement in math. English Language Arts scores were mixed. some grades improved, others stayed flat or declined.

http://www.christenseninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Innovations-Early-College-High-School.pdf

EJ Carrion, co-founder of Student Success Academy (SSA), realized first-hand the problems school counselors face with a one to 500, counselor-student ratio on average. Counselors often feel over-worked and do not have enough time to help prepare students to be college or career ready. Carrion developed Success Consultants (SCs) in  his SSA.  SCs can spend an average of 12 hours with each student a year while on average counselors are only able to spend 38 minutes with each student.

“SC’s are college students hand selected from the top 150 colleges in the country and are chosen because of their leadership, philanthropy, and academic performance. Each consultant working for SSA holds a leadership position on their campus, has received scholarships, and has participated in professional internships. This experience allows SC’s to provide guidance to HS students, help them realize their passions, identify college or career opportunities, and assist them in moving forward with specific action plans” (J. Slusser)

It is important to note that SCs do not take the place of counselors; they simply free up time for counselors to track student success and be more involved with every student's’ action plan. As with blended learning face to face time and a hands on approach is still vital.  

A pep rally kicks off SSA to get students and staff excited, about blended learning/counseling.

“ Out of the first 150 students who went through the program, 92% were able to find a local mentor in their career field and 98% of students say they now have a plan after high school. Many students who’ve gone through the program moved up in their class and even students at risk not to graduate completed their diplomas.”  (J. Slusser)

SSA hopes to grow and extend its assistance with scholarships, test prep, etc.

http://gettingsmart.com/2013/07/high-school-career-counseling-goes-blended/

Greetings & Salutations

I'm finally in this blog! I apologize for the lateness, but due to extenuating circumstances (beach, flip flops, vacation, ice-cream, picnics, sand castles, etc.) I...well...you know...

Be right back...