#englishlearners — Public Fediverse posts

I spent about a month working with Claude Code to create a high-low book for #AdultEnglishLearners. It is about the fictional Rivera García family and should work with high school #EnglishLearners also because the family in the story includes 3 children, including one in high school.

The book is written at about a 3rd or 4th grade level.

I would very much appreciate any feedback.

#ESL #k12education #k12 #education #ESOL #teaching #reading #writing

https://www.chrisspackman.com/writings/high-low-series/01-la-cocina.html

I spent about a month working with Claude Code to create a high-low book for #AdultEnglishLearners. It is about the fictional Rivera García family and should work with high school #EnglishLearners also because the family in the story includes 3 children, including one in high school.

The book is written at about a 3rd or 4th grade level.

I would very much appreciate any feedback.

#ESL #k12education #k12 #education #ESOL #teaching #reading #writing

https://www.chrisspackman.com/writings/high-low-series/01-la-cocina.html

I spent about a month working with Claude Code to create a high-low book for #AdultEnglishLearners. It is about the fictional Rivera García family and should work with high school #EnglishLearners also because the family in the story includes 3 children, including one in high school.

The book is written at about a 3rd or 4th grade level.

I would very much appreciate any feedback.

#ESL #k12education #k12 #education #ESOL #teaching #reading #writing

https://www.chrisspackman.com/writings/high-low-series/01-la-cocina.html

I spent about a month working with Claude Code to create a high-low book for #AdultEnglishLearners. It is about the fictional Rivera García family and should work with high school #EnglishLearners also because the family in the story includes 3 children, including one in high school.

The book is written at about a 3rd or 4th grade level.

I would very much appreciate any feedback.

#ESL #k12education #k12 #education #ESOL #teaching #reading #writing

https://www.chrisspackman.com/writings/high-low-series/01-la-cocina.html

I spent about a month working with Claude Code to create a high-low book for #AdultEnglishLearners. It is about the fictional Rivera García family and should work with high school #EnglishLearners also because the family in the story includes 3 children, including one in high school.

The book is written at about a 3rd or 4th grade level.

I would very much appreciate any feedback.

#ESL #k12education #k12 #education #ESOL #teaching #reading #writing

https://www.chrisspackman.com/writings/high-low-series/01-la-cocina.html

I created a #HighLow (high interest, low reading level) book for adult #EnglishLearners. I plotted, directed, edited, and did some of the writing. #LLMs helped me plan, did some checking, and, yes, did a lot of the "writing".

I'm an #ESOL / #ESL #teacher. I want to provide #EducationalMaterials for my students. I want to get affordable #books into my students' hands.

Includes #AI content, so #PublicDomain / CC0.

(Book coming soon; have to get it internet ready.)

#education #reading

BUT, keep in mind that simplifying a text for English Learners is NOT a best practice. It is much better to enhance or otherwise mark up the original reading to make it accessible to #EnglishLearners.

That said, simplifying has its uses --- like for quickly developing background knowledge or as an introduction before reading the original version.

#education #TESOL #k12 #ESL #ESOL

90% done with a #AdultESOL (#ESL) #HiLo (high interest, low reading level) book for intermediate adult #EnglishLearners in the U.S.A.

The story follows the Rivera Garcia family as they start a #FoodTruck business as the first step toward bigger goals. Parents Miguel and Ana deal with fixing the truck and getting permits, insurance, etc. on top of work and the children's school. Mateo is the youngest, in third grade. Sofia is in the middle. Camila is a sophomore.

#reading #education #writing

Just got back from #OhioTESOLConference. Presented on re-leveling and enhancing readings for #EnglishLearners. Went well.

It was great to see and talk to so many colleagues.

The presentations I saw were great, and there were some others that i wanted to see but didn't have time, unfortunately.

Created a #vocabulary reference sheet for Algebra 2 students today. Mostly juniors (in USA #k12 #education parlance) in the classes. I made the sheet for my #EnglishLearners but happily gave it to other students who asked for it.

I use #TexLatex a lot, but usually not for so much math.

#ESL #ESOL #Tesol

Was supposed to join a #webinar today about #FamilyEngagement, #technology, and #ESOL / #ESL / #EnglishLearners in USA #K12 #education.

The webinar site required a specific plug-in / extension that I have not heard of AND Google Chrome or MS Edge.

The did not have a "join in the browser" fallback option.

Hopefully I'll be able to watch the video later in #Mozilla #Firefox. Not holding my breath.

#USA #K12 #education #LLM question:

#Teachers can now create differentiated materials for #EnglishLearners or students with IEPs quickly and easily. This was not true in the past, so although #differentiation has been a best practice for many years, I suspect most teachers didn't have time to do it. Now though, many can do it.

So, what about the #pedagogy? How do teachers use these materials with the #students? Prolly, teachers have more experience with them in last 2 years than in prev. 20.

#USA #K12 #education #LLM question:

#Teachers can now create differentiated materials for #EnglishLearners or students with IEPs quickly and easily. This was not true in the past, so although #differentiation has been a best practice for many years, I suspect most teachers didn't have time to do it. Now though, many can do it.

So, what about the #pedagogy? How do teachers use these materials with the #students? Prolly, teachers have more experience with them in last 2 years than in prev. 20.

#USA #K12 #education #LLM question:

#Teachers can now create differentiated materials for #EnglishLearners or students with IEPs quickly and easily. This was not true in the past, so although #differentiation has been a best practice for many years, I suspect most teachers didn't have time to do it. Now though, many can do it.

So, what about the #pedagogy? How do teachers use these materials with the #students? Prolly, teachers have more experience with them in last 2 years than in prev. 20.

#USA #K12 #education #LLM question:

#Teachers can now create differentiated materials for #EnglishLearners or students with IEPs quickly and easily. This was not true in the past, so although #differentiation has been a best practice for many years, I suspect most teachers didn't have time to do it. Now though, many can do it.

So, what about the #pedagogy? How do teachers use these materials with the #students? Prolly, teachers have more experience with them in last 2 years than in prev. 20.

#USA #K12 #education #LLM question:

#Teachers can now create differentiated materials for #EnglishLearners or students with IEPs quickly and easily. This was not true in the past, so although #differentiation has been a best practice for many years, I suspect most teachers didn't have time to do it. Now though, many can do it.

So, what about the #pedagogy? How do teachers use these materials with the #students? Prolly, teachers have more experience with them in last 2 years than in prev. 20.

At PD for working with #ESOL / #ESL / #EL / #MLL students in USA #k12 #education. Looking forward to it.

Related, but read an opinion piece with advice for working with #EnglishLearners. Problem is, it was mostly high-level stuff like "be aware of cultural differences" or "view home language and culture as assets not deficits".

Yes, all good stuff, BUT in my experience the big issue is teachers not knowing how to, or having time to, implement #SIOP practices with their students.

Just about time for the final #AdultESOL class of the summer term. Great students, fun classes. Next weekend off, and then start the cycle again with a new group of 20 adult #immigrants #EnglishLearners

Also, go back to #k12 #ESOL (#ESL) job in early August. Looking forward to another year of working with new and returning English Learners (and their families) there, too.

The #CyberSecurity class (to teach college level to #HighSchool students) ends in about 2 weeks. Next starts in September.

Short week for #k12 classes this week. Struggled to get my #HighSchool #EnglishLearners to free read today, but I expect that is mostly down to a 2-day week and it being Friday.

Prepping for #AdultESOL. Got a lot done during the 2 days off for weather, but now have to redo the course calendar that I just redid b/c we missed class on Tuesday. We missed Thursday also, for non-weather reasons, and so the redone calendar needs to be re-redone. Good chance to teach prefixes, at least.

#ESOL #ESL

Just finished creating a (very rough) reading for #k12 #education #teacher #ProfessionalDevelopment - has some #Japanese words and some nonsense words mixed in an English academic-ish reading about the #Muromachi period.

Goal is for #teachers to understand what reading at school can be like for #EnglishLearners.

Participant-facing version is at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a6J-8DRfTPenJlm7-vrO8QJfMk_u7u6lfvLFPzDabvA/edit?usp=sharing

Feedback always welcome. I understand the context, so can't adequately understand how difficult or not it is.

#ESOL #ESL

Got a lot of work done on #AdultESOL #BasicESL6 and #BasicESL8 classes today. Next up, prepping Reading class for my #HighSchool #EnglishLearners.

It is going to be a very busy spring semester.

#OhioTesolConference day 2 was another great day of #k12 #ESOL #education and #AdultESOL professional development.

Great to see colleagues I've not seen since the conference last year. Great to see how people are using #GenAI and #LLMs like #ChatGPT to support #EnglishLearners and other #EMEB / #ESL students.

Also, the venue provided #coffee all day! Much appreciated.

Presenting at #ITIP24 on Tuesday about using #Google tools to support #EnglishLearners and engage multilingual families.

Shh ... don't tell anyone, but the slides are available now at https://www.chrisspackman.com/educator-resources/pd/2024-10-29-itip-google/index.html

#ESOL #ESL #k12 #education #EdTech

Almost done with my video session for the #ITIP24 conference. Spent a few hours on it yesterday. It has been a while since I did any video recording or editing, but things went surprisingly smoothly.

Is there a way to point #kdenlive at my already installed whisper instance, though? Kdenlive wanted to install an entire new one.

BTW, presenting on "#Google Translate Tools for Supporting #EnglishLearners and Multilingual Family Engagement"

#ProfessionalDevelopment #Ohio #TESOL #Linux

I don't think it is mentioned enough that #newcomers understand the situation they are in. Many are already familiar with, and using daily, the various translation apps. They have and use strategies for communication and for coping.

#ESOL #teachers (and everyone else in #K12 #education) want to do their best for students. Unfortunately, the day still only has 24 hours.

#ToleranceOfAmbiguity is an important skill to develop.

#ESL #EnglishLearners

Talked to a couple of students whose parents put down on registration forms that their first language was English. Turns out, not so much. This happens every year - at least one or two families say that the only use English at home, even though they actually have at least one other language.

I don't blame the families - they must have a reason. But, I wish whatever is causing their concern was not an issue.

#ESL #ESOL #education #k12 #EnglishLearners #MLLs

Full day of #ProfessionalDevelopment today at the local education service center. Excellent PD on #teaching #EnglishLearners. Led by #EmilyFrancis.

Unfortunately, although many (most?) #k12 #teachers need to hear what she said, we had about 50.

Point is: teachers need more #TESOL / #ESOL / #ESL / #MLL training in school, and more follow up PD during the school year (not just optional PD after the year ends).

I would suggest, though, that the aircon does not need to be set to "arctic".

Doing 2 adult ESOL classes this summer - the usual weekend Basic ESL 6 class and, for the first time in almost a decade, the Basic ESL 8 class.

Course content changed a bit - new textbook, tests, etc - so many of my old materials are not super useful. Fun to be teaching a "new" level, again though.

#AdultESOL #ColumbusStateCommunityCollege #EnglishLearners #ESL #ESOL #LifelongLearning

It is that wonderful (not really) time of the #k12 school year when I spend basically 4 months doing standardized state testing.

As much as I would rather not have to proctor the tests, I feel very sorry for the students who have to waste valuable school time taking all these tests.

#StandardizedTesting #OhioStateTests
#education
#EnglishLearners

Anyone have luck getting #ChatGPT to provide transcripts of audio files?

We're trying to provide audio and text transcripts to #EnglishLearners (#ESOL students) in #k12, but despite saying it can do it, ChatGPT consistently fails to do it. It says it is not allowed access to some resources that it needs.

I've heard plenty of people mention that they use ChatGPT for exactly this, so I'm thinking maybe I need to change a setting somewhere, maybe?

I was thinking about how using #ChatGPT (or similar #LargeLanguageModel) to help jump start writing #EnhancedReadings for #EnglishLearners for my website.

Then I realized, it will probably be more helpful to publish *the prompts I used* rather than the readings.

Why tweak my tweaked reading when you can tweak one generated for specifically for you? Better and faster to tweak my prompts for your situation.

Registering PromptBlog.ai now ... already taken.

#LLM #AI #ELLs #ESOL #ESL #EFL

It is basically a rough draft - I'll probably replace it with something more polished during USA Thanksgiving break, but for now ...

new video "How to Make Multilingual Forms" in Google Forms.

https://youtu.be/TXI9-IsRk7M

#education #k12 #EnglishLearners #ELLs #ELs #FamilyEngagement

Another fun week of school. (Truly; not sarcasm.)

Lots of new (to my school) #EnglishLearners this year - which is great.

Oddly, many of the families put down English as their first language. Turns out, not the case. Basically, 1/2 of our new English Learners were not on my radar until after classes started.

Of course, their previous schools sent their records ... hahahahahaha. No, they didn't. Not in a timely manner, at least.

But, sorted. Time to move forward.

#ESOL #ESL #K12 #education

@rooneymcnibnug

Thanks! I'll check this out too.

But, yeah, I would not be hopeful of the quality of a live event, especially with music also.

Luckily (for me at least), I'm looking to get subs and translations for educational videos, for use by #EnglishLearners

#k12 #ESOL

First day of HS classes tomorrow. I'm still trying to get records from previous schools!! Have a few students who I'm not sure if they are #EMEB / #EnglishLearners or not. ("Not" meaning they already placed out of services - they are definitely at least [emergent] bilingual.)

So, looking forward to talking with them tomorrow.

Productive and educational (no pun intended) week. Completed a lot of prep for the new #k12 school year. Have more new (to our school) #EnglishLearners than I expected, so that's great news.

As always, looking forward to #AdultESL this weekend. Prepping for that now, then going to play some old-school #Quake3.

#ESOL #ESL

Beginning of the school year. So, open houses (so 12+ hour work days) at two schools this week, another next week, and another the week after. #k12 start of the year is so much fun.

Good news is that we have lots of new #EnglishLearners at the schools this year, so I will have a lot of great students to work with.

#ESOL #ESL

Got lots done today on prep for my presentation / workshop at #GTechSummit23. Presentation slides (LaTeX Beamer, ofc), Google Forms in several languages, docs to translate, html pages of links, as well as QR codes. So, productive day.

Also have to present about #ESOL and supporting #EnglishLearners to new staff at #K12 school tomorrow, so, oops, should probably prepare for that too.

I'm presenting at the #GTechSummit23 next week (August 8). My topic is "Technology to Support English Learners & Multilingual Families".

I'll cover federal #k12 requirements, translation sites, general document and video accessibility (for ML families and others), and general best practices for supporting #EnglishLearners in the classroom (including "don't translate *everything*").

Thoughts or ideas? I'm assuming most are aware of a lot, but maybe not in deep detail.

Just remembered: I submitted an editorial to #EdWeek two weeks ago tomorrow. If I don't hear anything from them by end of day tomorrow, I'll post the article on my own site.

It basically says that white mono-lingual teachers should try living in a different language and culture to help them understand what many English Learners are going through.

Practical? Not especially.
Needed? Yes.

#ESOL #ESL #EnglishLearners

Getting started updating my website. I mostly make available #CreativeCommons licensed readings for #k12 #ESOL and #EMEB studnets / #ELs / #EnglishLearners and some other #OER resources for teachers.

Soooo many #EdTech sites have readings, some at various levels, but in my experience, they don't always consider #ELs specifically, nor do they provide decent formatting.

For example: #PhrasalVerbs and idioms can be difficult for ELs. Vocab in general. Translations are a stopgap, not a solution.