Blog 3
Click here to see the video.
Hey
everyone! I just want to quickly apologize for my voice in this video, I was
recovering from a cold and was slowly losing/getting my voice back. Today I had
the opportunity to interview one of the bilingual kindergarten teachers here at
Shadow Oaks Elementary School. Mrs. Paridon has been teaching for 10 plus
years. She moved here from Colombia when she was older, and therefore is a
bilingual herself. Oftentimes she does not know which language she is speaking
in, one of the languages just comes out. It was so interesting to hear her
story, and how she runs her classroom. Hearing how she teaches her students,
and how she handles her classroom was so interesting to me. Listening to what
she thinks about testing and how it relates to all of the students made a lot
of sense to me. Students need different needs and different results from all of
the testing help the teachers and districts show what is working and what is
not.
A
lot of the manipulatives that are used in her classroom to help her students
made a lot of sense and are helpful for all students starting out in school
especially. For how long she has been teaching, the methods she uses really
work and help her students become successful. Before starting the interview, we
talked about some of her students. There are a few in her classroom that just
moved here from other countries and know little to no English. She has to start
fresh with those students but knowing where they started and where they are now
I have been able to tell that her methods really work.
Hi Tobi! Thank you for sharing your video interviewing Mrs. Paridon. The teacher I interviewed also stated a similar response to Mrs. Paridon regarding high-stakes testing. My teacher also felt like because she taught in the lower-grades she did not see a direct impact. I really liked Mrs. Paridon emphasize regarding paying attention to ALL of her students. This is important. The part of the interview that stuck out the most was her emphasis on visuals. She described visuals as videos, charts, pictures, and vocabulary. She states that this is extremely beneficial for ELLs and helps them a lot. In addition, when Mrs. Paridon was asked about advice for new incoming ESL teachers, she states to use "a lot of visuals." Throughout the interview, it was clear she found this strategy extremely beneficial for our ELLs. Wright states that an educators' job is to provide comprehensible input in an enjoyable and safe environment. This helps to lower the affective filter and therefore maximizes comprehensible input. Teachers' uses a wide variety of techniques (Wright, 2015, p.61). Can you guess which is one of the techniques? Yes, ample amounts of visuals! In addition, Wright states that total physical response, realia, small-group work, as well as, other activities involving meaningful communication assist in facilitating comprehensible input (Wright, 2015, p.61). Based on the readings, accompanied with Mrs. Paridon's experience, I can see the connection in which the utilization of a variety of visuals is beneficial to our ELLs.
ReplyDeleteWright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caston, Second Edition.
Hi Amanda! I agree, but I also think it is important to start thinking about high stakes testing at younger ages too. These grades are the foundation for what the rest of their schooling will be based on. Paying attention to all students really is so important, and she made sure to emphasize that during the interview, so all students feel welcomed. Visuals were placed throughout her entire classroom, so it was very clear that she finds this so important for her students.
DeleteHi Tobi! I loved your interview with Mrs. Paridon. It shows how much she cares about her students and the information that they learn and how much of the information that they retain. It’s also great how she pays attention to all of her students and makes a point to show that she gives them all the attention and help they need to succeed. I made the connection to Wright’s insight on the fact that you have to be able to provide the students education in an enjoyable and safe environment (2015, p.61) and it is clear that Mrs. Paridon does that for her students.
ReplyDeleteHey Noor! Her classroom is directly next to the classroom I am student teaching in, and every day I see how she works with her students. She really and truly cares about all of her students and takes the time to focus on each and every one of her students. It is really inspiring to me. That is a really great connection. Her kids always seem so excited to learn and love what they are doing every day!
DeleteHello, Tobi. Mrs. Paridon shared so much insight about teaching young ELL students in kindergarten. She emphasizes the importance of using visuals to teach ELLs English. She mentions that although her students are not subjected to state-level testing at this grade-level, she is a proponent of standardized testing. Although she recognizes the stress and anxiety high-stakes testing can induce, she does see the benefits of standardization of the education system. She uses the example of her and a neighboring teacher using different reading materials in their classes and having a standard to compare/assess the acquisition of students’ knowledge across classes. Mrs. Paridon referenced the various informal assessments she uses throughout the year to assess students’ knowledge. This practice is aligned with implementing formative assessments, which provide “information to a teacher about how a student is doing and what modifications may be needed in instruction” (Wright, 2015, p. 121). Even the data from this informal, frequent form of assessment can be evaluated. According to Wright (2015), “Evaluation refers to the use of the evidence gathered through assessment to make a judgement about the effectiveness of students’ learning, of the teacher’s teaching, or of the educational programs provided to the students” (p.121).
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey! Visuals are her number one tip for teaching English language learners, every time I look in her classroom the students are always using visuals and manipulatives to help them learn each subject. I feel as though her view of high stakes testing is like a lot of people’s views on it. It is helpful, but they can see the stress and anxiety it induces on different individuals; especially those who are not proficient in the language. Formative assessment is constantly used, and it is helpful to immediately see how each of the students are doing.
DeleteHi Tobi! I enjoyed listening to the questions that you used in your interview. One thing that I have noticed a lot in other videos as well as yours was talking about the No Child Left Behind Act. Your interviewee said that she believes it benefits students who are ELL because some teachers might overlook those students, and it requires all students to be helped. Because of this law, programs must teach English and teach academic content to ELL students (Wright, 2015, p. 74). This is important in making sure that students are learning what they need to be learning. Their English speaking needs to be related to the content in order for them to learn and this law helps with that.
ReplyDeleteHey Savannah! I too found it interesting her thoughts on NCLB because it takes every child into consideration without just passing students to pass them or letting them slide by. It teaches the students as a whole. In kindergarten, it is especially important to teach the students academic content in English and in Spanish so that they learn the connections between the languages. This is also important so that the students don’t get discouraged and shut down for the years to come.
DeleteHey Tobi, I really enjoyed your video! Your teacher was very enthusiastic
ReplyDeleteabout how she is there for all her students and how they all need to do the
best they can, No child left behind. Mrs. Paridon was even more excited
about visuals. And its so true visuals are such a huge aspect for students
learning with charts, pictures, videos, and real-life objects it really helps
them get the grasp of what we're talking about. According to Wright
(2015), labeling classroom objects is a good literacy strategy especially if
the labels are made by the students. So, Mrs. Paridon is very right to be so
pushy with her visuals. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Astyn! From observing her in the classroom she is so supportive of her students! In the school we are at, it is very important that we are supportive of our students at all time. Using visuals is super helpful for the students because when they are taught in English, it is easier for them to understand what they are learning. I like what she said about NCLB as well, she does not let that define how she teaches in her classroom. She does what she feels is best for her students and not anything else.
ReplyDelete