Category: Grants

Center School District Teachers Spend Summer in Guatemala

Center School District teachers completed a two-week Spanish-language immersion trip to Guatemala this summer after being awarded a travel grant offered by the Kauffman Foundation and Fund for Teachers.  Teachers participating in the trip were Kindergarten teacher, Rita Galle; Christian Nord (P.E.); Cayetana Maristela (ELL); Beth Eastman (Speech/ECE); Suzanne Turner (Art); Amy Carr (Art); and Tieranni Potts (1st Grade).

Center School District teachers with their Spanish-language teachers in Guatemala.
Center School District teachers with their Spanish-language teachers in Guatemala.

The team chose an immersion program run by Escuela Juan Sisai in Xela (Quetzaltenango).  Cayetana Maristela speaks highly of the experience and considers the school’s Spanish language package a great value at $210 per week for five, five-hour 1:1 Spanish classes.  Although Cayetana was an ELL student during her K-12 education and is a highly fluent adult, she said this trip increased her empathy for ELL students at Center.  When asked to describe the experience of being back in the student’s role of learning a new language (in this case Spanish), Cayatena said,

“This is the first time I’ve tried to learn Spanish formally.  As a 53 year old, it’s not that easy.”

Laughing at her own frustration about being corrected by her Spanish-language teacher in Guatemala this summer, Cayetana asked,

“Are you really going to hold me to the correct verb tense?”

To which her teacher promptly replied, “Yes.  You really do need to know the correct verb tense.”  The experience gave Cayetana an opportunity to reflect on how often she’s said something similar to ELLs at Indian Creek and Red Bridge.

Cayatana Maristela pictured with her Spanish-language teacher, Carolina Molina, showing offer her Spanish-language certificate.
Cayatana Maristela pictured with her Spanish-language teacher, Carolina Molina, showing offer her Spanish-language certificate.

Despite the challenges, I’m happy to report that Cayetana did graduate from her summer learning program!  The photo to the right, proves it.

Sisai School also provided two mini conferences during the week.  During her two-week stay, Cayetana attended mini conferences featuring Gabriel Garcia Marquez (writer from Colombia), the legends of Guatemala, and an exploration of the volcanoes of Guatemala.

As a way to immerse travelers in the language and culture, Sisai School placed the Center teachers with host families who provided three meals each day, including weekends.  Many of the families have hosted students for several years.  Cayetana advises,

“If you’re considering an immersion trip through Sisai School, remember that there is no heating system – during the rainy season, be prepared to bring heavier clothing, jackets with hoods, and umbrellas!

Inside this cup, Cayatan holds hot chocolate she and the other Center teachers made during a tour of a local chocolatier.
Inside this cup, Cayetana holds hot chocolate she and the other Center teachers made during a tour of a local chocolatier.

 

Sisai Spanish School also offered optional afternoon activities (some are free).  These ranged from cooking classes, walking tours of cemeteries, visits to a chocolatier, a visit with AMA (an organization that promotes women’s concerns), a visit to a hot spring, volcano climbing, and trips to an outdoor market in another town via a ride on the “chicken” bus.

School also offers a laundry service.  You simply bring your dirty clothes to school when you arrive for the morning class, and by the end of the day your clothes are returned clean and folded.  There is a charge for the laundry service, calculated by the weight of the clothes.

Traveling to Guatemala itself was easy and inexpensive.  Plane tickets cost about $600.00, and transportation from Guatemala City to Xela and back was an additional $100.00.  The group decided to spend one night in Guatemala City, so there was an additional cost for the hostel that night.

“I would return again.  In fact, we met a woman from Germany [who was on] her third time in Xela!” – Cayetana Marisela

When asked how her experiences in Guatemala will impact her practice as an ELL teacher,  Cayetana didn’t hesitate to find the right words,

“The trip renewed my empathy for ELLs because as much as we think we know [about teaching], I don’t remember my own experience of being an ELL student trying to learn English.  I’d forgotten how hard it is.”

If you have questions about her experience in Guatemala or about her experience applying for the Funds for Teachers grant, you can reach Cayetana Maristela, ELL teacher in Center School District, at cmaristela@center.k12.mo.us

Dandelions along a footpath in Guatemala.
Dandelions along a footpath in Guatemala.

 

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ~Aristotle.

 

Did you have a unique or inspiring experience this summer that will impact your teaching?  Please share via “Leave a Comment” or email, Diane Mora, MELL Instructional Specialist, at morad@umkc.edu.  I’d love to write about you!

2016 Grants for Personalized Learning

A research report from The Center for Digital Education, Funding and Professional Development, lists five grant opportunities for developing personalized learning programs. Some grants have rolling funding dates, others don’t close until November 2016 and December 2016 which would give you plenty of time to plan and create co-writing teams of key staff members.  Specific grant information and guidelines can be found on pages 2-3 of the report.

While the grants don’t appear to focus solely on personalized learning plans for ELLs, the advent of ESSA with its shift of ELL funding from Title III to Title I increases the urgency for ELL Coordinators and Directors to work more closely with their district’s Federal Program Directors to advocate for tools that impact the education of all students.

Personalized learning can’t be found in a single program or initiative — it requires a complete shift in the way education is structured from kindergarten to college.  (p 2, Funding and Professional Development)

The report was produced by the Center for Digital Education (CDE) which also maintains a blog, and other news and event feeds focusing on what’s happening in education today for both K-12 and Higher Ed.  On the CDE site you can also find contests and awards for district and classroom level content and curriculum initiatives.  If you’re looking for ways to showcase the great things folks in your district are doing, some of these opportunities might fit the bill.  Let’s put more Missouri educators and districts on the map!

What steps has your district taken toward developing or implementing personalized learning plans for students?  How do you see personalized learning plans impacting teacher’s abilities to serve ELLs?  What PD do you foresee teachers needing in order to effectively use personal learning systems?

 

 

EL Advocacy and Involvement in 2016!

Want to amp up your advocacy efforts for ELs? You have 17 days to shape EL education and include your opinions in how education history is shaped moving forward with ESSA!  From the Federal Register:

The Secretary [of Education] invites advice and recommendations from interested parties involved with the implementation and operation of programs under title I concerning topics for which regulations or nonregulatory guidance may be necessary or helpful as States and LEAs transition from NCLB and implement the ESSA.
The Secretary specifically invites advice and recommendations from State and local education administrators, parents, teachers and teacher organizations, principals, other school leaders (including charter school leaders), paraprofessionals, members of local boards of education, civil rights and other organizations representing the interests of students (including historically underserved students), representatives of the business community, and other organizations involved with the implementation and operation of title I programs.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public comments in response to this document by accessing Regulations.gov. You may also inspect the comments in person at U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E306, Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT the folks at the Federal Register.

Other opportunities to get involved as a change agent and local folks who are doin’ it!

  • KC-area’s very own, Laura Lukens hit the top of the list again on January 1, 2016, with GO TO Strategies!  Check out the link to TESOL national’s post about getting back to basics with teaching ELs: Scaffold, Model, Pronounce, Assess, and Read!
  • KCPS’s talented Allyson Hile is sharing her expertise through Leading Educator’s on January 20.  I’m planning to attend.  Will I see you there?

Leading Educator’s January Facilitated Learning Group on ELL Strategies!
Where: Leading Educators’ Office, Westport
When: Wednesday, January 20 from 5:30-7:30
Fee: No Cost!
Are you currently serving English Language Learners or coaching others who do? Are you responsible for leading PD on effective ELL strategies?  If so, join us for our January Facilitated Learning Group on ELL Strategies! Come learn from one of the most knowledgeable ELL instructors and coaches in the city, Allyson Hile – current Director of ELL for KCPS and LE alumna.
To RSVP, email sgermano@leadingeducators.org

What’s going on in your district or your professional development efforts that’s noteworthy? Post a comment and let us know. Happy 2016!!