Administrators
OTES 2.0 Crosswalk
This OTES 2.0 and SIOP Crosswalk was created and shared by Connie Reyes-Rau, Title III Coordinator and Educational Consultant for the Hamilton County ESC. SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a research-based instructional model that has been proven to be highly effective with all learners, especially with ELs. This tool allows you to cross reference the components of SIOP with specific points on the OTES 2.0 rubric.
What should you LOOK FOR in a classroom with EL students?
Click on the document to the right to view some ideas of what to LOOK FOR in a classroom with EL students.
This list is not all-inclusive, but provides questions to ask when you are observing or evaluating in a classroom with EL students. These questions were developed with EL teachers in mind, but is representative of questions to ask about ALL classrooms with EL students.
EL Tutors
EL Tutors in Fairfield are overseen by the assistant principal in their home building.
EL Professional Development for Administrators
Colorín Colorado - Administrator ELL Resources
Administrators play a crucial role in creating an environment in which ELLs can succeed. This section offers school leaders — particularly those with growing ELL populations — ideas and strategies to make that happen. Resources include articles, recommended reports, professional books, and expert interviews. We encourage you to share these resources with colleagues and use them for professional development activities.
Colorín Colorado - 20 Strategies for School Leaders
This guide offers school leaders twenty big ideas that will help them strengthen home-school partnerships on behalf of ELL students. A list of specific strategies follows each idea, along with questions for reflection that can be used for professional development activities on an individual basis or in group settings. The guide includes 6 sections: Connecting with ELL Families, Communicating Important Information, Parent Participation, Parents as Leaders, Community Partnerships, and Creating an Action Plan.
TESOL - 5 Ways School Principals Can Support English Learners
English learners (ELs) bring a wealth of experiences from their families, homes, neighborhoods, and communities to school. Children with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds have stories and experiences that are unique and will enrich the culture of your school. School principals need to use these experiences to help general education staff and students begin to understand other cultures. They should build on the knowledge their EL students and families have of the countries they come from and the cultures they represent. Here are some five additional thoughts on what school principals need to do to support the ELs in their school and build an optimal educational environment for them.
NEA - Communicating with ELL Families: 10 Strategies for Schools
There are many ways that educators and administrators can connect with families of English language learners (ELLs) and keep that communication strong. This communication can be challenging to figure out, but it many cases, it can make a tremendous difference in students' learning. Here are some tips for schools, many of which are based on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is ELL and ESL? Learn the definitions of ELL and ESL in the classroom setting and how they differ, in addition to what an ELL student is vs. an ESL student. Updated: 10/19/2021
Colorín Colorado - Policy Guide
This printable guide, written for Colorín Colorado by Dr. Debbie Zacarian, provides a detailed introduction to federal laws regarding ELLs and their relationship to state and local policies, including information about ELL identification under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
EthnoMed is a place to find "information about cultural beliefs, medical issues, and other topics related to the health care of immigrants to the US, many of whom are refugees." Click on "Cultures" at the top of the page to find information about several cultures, many of whom we have here in Fairfield.
CDC - Cultural Insights - Communicating with Hispanics/Latinos
Cultural Insights: Communicating with Hispanics/Latinos is a document distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It gives some background on the rise of Hispanic populations in the US and offers cultural considerations.