ELLs are provided with equal access to all FLVS courses. Teachers use ESOL strategies to make courses and instruction comprehensible. All courses are delivered in English. Students are required to complete Welcome Calls, Discussion Based Assessments (DBAs) and assignments in English.
Please use the Translation Services Workflow to learn how to submit a ticket and schedule a call for translation services.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Please view our English 1 One-Stop-Shop for updated ELL DBAs (on the ESOL/ESE Resources tab.)
View the Ahlschwede Schoolhouse ESOL Guide for more information!
It is important to know OUR responsibilities toward our students with special programs here at FLVS. We must discuss special programs in our students' profile with them, their families, and our ESE team to ensure that we are properly accomodating students' needs. Take a look at our system for ensuring this flow of communication takes place early in a student's time in our course:
If the family indicates their child is an ELL during the welcome call, please follow up with an email to the family, requesting the information. It may be best to set up a welcome call via Zoom, for a visual welcome call.
Be sure to LOG THIS COMMUNICATION IN VSA.
Example Email to Send to Family Requesting ESOL Documentation:
Dear FLVS Family-
It was a pleasure speaking with you today and thank you for completing the Welcome Call. You indicated during this call that your child is an English Language Learner (ELL). I just wanted to follow up regarding the need for the ESOL documentation. Please email the documentation to ESOLTeam@flvs.net.
Thank you for choosing FLVS and we look forward to supporting your student and their educational needs.
If the family sends any ESOL/ELL documentation via email, please forward to the ESOL Department using the following contact information:
Email: ESOLTeam@flvs.net
Many of our ELL families will need translation services. As a reminder, students MUST communicate with teachers in English, as all Discussion Based Assessments (DBAs) are required to be completed in English. However, we do have translation assistance available for parents and families.
Take a look at the ESE/ELL excerpts from the FLVS Flex Student and Parent Handbook to learn what our organization communicates to our students in these programs before they enter our courses:
CONTACT FAMILY:
Before submitting a Help Ticket, instructors should use Google Translate to send an introduction text or email. Instructors should communicate the purpose of the call and inquire if a translator is needed. Instructors can use the translated resources in FLVS Connect and share them with families as appropriate (ex: How to Use Zoom).
CREATE A HELP TICKET:
Use Service Now to create a help ticket for ESOL and translation services. You will use the Translation Services Booking Links to view the available dates and times.
SCHEDULE WITH THE FAMILY:
After viewing the available dates and times that translation services are available, work with the family to find a time to meet. You will then book a meeting time with translation services using the Translation Services Booking Link.
If the family does not respond/reply to schedule a time, please review the steps below.
UPDATE THE HELP TICKET:
Once the meeting time has been scheduled and booked, please update the help ticket by including Additional Comments.
which Translation Specialist was booked for the call, date, and time.
The Help Ticket will remain open until the call is completed.
DAY OF MEETING:
Send the family a confirmation text, reminding them of the meeting. The family, the teacher, and the translation specialist will all meet in the translation specialists' Zoom office. 30 minutes are alloted for each translation meeting time.
Be prepared! Instructors will be taking the lead on this meeting. However, translation specialists are there to offer translation support.
CLICK HERE to view sample slides to use for your ESOL Welcome Call!
Simply make a copy, include your teacher contact information, bitmojis, and other course specific information!
Thank you, Leah Garrett, for creating these slides!
AFTER THE MEETING:
The translation specialists will add close notes and resolve the open translation ticket. You will receive a copy of the close notes via email.
*The teacher is responsible for logging the call in VSA and should include the translation services received during the call. Use the Welcome Call Log Template to log the call in VSA.
What are some scenarios where Google Translate can be used to send a text message or email instead of submitting a Help Ticket?
(Exception: Parent is not responding to the instructor’s request for a call OR that the parent is not responding to the Progress update texts.)
Grade confirmations
Confirmation of address and phone number
Notifying of progress updates- last assignment submitted, % complete, and current grade (unless there is a concern and student is not in GAS).
Good Academic Standing (GAS)
Scheduling a DBA
Informing the parents that their student’s DBA was not successful and needs to be rescheduled.
Explaining how to update or upload Proof of Residency documents (POR@flvs.net)
If an ELL has an AI incident for the first time, instructors should discuss AI expectations with student/parent in their home language, to make sure they understand the expectations before the actual ticket is made.
Instructors should complete a HELP TICKET and a Translation Specialist will assist to ensure we bridge any language barrier and cultural differences relating to what is acceptable in other countries for student to use in their work.
Instructors should also share the Academic Integrity Expectations and How to Self-Monitor Using Turn It In presentations with the student. CLICK HERE to see the Grab and Go Resources that includes both presentations in 7 different languages.
WIDA Can Do Descriptors provide examples of what language learners CAN DO at various stages of English language development in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This correlates to the ELL student's scores on the ACCESS test. These descriptors should be used to differentiate live lessons and DBAs for ELLs, based on their English language proficiency level. CLICK HERE to see the WIDA Can Do Descriptors for Grades 9-12.
CLICK HERE to view samples of accommodated DBAs for ELLs.
Accommodations are provided to ELLs to ensure content and assessments are accessible and comprehensible. At FLVS, do NOT modify the curriculum, but we can make accommodations for students. Some accommodations may include:
Explicitly teach language objectives
Simplify the language used in instruction
Check frequently for understanding
Ask students to repeat instructions given or summarize tasks directions
Provide simplified/additional instructions
Provide feedback that is comprehensible to the student
Allow extra time for visual DBAs (differentiate questions based on ESOL level)
Allow the student to take an assessment in sections/chunks
Allow use of completed guided notes, vocab lists, and graphic organizers
Allow students to use word to word Home Language/English dictionary or academic glossary.
View the English 1 (v24) ELL DBAs for Segment 1
You must document in Educator AND VSA when accommodations are made during a DBA. This will ensure that we are set up for audits and continue to improve our documentation process.
DOCUMENT IN EDUCATOR
DOCUMENT IN VSA
