Using Seesaw with ELLs at Lee Newcomer

Post by Jessica Pederson, Digital Learning Integration Designer for SFUSD

Edwin & Anita Lee Newcomer School (EALNS) is a particularly unique school site within the San Francisco Unified School District. As a school dedicated to Chinese-speaking, newly-arrived immigrant students, it serves as a transitional, one-year program to prepare students to move on to other elementary sites the following school year. Students receive intensive instruction in reading, writing, and oral English language development to bridge any academic gaps. EALNS also serves as a supportive space for immigrant families transitioning to a new country and a new way of life, with a focus on the “skill sets, mindsets, and heart-sets” students need, says Principal Victor Tam.

Instruction at EALNS focuses on the importance of having a growth-mindset, the acceptance of failure as a natural part of the journey toward mastery, the importance of positivity, and the nurturing of students’ self-confidence. One of the tools they use to do this is Seesaw, a tool for creating student-driven digital portfolios, because of its ability to be personalized to the needs and preferences of each student. Teacher Pauline Ly explained, “Some of my students like to write in their journal, then take a photo and record the reading in Seesaw. Some students prefer to draw and type the sentences in Seesaw. And some students prefer to draw and hand write the sentences in Seesaw. Most like the video option. Whichever way they choose, they enjoy using Seesaw to capture their work.”

EALNS teachers also use Seesaw to assess and document students’ learning throughout the year, as a method of self-reflection and growth mindset. “Seesaw makes it possible for students to capture their work consistently, allowing them to track their own progress over time,” says Terence Li, a K/1st teacher. While there are many ways to capture students' progress, Seesaw is a tool that works particularly well for the ELL population EALNS serves, with its many offerings for capturing student voice.