Digital STEP Portfolios (DPFs)

On this page: How to use STEP portfolios (DPFs) * How to set modified goals based on STEP * STEP checklist for classroom use * Blank OLBs * Further Reading

"Teachers, in collaboration with their principals, will determine the most effective way to document the modification of curriculum expectations for English language learners."

(Growing Success, p.76)

Online STEP portfolios

The online digital STEP portfolios contain the Observable Language Behaviour (OLB) documents. They break down oral, reading and writing skills into 6 STEPs, which allow us to identify students' strengths and needs. The OLBs align with the language curriculum, and language from the continua can be used in report card comments.

Teachers are encouraged to use these OLBs throughout the year to guide their program and track modifications of their ELLs. This meets the requirement from Growing Success that curriculum modifications for ELLs must be documented (as quoted in the header above).

Watch this video to learn how to use the STEP digital portfolios!

ESL Digital Portfolios for the UGDSB.mp4

This slideshow walks you through how to use the Digital Portfolios to set modified goals for your ELLs including a case study.

How to set modified goals for ELLs based on STEP

"Learning opportunities to enable English language learners to develop proficiency in English are to be integrated into the curriculum in all subject areas. All teachers share in the responsibility for the English language development of these students. Teachers must adapt the instructional program to address students’ different levels of proficiency in English and help these students adjust to a new linguistic, cultural, and educational environment. Appropriate adaptations include both modifications and accommodations such as specific teaching strategies."

-Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 Policy and Program Requirements, 2016, page 35

This is a checklist for OLB qualifiers that can be used in the classroom to mark anecdotal notes on ELL's language achievements.

Step Continua Classroom Checklists

Blank OLBs (Observable Language Behaviours)

This document is the new ESL Digital Portfolio. The one document now houses all three of the Observable Language Behaviour (OLB) divisions, Primary, Junior and Intermediate. The first page is still the UGDSB Cover Page and gives information on the student such as their first language(s) and date of entry. Within the divisions, the order of the OLBs are oral, reading and writing (2 pages).