Getting an ESOL Endorsement

Getting your ESOL Endorsement in LPS

Individuals working at an LPS elementary site that serves English Learners [ELs] are required to get their ESOL endorsement.

All certified teaching staff members at these sites have or are working on their ESOL endorsement as it assists in ensuring meaningful access to grade-level content.

If a staff member comes to LPS with an ESOL Endorsement, great! Please know that opportunities to learn more about the ESOL program in our district will be shared as working with ELs is all about biography--it's important to know how our programming works.

In joining LPS and your school in particular, LPS will support you in attaining this certification. Below are the LPS-supported options for your ESOL plan of study.

3 ESOL Endorsement Options for Certified Staff at LPS Elementary ESOL sites.

Use dropdown for option descriptions -->

Option 1

Partake in our ESOL Academy. This course of study would prepare you to earn your ESOL endorsement by passing the Praxis test. An overview of what this looks like can be found in the blue section below. 2 year commitment

Option 2

Partake in an ESOL course of study at a university of your choice and pass the KS ESOL Praxis exam. LPS would pay for you to take your Praxis exam and add the endorsement to your Kansas teaching license. Commitment will vary based on your ESOL plan of study.

Option 3

If hired/placed prior to the end of the previous school year, begin the ESOL Academy early year by taking ESOL Methods over the summer (prior to semester 1 listed below) and join up with ESOL academy in the fall. Contact Kasey for details. 1 year commitment.

LPS Elementary ESOL Sites: Additional Details & Documents for Reference

You may forgo option 1 or 2 for one school year (SPED teachers may forgo until after SPED coursework is complete if on a provisional license).
Regardless of your ESOL endorsement path, LPS will pay for you to take the ESOL Praxis once. Evidence of an ESOL plan of study at an accredited university must be on file.
Once your pass your ESOL Praxis exam, submit your score and LPS will assist you in adding the ESOL endorsement to your Kansas Teaching License.

Guidelines for Elementary ESOL Site Endorsements in LPS & More ESOL Endorsement Option Detail Information

Option 1: ESOL Academy Sequence & 497 ESOL Academy & Endorsement Scholarship Details

(Most common option chosen) Use dropdown to learn further details -->

When What Other Information

Fall Semester, Year 1 Enroll in ESOL Methods & participate -->Fall sessions will be after school, and last approximately in ESOL Methods preview sessions 60-75 minutes. offered by LPS. -->3-4 front loading sessions to prepare you for taking ESOL Methods in the Spring at Kansas State University --> 2, 1:1 visits with the ESOL Facilitator.

Spring Semester, Year 1 Take ESOL Methods course at Kansas --> LPS will pay your K-State tuition. State University. -->2, 1:1 visits with the ESOL Facilitator. --> Methods would be mostly online and group work is strongly suggested.

Fall & Spring Semester, Participate in ESOL Academy --> Monthly 2-3 hour after school sessions at an LPS site. Year 2 --> 4, 1:1 visits with the ESOL Facilitator (2/ semester)

Spring / Summer, Year 2 Take the ESOL Praxis and add it to your --> LPS will pay for the cost of your first Praxis test and for teaching license you to put the endorsement on your Kansas teaching license.

ESOL Academy & Endorsement Scholarship Application

ESOL Endorsement Opportunities for Non-ESOL Elementary and grades 6-12

Use dropdown for option descriptions -->

Apply for the USD 497 ESOL Academy & Endorsement Scholarship

See details and application information listed in the OPTION 1: ESOL Academy Sequence & Details / USD 497 ESOL Academy & Endorsement Scholarship section listed in the previous section.

ESOL Academy & Endorsement Scholarship Application

Participate in ESOL Academy (Free for all / no application necessary)

What is it?

These sessions integrate information from ESOL Methods, Assessment, and Linguistics. The goal is to prepare you to take and pass the ESOL Praxis exam.

When is it?

Monthly professional development sessions that take place September through May of any given school year.

Other Information:

USD 497 cannot pay for you to take the Methods graduate course, ESOL Praxis Exam, or adding the endorsement to your licensure.

The ESOL Praxis Exam

General FAQ

4 versions of the current test
Will see a list of acronyms & their meanings prior to starting (note them as needed)
120 Questions, 120 minutes . "Time" does not start until you get to the first question (after acronym page).
60% grammar and linguistics, 40% everything else
Passing Score is 149 or higher

ETS / Praxis Website

ESOL Praxis Test Sign Up Instructions:

The district will pay for the Praxis exams of elementary teachers/certified staff at ESOL sites. Follow the link above for help to sign up. We will spend the first part of ESOL Academy in May getting folks signed up as I’ll have a person present that has a district credit card.

LPS Instructions to Register for the Praxis

How to Select a Test Date -->

What Praxis Exam to take: #5362

Preparing for the ESOL Praxis

ESOL Praxis Advice / Pointers from Teachers that Passed

(remember there are FOUR versions of the test)

From other KS teachers

(via Shabina Kavimandan)

"120 questions and you get 2 hours. I had ten minutes left on the clock when I was all done and ready to submit.

Yes I had IPA symbols and listening problems and the listening questions go a lot faster than on the practice test."

"I practiced A LOT! I thought the practice test that I bought was super helpful… and I think just studying for the test made me learn more than the two classes I took LOL"

"You need to know about the court cases and teaching styles/methods. And then a lot of it is just based a lot on what would you do situations for the different levels of ELLS."

From Campbell Ragan, Schwegler Elementary, 2022

Study the court cases, theories, & their authors
Digraphs, clusters, & blends; Voiced vs voiceless
Lots of vignettes / scenarios to analyze

Tiffany Sanders, Hillcrest Elementary, 2022

Theories, theorists, & court cases
Common terms & definitions, L1 & L2
IPA (w/ listening)
Scenarios / Planning & Implementing (How T handle various scenarios)
Different Program Types

Resources to Help you Prepare for the ESOL Praxis

IPA stands for the International Phonetic Association. IPA chart from Shabina...This version is easier on the eyes than the one that is in the ESOL Praxis Study Guide.
- Listen to IPA sounds using this online resource.
- IPA Transcription Practice: from Berkley Linguistics, First IPA symbol quiz, from Cambridge
Grammarly Trick to identify active from passive voice: add “by zombies” to the end of the sentence and if it then makes sense, it’s probably passive voice.
The Praxis Revised Table gives you some abbreviated definitions of tested concepts.
What to Expect from the Praxis English Speakers of Other Languages Exam from ESLteacherEDU.org
English Speakers of Other Languages Study Companion from the Praxis website (this is the free version)

Praxis 5362 Study Plan

Praxis Videos: What to Expect

ESOL Academy Praxis Resources

Free Praxis Study Companion Booklet & Flashcards

Praxis Free Study Guide

Praxis Flashcards

Printed hard copies of these free online resources cards are available. Contact Kasey Van Dyk for more information.

Praxis Interactive Online Practice Test

This is purchased from ETS once a year for the ESOL Academy group to use in the March & April ESOL Academy sessions.

If you would like access to use this resource for a group/building preparing for the ESOL Praxis, contact Kasey Van Dyk.

To access a Quizlet version of the online practice test, use the link below:

Quizlet Version

Praxis Study Textbook

Official ESOL Praxis Study Guide books are available at the IRC for you to check out on a first come first serve basis. The official title of the text is Praxis study guide for the English to speakers of other languages test : Official study guide. You can check out your copy by visiting the IRC catalog at books.usd497.org or emailing IRCrequests@usd497.org

You can also purchase your own.

ISBN-13: 978-1635308471

ISBN-10: 163530847X

Resources

The Quizlets linked below are courtesy of user mccwalker on Quizlet

Linguistics (and phonetics)

ESOL Methodologies (17 terms)

General ESOL Praxis Terms (26 terms)

Theorists (4 terms)

Acronyms (21 terms)

Case Law (13 terms)

Add your ESOL Endorsement to Your Teaching License

KSDE Licensure Page

This is a process with several independent parts, so if you need help at anytime, please contact Kasey Van Dyk or Casey Merritt at the ESC. The district will pay to have an ESOL endorsement added to the KS teaching licenses of teachers at elementary ESOL sites.

You may have two Authenticated Applications Log-Ins. One that you would have for your evaluation (KEEP 2) and another for your license. You want to access the one you have for your KS teaching license.
- If you only have your KEEP 2 log-in, you'll want to create a second one using the "New User Registration" option.
- If you DO NOT KNOW if you have a personal license log-in, or you run into difficulties, the KSDE help desk can support you and is pretty prompt. They can be reached at helpdesk@ksde.org or by phone at (785) 296-7935.
Once you have logged into your authenticated applications account, click on the "forms" arrow on the left-hand side of the screen to locate Form 22, Adding an Endorsement by Testing Requirements. When you get done with the application, there is a "print payment form" option.
Print the payment form and a printout of your ESOL Praxis scores. Send them to Casey Merritt or Kasey Van Dyk electronically/inter-school mail/drop off--whichever is easiest for you. This is how the district will pay for you to add the endorsement to your license if you are eligible.

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