If you want to get the Shareables Newsletter, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/2FFq6mAjZWRAg3vt6
If you want to be removed, email "unsubscribe" to jason.mccoy@slps.org. Alternatively, you can look me in the eyes and shout "unsubscribe" when you see me next.
TL;DR: Need quick, ready-to-use tools for your ESOL classroom?
Level 1 ESOL Text Leveling Bot – Instantly simplify texts for early ESOL learners. Try it here and send feedback to jason.mccoy@slps.org.
TACOs Organizer for Political Cartoons – Help students break down visuals and deepen critical thinking. Access it here.
DBQ & Leveled Stems – Provide scaffolds that make writing DBQs accessible. Get them here.
💡 Concerned a student is using AI? This guide shows how to gently check and redirect students back to authentic English learning, plus tips and modules for sentence stems, translation, and text analysis.
Explore the toolkit here.
Take a look at my calendar of school and ESOL events for the next two weeks!
These tools are free, fast, and teacher-tested—perfect for boosting ESOL support without adding to your workload.
Level 1 ESOL Text Leveling Bot
I made a chatbot that levels texts for early ESOL learners. You can use it here. Please email jason.mccoy@slps.org with feedback.
TACOs Analysis Organizer for Political Cartoons and ESOL Students
DBQ Stems and Leveled Stems
So, you think an ESOL student used AI...
Ask the student if they wrote their work in the most gentle way possible. Do it outside of the classroom. Your goal should be to get the student back on track with learning English and help them realize that AI and translators don't help them read or write in English quickly or without tech.
Find a word that you don't think the ESOL student knows and ask them to define it. If they can't define it, ask them to rewrite it using their own words.
If they said they are using a translator to answer the question, they likely are using AI or just a translator. Encourage the student to use the STEMs and word banks you are creating using this module: https://sites.google.com/view/mlltoolbox/sentence-stemsframes
If that doesn't work, you might try translating with Google Documents or Google Translate. See this newsletter: https://sites.google.com/view/mccoy-teaching-resources/sharables-newsletter#h.lme6rnwdtbsr
If you are unsure that they are using AI, you could try asking this Notebook LM AI about the qualities of the text that are like AI to help you consider what the student wrote.
Notebook LM on AI Characteristics: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/2a5a90d5-04d0-43c1-b012-0f179459c3d3
Calendar
📅 Section 1: Multi-Day Events
Sep 30 – Oct 10: Hispanic Heritage Month (Day 16–26/31)
Sep 30 – Oct 10: Assessment: MAP-A Window – Students receiving MAP-A Services (Day 9–19/89)
Oct 1 – Oct 10: Assessment: PSAT Window – Select Juniors (Day 1–10/31)
📅 Section 2: Single-Day Events
Oct 1 (Wed)
All Day: Suggested Timeline for Mentor/Mentee Meetings - October
Oct 2 (Thu)
All Day: Earthquake Drill
Oct 3 (Fri)
All Day: A Day
All Day: Iraq’s Independence Day
Oct 10 (Fri)
6:55am – 2:20pm: Lesson Plan 4 Due
6:55am – 2:20pm: PD/Recordkeeping (No Students) - Gateway STEM
6:55am – 2:20pm: Q1 Ends - Gateway STEM
TLDR: Last week, the ESOL dept shared PD to help teachers support ESOL students—boosting speaking confidence, offering multilingual vocab, differentiating tasks, teaching plagiarism/AI norms, and using leveled texts/tools 📚. Resources: PD materials, Persian/Dari/Farsi sheet, other languages 🌍. Calendar highlights 9/23–10/4: Pashto Cultural Day 🎉, Saudi Arabia’s National Day 🇸🇦, fasting ⏰, B/A Days, ELL Portfolios 📁, lesson plan due 📝, observations 👀, Earthquake Drill 🌐, Iraq’s Independence Day 🇮🇶. Ongoing: Hispanic Heritage Month 🎨, MAP-A & PSAT Windows 🧪, mentor/mentee timeline 📅.
Last Friday, the ESOL department gave professional development to help mainstream teachers with ESOL students. We shared our resources here: bit.ly/SLPSESOLPD
TL;DR: This resource outlines common challenges ESOL teachers face—students’ low self-advocacy, learned helplessness, trauma, and cultural differences in education—and gives practical strategies to support them. Key ideas include:
Lowering barriers to speaking: Use sentence stems, wait/think time, low-stakes speaking tasks, and Kagan cooperative structures to build confidence and participation.
Vocabulary & translation: Provide multilingual vocabulary support, leveled texts, word banks, and translation tools, while recognizing some students may not be literate in their first language.
Differentiation: Offer tiered assignments and self-selected task levels to match students’ readiness and increase engagement.
Plagiarism & AI: Explicitly teach Western citation norms and check understanding rather than trying to “prove” AI use.
Curriculum modification & resources: Use tools like Diffit, CommonLit, Newsela, and the MLL Toolbox for leveled texts, sentence stems, and rapid translation.
The overall goal: create trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and supportive classrooms that boost ESOL students’ confidence, participation, and independence.
Understanding our ELLs Languages
I have had trouble understanding the differences between Persian, Dari, and Farsi. This Fact-Sheet does a great job straightening that out: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19TDedAazb4B_ti2GkpWf1hFKxr3Zx0Oz/view
Translators Without Borders also made sheets for Arabic and Kurdish. I completed the rest of our languages with AI on this page: https://sites.google.com/view/mlltoolbox/languages
Calendar 9-23 to 10-4-25
🌟 Ongoing Events
Hispanic Heritage Month – September 15 to October 15 (Currently Day 9–20 of 31)
Assessment: MAP-A Window – Students receiving MAP-A Services (Currently Day 2–13 of 89)
Assessment: PSAT Window – Select Juniors – October 1–31 (Starts Day 1/31 on Oct 1)
Suggested Timeline for Mentor/Mentee Meetings – October
📅 Daily Entries
23 Sep (Tue)
Pashto Cultural Day
Saudi Arabia’s National Day
24 Sep (Wed)
4:00am – 2:45pm – Fasting before 2:45 wellness visit
26 Sep (Fri)
B Day
Initiate 2025–2026 ELL Portfolios
6:55am – 2:20pm – Lesson Plan 3 Due
27 Sep (Sat)
Evaluation: First Unscheduled Observations and IPDP Completion
2 Oct (Thu)
Earthquake Drill
3 Oct (Fri)
A Day
Iraq’s Independence Day
The ESOL department and I are going to be sharing resources related to serving ESOL students. Please help us cover what you need by filling this out:
https://forms.gle/W8XmASLFcGDjb7CZ7 <-Fill me out!
Read the TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read) for Sharable 1 through 4 below to find resources:
Need ESOL Help?
Email jason.mccoy@slps.org (Newsletter 4) or start here: MLL Toolbox (1, 2, 3, 4).
Resources include sentence stems, word banks, vocabulary support, and ways to reduce linguistic load (2, 4).
Level or Translate Texts for Students:
Use Diffit, CommonLit, Newsela, or AI prompts (“Rewrite in simple English; define Tier 2 words”) (4) to simplify.
Translate with Google Docs, Google Translate, Chrome, or AI rapid translation (4).
Be mindful some students can’t read their first language—leveling may be better than translating (4).
Vocabulary & Materials:
Access multilingual dictionaries (auto-updating) (1, 3), ESOL language breakdowns (1), useful vocab spreadsheets (3), and AI-made exercises (prefix/root/suffix, stories with staff) (3).
Download dyslexic-friendly fonts like OpenDyslexic for printed materials (3).
Student Data & Tools:
Check ELLevation, GSTEM ESOL Lookup, and historical data visualizers (2) for scores and reclassification.
Use Microsoft Learning Accelerators (Reading Coach, Speaking Progress, Search Progress) and the GSTEM Mobile Recording Studio.
Extra Resources:
Multilingual library cart, St. Louis immigration resources, CER cheat sheet, word wall signs, counseling instructions, and live bell schedules (1,2).
Phonemic Awareness Test in Wayground (4).
ESOL reclassification & improvement results (4).
Testing & Calendar Highlights:
WIDA Screener ongoing (1, 2, 3, 4), ELL Benchmark #1 (1, 2, 3, 4), LAP completion & reports due Sep 12 (1, 4), Hispanic Heritage Month Sep 15–Oct 15 (1, 4), Parent Notification Letters Sep 18 (1, 4).
Fire drills, interim progress reports, and lesson plan deadlines sprinkled throughout (1, 2, 3, 4).
Bottom Line:
📅 September 2025 – ESOL & School Calendar
🟢 Multi-Day Events
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students: Sept 15–18 (Days 30–32) – All Day
Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept 15–Oct 15 (Days 2–31) – All Day
Assessment: MAP-A Window – Students receiving MAP-A Services: Sept 22–29 (Days 1–8/89) – All Day
🗓 Events by Date
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Distribute ELL Parent Notification Letters, ACCESS Score Reports – All Day
Chile's Independence Day – All Day
Friday, September 19, 2025
Site-Based PD/District PD – Gateway STEM (6:55 AM–2:20 PM)
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Pashto Cultural Day – All Day
Saudi Arabia's National Day – All Day
Friday, September 26, 2025
B Day – All Day
Initiate 2025-2026 ELL Portfolios – All Day
Lesson Plan 3 Due (6:55 AM–2:20 PM)
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Evaluation: First Unscheduled Observations and IPDP Completion – All Day
TL;DR:
If you’re working with ESOL students:
Need help? Email jason.mccoy@slps.org or check resources: MLL Toolbox.
Level texts (simplify reading): Use Diffit, CommonLit, Newsela, or AI (“Rewrite in simple English, define tier 2 words”). Sentence stems, word banks, and vocabulary instruction help too.
Translate texts: Use Google Docs, Google Translate, Chrome tools, or AI rapid translation. Some stories are already translated. Spoken translation cheat sheet.
Phonemic Awareness Test: Available free via Wayground here.
ESOL Achievement: See reclassification & improvement results here.
Get an expanded version and a calendar below:
Sharable 4: 9-9-25
Translation Methods:
If you are struggling with ESOL students, please email jason.mccoy@slps.org
If you need some resources right now, try this: https://sites.google.com/view/mlltoolbox/help
If you are not able to provide English instruction to an ESOL student, translation might be the best way to get the material to the student. You should do this carefully. You should also know that some of our learners don't read in their first language, so leveling texts might be better than translating them.
Leveling Texts
Diffit does this for you: https://web.diffit.me/
It is possible to level texts with AI, but your results will vary. I suggest asking the bot to: "Rewrite this text in simple English. Where tier 2 words are used, define them in parentheses".
Common Lit will give you leveled texts:https://www.commonlit.org/
Newsela will give you leveled texts: https://newsela.com/
Providing Sentence Stems is helpful: https://sites.google.com/view/mlltoolbox/sentence-stemsframes
Providing wordbanks, terms, and definitions is helpful.
Explicitly covering vocabulary is helpful.
Translating Texts
Google Documents will translate the texts you have already created: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/187189?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
Google Translate will translate PDFs and whatever else you want to translate: https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=ar&op=translate
Chrome will translate webpages: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cZQTlQVSzUH
AI can do translation and translate for multiple languages: https://sites.google.com/view/mlltoolbox/reduce-the-linguistic-load/rapid-ai-translation-with-multiple-languages
Many popular stories are already translated and sometimes, you can find them through a google search.
GSTEM Live Spoken Translation Cheat Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xYpFKV7fbZllwm5z0yIawcpJsRhK3KWM/view?usp=sharing
Phonemic Awareness Test
I made a phonemic awareness test in Wayground. You'll need an account, but they are free. Let me know if you need help with the test.
Copy Link: https://wayground.com/admin/interactive-video/682c78957ee40c8b6935288a
Teacher Link: https://wayground.com/admin/interactive-video/682c78957ee40c8b6935288a?source=lesson_share
ESOL Achievement
Our ESOL students did really great this year! See who reclassified and who improved! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NGD43-hn3QJEaiOSJBsP7Hh8qz69Bmgc?usp=drive_link
Calendar:
Ongoing / Multi-Day Events
Sept 11–18 → WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Days 25–32/32)
Sept 11–12 → ELL Benchmark #1 (Days 10–11/11)
Sept 11–12 → Practice EOC – Biology & Government (Days 4–5/5)
Sept 15–Oct 15 → Hispanic Heritage Month (Days 1–31/31)
Daily Events
Sept 12 (Fri)
A Day
Complete LAPs & share with teachers
Teacher Performance Improvement Plan Meetings
Fire, Intruder, & Tornado Drills
Interim Progress Reports (Gateway STEM)
Lesson Plan 2 Due
Sept 15 (Mon)
Guatemala Independence Day
Sept 16 (Tue)
Mexican Independence Day
Sept 18 (Thu)
Distribute ELL Parent Notification Letters & ACCESS Score Reports
Chile Independence Day
Sept 19 (Fri)
6–7am Lowe’s Card Due
Site-Based PD / District PD (Gateway STEM)
TL;DR
McCoy shares:
📑 Useful vocabulary spreadsheets (translation, multilingual, Gateway STEM combined)
🤖 AI-made vocabulary exercises (story with ESOL staff, prefix/root/suffix word creation)
🔤 Dyslexic-friendly font: OpenDyslexic
🧰 Toolbox for educators new to ESOL
Links included; reach out if you need help or want off the updates list.
Colleagues,
The first week was pretty busy for me, but I have a couple of things to share relating to vocabulary.
Useful Vocabulary Spreadsheets:
Roo Languages Vocabulary Translation: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E2erNvtwD-vkfeXwIPThx3XxVEFXF_zKbuDLjwo1SJ4/edit?usp=sharing
Multilingual Dictionary: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tYOo4dE7VDcppYfnBAWhhougmQ_9crQY5jp8CHvGuOU/edit?usp=sharing
Combined for 25-26 at Gateway STEM: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eYQydi5_8JTZXjjkZxP7iZW785rlwVuGCOXdBahVYpQ/edit?usp=sharing
Vocabulary Exercises Made with AI
I made this exercise by asking for a story to be made using three vocabulary words and characters from the ESOL staff. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bPtQvMPxDXcDoeiJRG9kE4bBX0IizS3t825YHgeK5qs/edit?usp=sharing
I made this exercise by asking for words to be made that don't exist from the prefixes, roots, and suffixes of our vocabulary words: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10RxgS8hz6YLoTrDRqLgQHz3Mporqo3hPhRT8DFT7beg/edit?usp=sharing
Dyslexic Font
Emily White wanted to share a dyslexic font with you. It is pretty easy to switch the fonts that you print. Email me if you need help with it. Also, it helps a lot with reading the characters on passwords. If you ever print passwords, do it with this font: https://opendyslexic.org/
HELP! I have not taught ESOL students before!
If you are an educator that has little experience with ESOL students, or you know one, this is a place to start: https://sites.google.com/view/mlltoolbox/help
Anyway, that is all I have for now. Feel free to share or ask me to stop sending you this.
Best,
McCoy
📅 August 26 – September 4 Events
Tue, Aug 26
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 9/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 8/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 1/10)
Wed, Aug 27
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 10/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 9/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 2/10)
Thu, Aug 28
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 11/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 10/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 3/10)
Fri, Aug 29
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 12/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 11/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 4/10)
🅰️ A Day
🚨 Fire Drill
⏰ Lesson Plan 1 Due (6:55am – 2:20pm)
Mon, Sep 1
🎉 Labor Day (District Closed) – Gateway STEM (6:55am – 2:20pm)
Tue, Sep 2
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 16/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 15/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 8/10)
📝 ELL Benchmark #1: Administer & Score (incl. Alternate) (Day 1/11)
📝 Assessment: ELL Benchmark #1 – ELL Students (Day 1/11)
🇻🇳 Vietnam’s Independence Day
Wed, Sep 3
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 17/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 16/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 9/10)
📝 ELL Benchmark #1: Administer & Score (incl. Alternate) (Day 2/11)
📝 Assessment: ELL Benchmark #1 – ELL Students (Day 2/11)
Thu, Sep 4
📝 Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 18/32)
📊 Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – Math & English 1–4 (Day 17/18)
⭐ Star Testing: Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 10/10)
📝 ELL Benchmark #1: Administer & Score (incl. Alternate) (Day 3/11)
📝 Assessment: ELL Benchmark #1 – ELL Students (Day 3/11)
Colleagues,
If you would like to stop receiving this email, send the word "unsubscribe" to jason.mccoy@slps.org. Alternatively, when you see me next, you could look deeply into my eyes and shout "UNSUBSCRIBE". These are the resources I have for you this time.
TLDR: Sharable 2 contains resources for teachers, focusing on tools for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students. It includes links to websites and files for language learning, such as the MLL Toolbox and GSTEM resources, as well as a list of Microsoft Learning Accelerators for reading and speaking. It also contains an August calendar of school events and testing dates.
MLL Toolbox: I gathered many materials to help ESOL students on this website: MLL Toolbox: Resources for Teaching ESOL Students. You'll find the following at the MLL Toolbox.
A full learning module on using sentence stems or starters.
Help with ESOL students and writing, vocabulary, and speaking assessments.
Help with reducing the linguistic load for ESOL students to help them get more from class.
Important information on immigration status.
GSTEM Mobile Recording Studio: If you would like to use real recording gear for an assignment with your students, book the cart and learn more at this website: https://sites.google.com/view/gstemrs/home
St. Louis Immigration Resources: When I looked around the resources for immigrants to the St. Louis Area, I saw a lack of easy translation tools and central hubs for everything in the area. I made an attempt to remedy that with this website: STL Immigration Resources
GSTEM Multilingual Library: The SLPS ESOL department provided the building with a variety of books in students first languages. If you would like to book that cart or learn more, go here: https://sites.google.com/view/gsmll/home
GSTEM ESOL Access Lookup Tool: I made an ESOL lookup file that allows you to paste a column of names and instantly get Access scores. Feel free to use this or ignore it.
File: GSTEM ACCESS Lookup.xlsx
Video Instructions: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTjiljnINR1
ELLevation: The SLPS ESOL department purchased a data analysis tool that all teachers can access through Clever.
You will use the log in with Microsoft button.
Click "ELLevation"
Click "RCV ELLs" near the number on ELLs you teach.
Look at the "composite level" in the far right column.
Level 1 - lowest ELL level
Level 4 - Highest Level Receiving services (ELLs exit/stop receiving services at 4.7)
5 and higher will be monitored or exited the program (you will not see them in this group.
Want to know more about what the numbers mean? Read this digest: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRYmwqlMunvQbb9v2J0NwNJWv3b-26IlhGeVcjDz-ZTz83l1eDmjoTgY83H2xf3bOEXZ4ifSTe2SFb6/pub
Or view WIDA's more comprehensive guide: https://wida.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/resource/Interpretive-Guide.pdf
GSTEM ESOL Historical Data Tracker and Visualizer: ELLevation does a lot of what this workbook does. However, I didn't know we would get ELLevation when I made it and it may be useful to print reports of student data.
Go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E0eSxlfhQAh3sh5UiOS_qoabtaEWbjl-A_43MThVFVc/edit?usp=sharing
You don't have edit access to this file because I'm scared. If you would like edit access, email jason.mccoy@slps.org and I'll get you in.
If I do give you access, just edit the A1 cell in 'Report by Student ID' sheet.
The data visualization happens in, you guessed it, 'data visualization'.
Microsoft Learning Accelerators:
Microsoft has several really helpful tools for students:
Search Progress
Provides a curated search engine that emphasizes credible websites and allows you to create research activities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-ucTjxgO5w
Reading Coach
Listens to student reading recordings and provides scores and tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMTl7wyCyN4
Speaking Progress
Provides students with time limited recording and AI feedback for speaking activities. Also allows students to include their slides in the activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC-D00bHrbc
Instructional Videos for SLPS Tech
How students get into Focus.
Screenpal: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTj2Din22Jt
Youtube: https://youtu.be/40fQQC1en4s
How students get into MS365: Teams, Word, PPT
Screenpal: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTj2Drn22Km
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Nf9_eMHNTQg
How students us Clever
Screenpal: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTj2Dxn22sx
Youtube: https://youtu.be/34uV7mB8lu8
Live Updating Calendars
I mentioned these in the last letter, but I made them and they are really cool and I think you should check them out: https://sites.google.com/view/mccoy23-24/classroom/bell-schedules
GSTEM Admin, Counseling, and Discipline Directory
Word Wall Sign in Major GSTEM Languages
Translated and DeQRed Counseling Instructions
How to help students with Transportation and Zum
August Calendar
Tuesday, August 19
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 2/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 1/18)
Holiday: Afghanistan's Independence Day
Wednesday, August 20
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 3/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 2/18)
Testing: STAR Reading & Math testing (A-day ELA & Math classes)
Thursday, August 21
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 4/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 3/18)
Testing: STAR Reading & Math testing (B-day ELA & Math classes)
Friday, August 22
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 5/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 4/18)
School Day: B Day
Meeting: Consult parents regarding reclassification
Drill: Fire Drill
Communication: Send Reclassification Letters Home
Testing: STAR Fall Make-Up Testing session #1
Submission: Submit ESOL Accountability Log
Submission: Submit Materials Inventory (High Schools only)
Saturday, August 23
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 6/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 5/18)
Sunday, August 24
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 7/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 6/18)
Monday, August 25
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 8/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 7/18)
Testing: STAR Fall Make-Up Testing session #2
Tuesday, August 26
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 9/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 8/18)
Testing: STAR Testing Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 1/10)
Wednesday, August 27
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 10/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 9/18)
Testing: STAR Testing Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 2/10)
Thursday, August 28
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 11/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 10/18)
Testing: STAR Testing Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 3/10)
Friday, August 29
Assessment: WIDA Screener – New ELL Students (Day 12/32)
Assessment: Star Fall Benchmark Window – All Math and English 1-4 classes (Day 11/18)
Testing: STAR Testing Additional Make-up Sessions (Day 4/10)
School Day: A Day
Drill: Fire Drill
Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan 1 Due (6:55 am – 2:20 pm)
Colleagues,
I send too many emails that share resources. I'm going to condense it all into this newsletter. You can also find much of what I share on many pages on this website.
CER Cheat Sheet for Students: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s4zvFzQpR53OdBUlwwmIKIijQ-6ndOP_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111352336254388900992&rtpof=true&sd=true
Live Updating Bell Schedules for Promethean: https://sites.google.com/view/mccoy23-24/classroom/bell-schedules
GSTEM ESOL Language Breakdown for 25-26: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1asmg5Aj-gqkYfht41QkG5Qzpd1E_-wULsxhrYMyNTyY/edit?usp=sharing
Auto-updating Multilingual Dictionary for GSTEM 25-26: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jroy6IuCxXBCSR_oNUHEz2X20OOdF6RtXTsg2JRivAA/edit?usp=sharing
Calendar
August
Friday, August 22
Reclassification tasks: Consult with parents, send letters home.
Administrative deadlines: Submit your ESOL Accountability Log and, for high schools only, your Materials Inventory.
Friday, August 29
Lesson Plan 1 Due
September
Monday, September 1
Labor Day: District Closed
Tuesday, September 2 - Friday, September 12
ELL Benchmark #1 Window: Administer and score the ELL Benchmark #1 and Alternate ELL Benchmark #1.
Friday, September 12
Complete Language Acquisition Plans (LAPs) and share with teachers.
Gateway STEM: Interim Progress Reports for Q1 due.
Lesson Plan 2 Due
Monday, September 15 - Thursday, October 15
Hispanic Heritage Month
Thursday, September 18
Distribute ELL Parent Notification Letters and ACCESS Score Reports.
Onward and Upward,
Jason McCoy (he/him)
ESOL Instructor
Gateway STEM High School
5101 McRee Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
McCoy Web Page
MLL Toolbox: Resources for Teaching ESOL Students
*You can take, steal, remix, reuse, or modify any materials that I share to suit your purposes.