Services
Our mission is to equip educators with skills and strategies for developing robust academic language for all students. This includes providing them with the tools needed to accelerate language at the word, sentence, and discourse level, for not only ELs, but all students.
Take a deeper look...
Walkthroughs
Language-Focused Walkthroughs are the means through which invaluable data is collected, analyzed, and utilized for goal setting. The development of language in school, for all students, occurs across grade levels and subject areas.
When key components are in place, based on sound language acquisition theory and best practices that yield effective results, language is accelerated. Dr. Carmen Shahadi Rowe has developed a walkthrough tool that identifies six critical elements for accelerating language in the classroom.
Why?
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Why do we focus on language-focused walkthroughs?
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The purpose of language-focused walkthroughs are to help administrators and teachers gather classroom data that will reveal trends in the teaching and learning cycle within classrooms, with a special focus on English learners, in order to identify what training and supports teachers need.
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Who?
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Who do we work with during a language-focused walkthrough?
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Administrators
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Teachers
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What?
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What happens during a language-focused walkthrough?
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Short, non-evaluative visits to all classrooms to help administrators and teachers learn more about the teaching-learning cycle in classrooms.
How?
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How do we provide walkthrough services?
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Training in the use of the walkthrough tool.
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Clear communication of the purpose of the walkthroughs
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5-10 minute classroom visits.
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General, non-evaluative feedback on trends within the school is shared with teachers.
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Goal setting for professional development and coaching based on the data collected.
When?
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When do we provide walkthroughs?
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On a regular basis to be determined by the administrator. Contact us today to start your school's walkthrough.
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Professional Development
Professional Development for teachers and administrators is vital if we are to equip them with the knowledge and strategies to meet the needs of all learners. The educational landscape in the United States has changed significantly over the years and a strong knowledge base of skills and strategies for helping our English learners (ELs) and Multilingual learners (MLs) become proficient in English and reach the rigorous academic standards is needed by all.
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When all educators receive the professional help they need to become more effective teachers, students become more engaged, and language growth and attainment of the standards are accelerated. Strategic training of all educators is vital in order to build a school-wide culture of common effective practices to which all stakeholders contribute. When familiar, routine strategies are used across a school, students are more easily able to access the content and develop academic language at the word, sentence, and discourse levels.
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Why?
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Why does your program need professional development?
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To help build all stakeholders’ Knowledge base of ESL and best practices for fostering language growth.
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Who?
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Who do we provide professional development to?
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Professional Development For ESL Teachers
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Classroom & Content Teachers
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Professional Development For Administrators
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School Staff Professional Development
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What?
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What does our professional development program cover?
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Topics related to the academic growth of ELs and all students through accelerated language development.
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How?
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How do we provide professional development?
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Face-to-Face Sessions
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Asynchronous and Synchronous Sessions
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When?
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When do we provide professional development sessions?
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Topics related to the academic growth of ELs and all students through accelerated language development.
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Summer Sessions
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District PD Days
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Pre-established Collaborative Spaces: Team Meetings, Grade-level Meetings, and Faculty Meetings
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Coaching
Research tells us that adult learners want support, especially teachers in their first few years. They need feedback that is connected to their practice, timely and specific. Coaching educators is one of the key elements of Accelerating Language.
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One-on-one coaching allows teachers to receive the individualized feedback that will be most meaningful. With one-on-one coaching, teachers are able to gain valuable insight into their position, areas of strengths, and areas of weakness.
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With this information, educators can develop a roadmap to success in the classroom. A successful classroom starts with the teacher. We provide the support your teachers need through one-on-one coaching.
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Why?
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Why do your educators need one-on-one coaching?
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We provide support through relationships in a feedback-rich environment.
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Who?
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Who do we provide one-on-one coaching to?
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We provide instructional coaching for all teachers:
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ESL Teachers
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Classroom & Content Teachers
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High priority to teachers new to ESL, ESL teachers in new positions, and first year teachers
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What?
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What does our one-on-one coaching service look like?
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Coaching centered on teacher need around planning, instruction, assessment, and reflection.
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How?
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How do we provide coaching support?
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Collaboration around planning
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Observations/post-conferences to provide non-evaluative feedback
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Modeling of effective language-building strategies
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Periodic use of co-teaching models
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When?
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When do we provide one-on-one sessions?
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On a regular basis to be determined by the administrator. Contact us today to start your one-on-one coaching.
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Internal Reviews
Internal Reviews help evaluate each school’s ESL Program through collaborative conversations to ensure that systems are in place to provide an equitable context in which all students have the same opportunities for academic success.
Internal Reviews of a school’s English as a Second Language Program are not just required by law, they are a necessary practice to thoroughly evaluate the educational soundness and effectiveness of each school’s program (Castañeda v. Pickard,1981).
Why?
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Why does your school need an internal review?
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To evaluate each school’s ESL program and to identify strengths and areas of need.
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Who?
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Who do we provide internal reviews for?
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Administrators
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ESL Teachers & Coaches
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Counselors
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Building Schedulers
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ESL Parent/Caregiver Leaders
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Other relevant stakeholders
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What?
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What does our internal review provide?
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An in-depth review of a school’s ESL program:
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Demographics
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Growth and attainment of English proficiency data
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Service delivery models
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Scheduling
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Review of teachers’ credentials and caseloads
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Review of teaching materials
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Professional development for all stakeholders
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Parent/caregiver support and engagement
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Team goal setting
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How?
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How do we conduct an internal review?
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The Internal review is conducted using a series of in-depth questions that target essential aspects of effective ESL Programs.
When?
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When should you hold an internal review?
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Twice yearly or to be determined by the administrator. Contact us today to start your internal review.
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