Tool Kits

Announcing the California English Learner Roadmap Middle School Teacher Toolkit

March 22, 2019 by Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez

Californians Together is proud to announce the release of the California English Learner Roadmap Middle School Teacher Toolkit. Written by Dr. Laurie Olsen and Martha Hernández, this toolkit is intended to give teachers tools to assess current practices and plan for classroom implementation of the California English Learner Roadmap.

The California Teachers Association and Californians Together convened teachers from throughout the state to make meaning of the new policy through the lens of the classroom teacher. The group was charged with describing what classrooms that enacted each principle of the Roadmap would look and sound like. They also described the need for tools and supports to enable teachers individually and collectively to engage in making meaning of the Roadmap.

The EL Roadmap Teacher’s Toolkit

The Middle School Teacher’s Toolkit is the first of five components to be developed. The complete suite of resources will include the Preschool Teacher’s Toolkit, the Elementary Teacher’s Toolkit, the Middle School Teacher’s Toolkit, a High School Teacher’s Toolkit and an Administrator Guidance Document. The entire toolkit is scheduled for release in Fall 2019.

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Each CA English Learner Roadmap Teacher’s Toolkit consists of several components:

• The text of the policy itself as adopted by the State Board of Education (Vision, Mission, Principles and Elements)

• The Roadmap Principles as re-written specifically by and for teachers — speaking to teaching and learning, and the classroom environment

• A Self-Assessment Tool for each Principle for individual and collaborative reflection on where strengths and potential improvements might be made in teaching and classroom practice

• A resource list of programs, connections and supports for teachers related to implementing each Principle

• Videos of teachers and students talking about the Roadmap

These resources are intended to assist teachers to implement the EL Roadmap in the classroom and school and can also serve as a tool as part of the System of Support in order to improve outcomes for English Learners. A Trainer of Trainers workshop will be developed to provide facilitation tools to the field to assist with dissemination.

HOW TO USE THIS TOOLKIT

The CA English Learner Roadmap is a comprehensive policy covering all aspects of English Learner education: curriculum, school and classroom climate and culture, instruction, systems supports (e.g., professional development, leadership, assessment), parent and community engagement, and system alignment and articulation. As an aspirational policy, it is not expected that any classroom, school or district fully implements the Roadmap. And it is not feasible to work on improving all aspects of the Roadmap at once. The “road trip” towards enacting the policy entails selecting a focus, determining priorities, and then designing a path of improvement. The CA English Learner Roadmap Teachers Toolkit is intended to support that process.

We suggest that teachers – individually and/or collectively – first read the vision and mission, and do the exercise “Making Meaning” for four principles. Having done this, return to Principle #1 and use the “Self-Assessment Tool” for Principle #1. Proceed with the other Principles when ready.

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Raise Your Voice on Behalf of English Learners: The English Learners and Common Core Advocacy Toolkit

February 26, 2015 by Claudia Vizcarra

Californians Together views the advent of the Common Core Standards as an opportunity to strengthen the schooling of English Learners. We also recognize that any reform that increases rigor and does not address how English Learners will be supported to master that rigor can exacerbate the barriers and achievement gaps that have characterized the education of English Learners for too long.

To ensure that the Common Core Standards are implemented in a way that fully includes English Learners and that meets their unique language development and access needs, we have published “Raise Your Voices for English Learners: The English Learners and Common Core Advocacy Toolkit”. This Advocacy Toolkit has prepared talking points for use by educators, policy makers, parents and community members in dialogues at the local, district and state levels – raising concerns, pushing for the supports needed to realize the Common Core for English learners, and advancing the vision of English Learner education that the Common Core can make possible.

The Toolkit includes:

Background paper on the opportunities and challenges that the Common Core Standards present for curriculum, instruction and assessment of English Learners
Talking points for policy makers, school site, district and count level educators to insert the needs of English Learners in Common Core Standards dialogues
A palm card with key issues to be raised that can support the needs of ELs in any Common Core conversation
Power point presentation to address the needs of English Learners which implementing the Common Core Standards
A CD containing the PDFs of all the documents in the kit plus two resource articles

Background Paper Talking Points for Policy Makers and Community Members Palm Card Talking Points for Educators

English Learners and the Common Core: A Parent Toolkit

January 27, 2014 by Claudia Vizcarra

“English Learner Success in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS):

Your Voice, Your Advocacy: A Guide for Parents on How Your Support and the CCSS can Help Your Children Succeed in School” Available in English and Spanish

This guide has been developed to help parents understand what the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are and how these standards will impact the academic success of English learners once they are implemented in the classroom. The guide provides information for parents to use when speaking with their child’s teacher, principal and other school staff to make sure he or she receives the learning supports to succeed academically. The Toolkit includes: • Background information on the opportunities and challenges that the Common Core Standards present for curriculum, instruction and assessment of English Learners • Focus on Common Core teaching practices and what instruction should look like in the classroom • Description of extra help English learners will need to meet the new Standards • Talking points and questions for parents to insert the needs of English Learners in Common Core Standards dialogues and discussions at their district or school site and the CCSS can Help Your Children Succeed in School

Parent Guide English Parent Guide Spanish