Center for English Language Learning & Achievement

ONSITE: English Language Learning Programming Support E-12

BrightWorks’s Center for English Language Learning and Achievement (CELL-A) prides itself on supporting schools and districts on relevant and ongoing programming support.  CELL-A offers these supports customized to your district and site needs.  Our English Language Philosophy ensures your school or district’s ELL Programs include:

• Identifying All English Learner Students
• Providing English Learners with a Language Assistance Program
• Staffing and Supporting an EL Program
• Meaningful Access to Core Curricular, Extra Curricular Programs
• Creating an Inclusive Environment and Avoiding Unnecessary Segregation
• Addressing English Learners with Disabilities  
• Serving English Learners who Opt-Out of EL Programs
• Monitoring and Exiting English Learners from EL Programs and Services
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Districts EL Program
• Ensuring Meaningful Communication with Limited English Proficient Parents

English Language Learning Programming Support

• Program Review and Modification
• Guidance on the Title III budget and compliance standards
• Collaboration and consultation with licensed EL and general education teachers on direct instruction, classroom adaptations, modifications, and planning
• EL Teacher Evaluation
• Model and train EL and general education teachers on EL standards, best practices, and state requirements
• Assistance with high stake assessment set up and implementation
• Data Collection and Review of current practice, student growth, and progress monitoring.
• Curriculum
• Progress monitoring
• Home to school communication
• Translation and Interpretation
• Work with district leadership to review, refine, or reframe essential programming tools:
• Home language questionnaire
• Onsite Language intake assessment and enrollment support
• English language proficiency assessments
• Program entrance and exit procedures

English Language Learning Best Practice E-12

One of the major decisions in the field of teaching English language learners (ELLs) is which program of instruction to use. These programs range from bilingual education to English-only immersion.

BrightWorks does not advocate one program of instruction over another. Many experts and policy makers are now suggesting that the focus of the program debate shift from how much time to spend on each language of instruction to the quality of instruction. Although there is no quick and easy solution for closing the gap between ELLs and native English speakers, there are a number of instructional program models which, when well implemented, can improve the quality of education for ELLs.

Listed below are current EL programming supports and training sessions BrightWorks can offer. Your options and decisions will depend upon your district, school, faculty, and individual ELLs. Different situations will require different supports.

• Sheltered Instruction [SIOP]
• Sheltered Instruction through SIOP- Implementation and Evaluation
• Academic Language for the General Education Classroom (Science, Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, Technology, Art. Music, Physical Education and Elective coursework)
• Academic Language for the English Language Learner Classroom
• Para Educators as English Language Program Support
• Instructional Coaching and Support of Sheltered Content Classrooms and Teachers
• Train the Trainer Modules- SIOP
• The Para-Educator and Sheltered Instruction
• English Language Learner Shadowing
• Instructional Best Practices and Support Systems for Early Childhood Programs and the Emerging Bilingual Student

Co-Teaching E-12

Co-Teaching is defined as two or more adults working together with groups of students; sharing the planning, organization, delivery, and assessment of instruction, as well as the physical space. (Bacharach, Heck & Dank, 2004). These support opportunities will provide training, coaching, system implementation, and follow up on current co-teaching trends.  Teachers, leaders, and support staff can request or attend these sessions to expand on the specifics of co-teaching and how to support and sustain successful co-teaching systems.

• Co-teaching Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
• Purposeful Collaboration through Co-Teaching- The Basics
• Advanced Co-Teaching- Beyond the Basics
• Using the Para educator as Co-Teaching Support in the Mainstream
• Train the Trainer Modules- Co-Teaching
• Early Childhood Co-Teaching
• Instructional Coaching and Support of Co-Taught Classrooms

WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment)
Training E-12

WIDA advances academic language development and academic achievement for children and youth who are culturally and linguistically diverse through high quality standards, assessments, research, and professional learning for educators.

• Understanding and developing Model Performance Indicators (MPIs)
• Using WIDA in the general education classroom
• Creating and Maintaining the WIDA Way: Standards, mapping, and more!
• Customized English Language Development (ELD) Data Review with follow up Support

Contact Information

Brittany Stepan, Program & Communications Coordinator
612-638-1526, brittany.stepan@brightworksmn.org