June 2018

Greetings to all during this Summer Break!




Looking forward to continuing to share more posts about 
English Learners, 
STEAM, 
HAST, 
and other educational issues and events.



Thank you for visiting MRCR Education.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

California English Learner Roadmap

In 2018 California begins implementation of the California English Learner Roadmap Policy.

This policy was approved by the State Board of Education on July 12, 2017 and it comes following the passage of Proposition 58 (English Proficiency.  Multilingual Education.  Initiative Status) in November 2016.

It is the first change in policy language regarding English Learner education in nearly 20 years (Last changes were under Proposition 227, passed in 1998).

The English Learner Roadmap Vision states that:

"English Learners Fully and Meaningfully Access and Participate in a 21st Century Education from Early Childhood Through Grade Twelve That Results in Their Attaining high Levels of English Proficiency, Mastery of Grade Level Standards, and Opportunities to Develop Proficiency in Multiple Languages."

and is supported by four Principles that provide it's foundation:

Principle #1:

Assets - Oriented and Needs - Responsive Schools.

Principle #2:

Intellectual Quality of Instruction and Meaningful Access.

Principle #3:

System Conditions That Support Effectiveness.

Principle #4:

Alignment and Articulation Within and Across Systems.

MRCR Education had the pleasure to send a representative to the California Department of Education Public Meeting held in Sacramento on September 2017 titled "The California English Learner Roadmap: Strengthening Comprehensive Educational Policies, Program, and Practices for English Learners" where experts and stakeholders reviewed the new policy, engaged with participants, and provided a preview of the draft guidance document.

At this meeting MRCR Education made a commitment to assist the California Department of Education with the implementation of the EL Roadmap through one of three presentations available to schools, districts, LEA's, and County Offices of Education.  For more information email us at mrcreducation@gmail.com Subject Header "California EL Roadmap Presentation".  MRCR Education is also sharing the following guide to help you get started with understanding this new policy.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

January 2017

Manuel R. CortezRodas
Educator, MRCR Education.

Welcome

We counted down around the world towards midnight on December 31st, 2016 to welcome the new year.  2017 arrived with the fanfare given to each new year celebration and we turn to it with hope and a positive outlook.  Across the US educators and students enjoyed their much deserved Winter Break, and are now in the process of getting ready to go back to school also with hope and a positive outlook.


Goals

MRCR Education has taken time during this Winter Break to look back and reflect on the goals that were set when we began the school year and how we are doing in reaching each of these goals.  MRCR Education continues to make education a priority for all and remains committed to share its experience in English Learners, STEAM, and HAST education.


English Learners

Learning English is the most important skill that newcomers face.  The acquisition of language skills and knowledge will allow students to become successful in school and as they continue on their path towards both college and career.  It will allow them to create and develop a bridge of communication between the education they have acquired thus far and that which they are currently receiving.


STEAM Education

STEAM education continues to become an integral part of the curriculum across many schools.  As we continue to embrace the idea that interconnecting disciplines leads to critical thinking and problem solving skills, STEAM will also continue to lead the way we approach teaching this methodology to our students.


HAST Education

There is no time like the present to put forth the humanities in all academic areas and levels of education.  HAST, like STEAM, allows for a new approach to achieve this while maintaining high educational standards that allow students to also develop social skills that are critical to become successful members of society such as leadership, empathy, grit, and self-discipline.


Looking Ahead

We look forward to continue to share with you our thoughts and ideas as well as welcome your views, input, and feedback.  Thank you for your continued support by visiting our website MRCR Education Site, blog MRCR Education Blog , and Twitter feed MRCR Education on Twitter.  We wish all Educators, Administrators, Teachers, Coaches, Support Staff, Students, Parents, Mentors, and all leaders and stakeholders in education a wonderful and successful 2017.  Looking forward to the class of 2017 to complete their journey in the near future.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2017.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Roadmap for Success with English Learners

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

Succeeding with English Learners begins with an initial assessment of their English language skill and their primary language of use.  With an accurate initial assessment of the student, placement into the educational process can become an efficient introduction to a new educational approach.


ACADEMIC REVIEW

With the establishment of a starting point in the education process of an English Learner through the Initial Assessment, the focus turns towards the academic review of the student. What does the EL know, and can the EL demonstrate this knowledge?  What has the EL learned and studied in a primary language?  How can the EL's academic achievement become match to a different measuring set of academic standards?


CONTINUED SUPPORT

Each English Learner will require a certain amount of continued support until they reach the level of proficiency required to exit the English Learner program.  How much continued support will a student need?  Each according to their skills and abilities.  All ELs should be supported continuously for as long as their stay in the EL program is, and beyond.  It may be as brief as a week, or as long a grade, or few years, but all ELs deserve and should receive continued support as they develop and transition into an English language educational environment.


PROGRESS & GROWTH

English Learners should not, cannot, stay stagnant in language development.  ELs must show and demonstrate both progress and growth.  Els should be able to do this in both language and knowledge.  An EL's progress and growth can be measured through Continued Academic Assessment, Common Academic Standards, Formative Assessment, etc.

MAINSTREAM EXIT

Just as they were assessed to enter an EL program, they must be assessed to exit and become mainstream.  It is a graduation from being an English Learner to a Mainsteam Student.  They have grown along side their classmates and now share progress in language and knowledge.  The English Learner has successfully transitioned into a new educational process through language acquisition.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2016.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Succeeding with English Learners in a 21st Century Standards Based Education

"Succeeding with English Learners in a 21st Century Standards Based Education"

Guide for Educators in Grades Pre-K through 12th (+2)

A look at five key areas to succeed in with ELs

1) Recognition

2) Early Introduction

3) Growth-Nutrition-Health

4) Professional Development

5) Assessment

1) Recognition

English Learners must be acknowledged if they are to succeed.  If educators fail to recognize English Learners and their needs, then educators become the greatest obstacle toward success.

2) Early Introduction

English Learners who are introduced to the language early on in their life have a longer time to develop the most basic skills on which complex language communication, the clarity of thought, is built on.

3) Growth-Nutrition-Health

English Learners must grow in their language skills and knowledge if they are to succeed. The best way to grow? Good nutrition in language arts by introducing ELs to a diverse range of literary works from ancient texts and modern type, while maintaining a healthy language base of grammar, prose, and oratory.

4) Professional Development

English Learners need the leadership of professional educators who can care for and understand the challenges of learning the technical aspects of a new language as ELs do. Educators who participate in professional development can further develop teaching methods and learn new approaches to introducing standards to a diverse EL classroom.

5) Assessment

English Learners have to be assessed, not only for language fluency success, but for mastery of all standards as required of all students. ELs should be able to share their knowledge, understanding, and ideas, as well as their educational skills, in addition to their achievement of language fluency and communication of expression. 

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator

Copyright 2016.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

January 2016

Welcome Back Educators!

It is time to kick-off 2016.

Soon.  The class of 2016 will complete its educational journey, and become prepared to be promoted towards a higher level of achieveable education.

Soon.  Some time in the late spring.  The second year of CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance) will take place.  Care must be taken that California education and educators do their best to prepare students, do not become complacent or over-confident, and avoid a dreaded Sophomore slump.  Together, we should look forward towards continued growth and success in education for 2016.

MRCR Education continues its commitment to education particularly in the areas of EL's (English Learners), STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Mathematics), and HAST (Humanities-Arts-Science-Technology)

Thank you to our blog visitors and @mrcreducation Twitter followers for your support.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2016.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2015 CAASPP Overview for English Learners

It takes time to develop skills such as speaking, reading, and writing in any language.  It follows that it would take additional time to develop and improve such skills in an additional language.  Such is the main challenge that English Learners face as they enroll in schools throughout California.  Without these, and many other skills, it can become difficult to continue the learning process, be sociable with one's piers, or even be prepared for higher education or the professional world.

Data from the 2015 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) clearly demonstrates this challenge among English Learners (EL).  As a group, it is expected that their scores on English Language Arts (ELA) be below that of students whose home language is English.  This is why English Language Development (ELD) programs are carefully constructed to help EL's develop and improve language skills as they undergo this transition process.

English Learners are one of the groups with a large potential for growth in CAASPP scores as they gain the English language skills that will allow them to fully express their knowledge and ideas.  They must continue to receive such ELD services as they may require in order to succeed.  California educators should make helping EL's a priority as they will, in time, become fluent mainstream students.

Overview of 2015 CAASPP for EL's

Mathematics

• 11% of EL students in CA meet or exceed standards
• 24% of EL students in CA are near standards
• 65% of EL students in CA did NOT meet standards

English Language Arts

• 11% of EL students in CA meet or exceed standards
• 24% of EL students in CA are near standards
• 65% of EL students in CA did NOT meet standards

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2015.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.