tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post1572791129646138575..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: In Our Opinion: Elementary lessonsCatherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-87170703844115718172009-11-05T19:58:32.146-05:002009-11-05T19:58:32.146-05:00My responses:
Rick - I believe that all teachers,...My responses:<br /><br />Rick - I believe that all teachers, including ELL teachers, will be distributed across the schools, so yes, some will almost certainly be moving to other buildings. However, my understanding of state recommendations is that ELL instruction in the elementary schools should be given simply by qualified ELL teachers ... NOT by teachers who are necessarily bilingual in a given language (e.g., Spanish ELL kids and Chinese ELL kids can, and even should, be taught by someone who is simply an ELL teacher). That is the recommendation as I understand it now (and that is not necessarily what our schools have been doing). The only time in which it is specifically recommended to have teachers who are bilingual in a child's particular language is when the child is in an advanced class (e.g., high school geometry, AP biology, etc.) in which case specialized instruction in that child's native language is useful. Does that answer your question?<br /><br />Anonymous 7:39 and Anonymous 9:42 - You will both be pleased to learn that Rick has already announced his intention to run for SC!<br /><br />Rick - good point! Questions are indeed easier than answers, though both are important.<br /><br />Anonymous 11:09 - also a good question ... and as you might imagine, there is no data from Amherst (or elsewhere) showing that the type of clustering we do (by cultural/ethnicity/language) is effective. It is, like many things in the Amherst schools, unusual.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-46356298867163349332009-11-05T11:09:24.816-05:002009-11-05T11:09:24.816-05:00Was there ever any evaluation to see if the ethnic...Was there ever any evaluation to see if the ethnic and language clusters actually helped kids' academic performance compared to other kids from the same backgrounds? Or was this just another good idea implemented without followup to see if it worked?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-22967771299988132022009-11-04T08:37:33.803-05:002009-11-04T08:37:33.803-05:00FYI I am running for SC. Asking questions is easy ...FYI I am running for SC. Asking questions is easy - coming up with answers (and implementing them) is hard. If I get elected I just hope I am able to help with answers.Rick Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04347110422224233217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-50795234569364388312009-11-03T21:42:22.127-05:002009-11-03T21:42:22.127-05:00Rick, I second the nomination!Rick, I second the nomination!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-18143432480726014152009-11-03T19:39:45.607-05:002009-11-03T19:39:45.607-05:00Rick
Please run for School Committee.
You ask the...Rick<br /><br />Please run for School Committee.<br />You ask the BEST questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-72007374945513931142009-11-03T16:09:31.687-05:002009-11-03T16:09:31.687-05:00Catherine,
Presumably teachers who specialize in ...Catherine,<br /><br />Presumably teachers who specialize in teaching Spanish-as-first-language kids are concentrated at Crocker Farm, and next year those teachers will be dispersed over other schools – although perhaps most will still be at CF? <br /><br />As that occurs, are there any plans for changing the way that Spanish-as-first-language kids are taught? I primarily mean learning English, but learning in general also. Or is it thought the way they are taught now is fine and the only real change will be that those kids and teachers will not be concentrated at one school?Rick Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04347110422224233217noreply@blogger.com