The “Planning for Language Instruction With Common Core Standards” presentation demystifies planning for language within content.

Educators need to juggle many layers of information and skill to meet the increasingly diverse student needs in their classrooms. Teachers need to be experts in grade-level standards, differentiation, instructional strategies, and collaboration, to name a few common themes. Add to this list knowledge of English language development, cultural backgrounds, and special education needs, and it can feel like a very daunting task. In the “Planning for Language Instruction With Common Core Standards” session, participants learn a simple method of deconstructing the content standard and a formula for language objectives with differentiated support. The focus is on planning a language-rich educational experience, and participants may also share insights on effective instructional strategies for ELLs.

In my work with educators across the nation, I have found an overwhelming majority are frustrated by the higher demands of the Common Core States Standards (CCSS) and are especially concerned about stretching to meet the needs of ELLs. Teachers ask, “What does rigor look like for a level 1 proficiency student? Or for a kindergarten EL student who has beginning level English skills and hasn’t attended school previously?” They want to know, “What does differentiation look like for students with different language proficiency levels?” While I’d love to spend a day exploring these questions at TESOL 2016, I have a short presentation designed to jumpstart teachers’ efforts to plan effective language instruction in a standards-based curriculum. Participants will have an opportunity to learn how to deconstruct the CCSS that apply to their grade level and see how they connect to the prior grade levels, which may be beneficial for setting differentiated expectations for learning. They will also learn a language objectives formula designed to help easily identify key language features aligned with content and guide effective language instruction. Helpful resources will be shared, such as the Colorín Colorado blog on the CCSS and ELs.

The session will take place on Thursday, 7 April at 2 pm–2:45 pm in room Douglass at the Hilton Baltimore, and I look forward to meeting you then!

Kristina Robertson is an administrator of EL Services in a K–12 school district in Minnesota. She has taught ESL and provided ELL leadership at the district level for 20 years. She has been a national WIDA presenter and has provided guidance to schools on data analysis and EL program improvement. Her dream is to build equity for ELLs by empowering educators to increase quality language instruction in content. She has an MA in TESOL and licenses in ESL, literacy, and K–12 administration. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, an adoring chocolate lab, and a cozy calico cat.