PROMISING PRACTICES: ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE/DIVERSITY
CONSIDERATIONS PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
T EACHERS
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
- EAL teachers are passionate about the profession
- EAL teachers act as an advocate for our students and their families
- teacher advocate on behalf of families and connect families with appropriate
organizations (proper nutrition, health, shelter, clothing, etc.)
- EAL teachers will often reach beyond the walls of the classrooms to assist and connect families with community
organizations or resources to meet their needs (health, economic needs, social needs)
- EAL teachers make face-to-face contact with families and encourage families to attend school events, where
possible; make an effort to make the school a non-threatening environment (this also applies to an inclusive school
environment)
TRAINING
- EAL teachers (and where applicable, EAL EA’s) have professional development related to EAL or further training in
EAL (methods, grammar, assessment, etc.); recognize methods and approaches for teaching language do differ
from regular classroom instruction, and that language learning is an additive process, not a remediation process
- EAL teachers make efforts to connect with other EAL professionals through professional organizations (i.e. SK
TEAL, TESL Canada, etc.)
L EARNERS
EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL WELL-BEING
- Students recognize they are safe and secure OR additional supports are in place for individual students (i.e.
student affected by trauma; refugees; international students, etc.)
- Staff recognize culture shock and stages of language learning as impacting student behavior (i.e. student being
physical; attention issues; defiance; withdrawal; etc.) and act appropriately, understanding that many behaviors
are linked to adjustment rather than cognitive ability, etc.
- Students are provided and encouraged to seek opportunities to develop English in both academic and nonacademic contexts
- L1s are recognized as beneficial, and a multilingual school environment is supported
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- Students identified as ELLs require language programming according to their individualized needs (i.e. pullout/push-in instruction supported by an EAL teacher; sheltered courses at high school level; stand-alone language
classes at high school level, etc.)
- EAL classroom environment is built on trust (students feel comfortable to take risks with listening, speaking,
reading and writing)
SK TEAL 2013
S CHOOL C OMMUNITY
STUDENT PLACEMENT
- Elementary English language learners are placed in age-appropriate classrooms; high school ELLs are enrolled in a
program with consideration for age, language level and academic ability
INCLUSIVE & SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS
- Staff recognizes that teaching ELLs is the responsibility of the whole school
- Staff recognizes that language learning is a process (developmental), not a procedure (i.e. Jim Cummins’ theory of
language learning [BICS & CALP]) and that language learning requires time
- A team approach is taken to providing support for ELLs (administrators, classroom teachers, educational
assistants, resource teachers, counselors, SSWIS, etc.)
- EAL students and teachers have appropriate and consistent learning spaces
- Divisions have (and school follows) developed protocol regarding the use of standardized assessments and
cognitive assessments with ELLs
- Staff is aware that many standardized tests are made for native language speakers and have
cultural bias
- Staff is aware that cognitive tests are language-heavy and results may be skewed based on a
student’s English language proficiency level.
- If further discussion is needed regarding behavior/cognitive needs, a process of collecting
evidence and talking with families is required before referral.
STAFF SUPPORT
- Staff collaboration with EAL teachers is supported by administration (i.e. scheduling/coordinating preparation
times; for meetings (planning; co-teaching, etc.); EAL teacher included in TEAMS meetings, etc.)
- EAL teacher coordinates and/or provides PD for school-based staff during staff meetings as much as possible
SK TEAL 2013