{"id":32739,"date":"2020-04-23T06:00:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T11:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=32739"},"modified":"2020-04-23T07:56:01","modified_gmt":"2020-04-23T12:56:01","slug":"covid-19-is-changing-the-way-oklahoma-schools-are-educating-english-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/04\/23\/covid-19-is-changing-the-way-oklahoma-schools-are-educating-english-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 is changing the way Oklahoma schools are educating English learners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_32744\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-32744\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-1920x1300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-1920x1300.jpeg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-672x455.jpeg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-768x520.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-150x102.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-300x203.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-620x420.jpeg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/IMG_6540-2-1595x1080.jpeg 1595w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Photo courtesy Catherine Li, Moore Public Schools<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Moore English learner teacher Catherine Li works with one of her students over Zoom.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.simplecast.com\/1cdc6209-2606-44b4-928b-64065efafacd?dark=false\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><p>In Moore, students are getting messages in 30-plus languages other than English.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mooreschools.com\/Page\/55867\">Moore Public Schools<\/a> is using different methods from recorded phone messages to an application that translates text messages in real time to communicate with its English learners, \u2014 those students who live in homes where English isn\u2019t the primary language spoken.<\/p><p>\u201cIt\u2019s a task just trying to communicate with the multiple languages we have,\u201d said Kristy Hernandez, Director of Public Services in Moore.<\/p><p>Reaching the approximately 60,000 English learner students in Oklahoma\u2019s public schools is a challenge in the time of COVID-19. Oklahoma schools are shuttered in favor of distance learning<\/p><p>Districts are trying to reach them any way possible. After an initial period of taking care of their basic well-being, teachers are now trying to maintain English proficiency while building ability in other subjects.<\/p><p>It remains to be seen what the final result will be, Hernandez said<\/p><p>\u201cTeachers are working as hard as they can to communicate, to provide resources and things to families,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cBut ultimately, it\u2019s going to rely on what\u2019s going on at home.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>What schools are doing<\/h3><p>Moore is sending out paper packets to younger kids and working with the older ones via the internet where possible.<\/p><p>Hernandez said the district is leaning on community volunteers, like local woman Nu Ngo, to translate phone messages into languages spoken by students and their families, like Vietnamese.<\/p><p>Email hasn\u2019t been effective for Moore teachers while trying to reach out to English learner parents.<\/p><p>For more personalized communication, teachers are texting using the <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpts.org\/\">Talking Points app<\/a>.<\/p><p>The app &#8211; developed by the Gates Foundation &#8211; translates text messages in real time between teachers and students. And it has improved communication with families immensely, Hernandez said.<\/p><p>Moore\u2019s larger neighbor to the north, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.okcps.org\/covid-19\">Oklahoma City<\/a>, is just trying to reach students any way it can. There are 65 languages spoken by that district\u2019s more than 10,000 English learner students.<\/p><p>So far, the district has distributed at least 2,000 English learner packets.<\/p><p>One of those packets was picked up by Maria Guevara, mother of fifth grade English learner student Dulce Guevara.<\/p><p>In an interview through an interpreter, Maria Guevara said the quarantine has been difficult on her family. She has two older children who are in Oklahoma City Public Schools working on their education via computer, and an older son in college.<\/p><p>They\u2019re all cooped up together. So schoolwork has been a welcome relief, she said.<\/p><p>\u201cThey don\u2019t go out unless they absolutely have to,\u201d interpreter Lorena Cardenas said. \u201cBut she is afraid.\u201d<\/p><p>Christopher Berry, Director of Language and Cultural Services at OKCPS, said he recognizes that fear.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32743\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1717px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-32743\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-1717x1920.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1717\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-1717x1920.jpeg 1717w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-601x672.jpeg 601w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-768x859.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-134x150.jpeg 134w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-268x300.jpeg 268w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-620x693.jpeg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry-966x1080.jpeg 966w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Chris-Berry.jpeg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1717px) 100vw, 1717px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Photo courtesy Christopher Berry<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christopher Berry, Oklahoma City Public Schools Director of Language and Cultural Services<\/p>\n<\/div><p>He said his goal is to provide some normalcy in children\u2019s lives via education. That\u2019s why with English learner students he said teachers are continuing to try to build growth in varied subjects like math and social studies.<\/p><p>\u201cThat\u2019s what we always do and that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to continue to do regardless if it\u2019s virtual, or whatever that looks like,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>Schools are also trying to fill other needs. In the month of March alone, Oklahoma schools distributed 1.7 million meals to students statewide and Oklahoma City distributes thousands daily.<\/p><p>So, Berry said, he reminds teachers they are also there to provide support during the coronavirus closures.<\/p><p>Education is still the top goal, he said.<\/p><p>\u201cOn top of that it\u2019s just continuing to let our students know we love them, we care for them, we value them and we can\u2019t wait to see them again,\u201d Berry said.<\/p>\n<h3>Expectations<\/h3><p>Julie Edenborough of Guymon said she\u2019s trying to stress to teachers that they must meet their students\u2019 basic needs.<\/p><p>Edenborough is Director of Language Services at <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/guymontigers.com\/gpsdistancelearning\/home\">Guymon Public Schools<\/a>. And she said she\u2019s encouraging teachers to make contact with students and help fill their basic needs.<\/p><p>She estimates half of Guymon students don\u2019t have home internet. She said public wifi at the city\u2019s rodeo grounds is helping to fill that gap a little bit, but it\u2019s still a challenge.<\/p><p>Edenborough said she and other teachers are trying to approach students with empathy and help meet their needs no matter how basic.<\/p><p>English learners will be even more challenged than their peers by distance learning, school leaders said.<\/p><p>Sometimes, school is the only place where students get English during their typical days, said Dan Ruhl, Oklahoma\u2019s State Department of Education\u00a0 Executive Director of English Language Proficiency.<\/p><p>Others might have more schooling in their native language or better resources at home to practice the language.<\/p><p>Ruhl said in a perfect world students would continue their academic growth. But that\u2019s probably not realistic. So he\u2019s tempered best case scenarios for growth from English learners who won\u2019t be given assessment tests this year like they have been in the past.<\/p><p>\u201cI would hope at minimum we just see a blip of a plateau,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32745\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-32745\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-1920x1286.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-1920x1286.png 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-672x450.png 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-768x514.png 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-150x100.png 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-620x415.png 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-22-at-12.52.50-PM-2-1613x1080.png 1613w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Courtesy WIDA<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The first page of a packet for families to work with English learner students assembled by the World-class Instructional Design and Assessment consortium at the University of Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Best strategies<\/h3><p>Tim Boals wants every teacher to think beyond their classroom subject.<\/p><p>\u201cI need every science and math teacher to also see him or herself as a language teacher,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>Boals is the Executive Director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/wida.wisc.edu\/\">World-class Instructional Design and Assessment consortium or WIDA<\/a>. And the Wisconsin-based educator has been a career-long English language teacher.<\/p><p>He said that the coronavirus presents unique challenges. So much of the best teaching for English learners involves in-person instruction. However, he said, teachers should be able to help these students.<\/p><p>Lesson plans for every subject will need to have language components built in, like they do in Oklahoma City.<\/p><p>But Boals said families have an important role in home-based learning. Increased competence in one\u2019s native language helps boost English skills.<\/p><p>He said \u201ccampfire\u201d conversations about family history are incredibly valuable for learning. They build identity and language skills that are translatable to English.<\/p><p>\u201cEducation really is all around us,\u201d Boals said. \u201cSchool is part of it. But we as educators need to leverage everything that\u2019s in the home, everything that\u2019s in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32742\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 374px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-32742\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-1649x1920.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"374\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-1649x1920.jpeg 1649w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-577x672.jpeg 577w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-768x894.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-129x150.jpeg 129w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-258x300.jpeg 258w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-620x722.jpeg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/04\/Binyam-928x1080.jpeg 928w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Photo courtesy Binyam Achisew<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Guymon High School Senior Binyam Achisew. Achisew said he&#8217;s struggled to get excited about distance learning as he prepares to graduate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Long-term effects<\/h3><p>Binyam Achisew isn\u2019t afraid of coronavirus.<\/p><p>He\u2019s just confused.<\/p><p>The senior at Guymon High School says before his school closed and he moved to distance education, he was getting a good American education. It exceeded the one he\u2019d previously received as a child growing up in Ethiopia.<\/p><p>But, the move to online education is disappointing.<\/p><p>\u201cMy grade isn\u2019t bad this year,\u201d he said. \u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t know why but I\u2019ve lost my appetite for study.\u201d<\/p><p>Achisew started learning the language when he moved to Guymon from Ethiopia in 2018, so he has higher proficiency than many of his peers. But he misses playing on the Guymon High School soccer team and hanging out with his friends.<\/p><p>But like everyone else &#8211; no matter the language they speak &#8211; Achisew said he\u2019s just trying to keep living his life. He\u2019s limiting contacts with people other than his immediate family and he\u2019s just waiting to see what the world will be like when the threat from coronavirus subsides.<\/p><p>\u201cI didn\u2019t expect this virus,\u201d Achisew said. \u201cSo I don\u2019t scare. But I am confused.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Moore, students are getting messages in 30-plus languages other than English.Moore Public Schools is using different methods from recorded phone messages to an application that translates text messages in real time to communicate with its English learners, \u2014 those students who live in homes where English isn\u2019t the primary language spoken.\u201cIt\u2019s a task just [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":209,"featured_media":32741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[1223,855,1252,1154,710],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32739"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32739"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32758,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32739\/revisions\/32758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}