Testing Time and ESL

It is a dreaded time of year in third grade (and maybe just generally for everyone).  February-April is testing season in Indiana and third graders actually get the worst of it.  Indiana requires third grade students to take ISTEP (2 times) and I READ.  We are all feeling especially stressed this year with our new Indiana standards, and a new test that is supposed to be hours and hours longer and tougher than ever before.  The test is actually so long that our governor is working on shortening it at the last minute.  Add to that a couple of snow closings and a handful of delays for sub-zero temperatures.

It is a perfect storm of stress.  When I'm stressed I drink too much diet coke and eat too much junk food (all the valentine's candy is long gone so I had to spring for some Easter candy early). And I sort of feel like my creativity is zapped.  Well, nothing will jump start your creativity like getting a new student who doesn't speak English a week before the big test.  I scrambled around today (my new friend arrived without warning) to find some activities for ESL students.  Our school has a subscription to Brainpop.com and thankfully they have an ESL section of their website.  Students can watch videos, practice their English, and take short quizzes on the app.

I also quickly downloaded a couple of free apps suggested for ESL students.  One is called Action Words and it helps build vocabulary for kiddos.  Another is called Fun English.   It looks great and comes with 2 free lessons and 14 games but you have to purchase all the additional lessons individually.  The free content is super fun and useful, though.  A Kid's Academy app, I downloaded looks like it will be basic practice connecting letter sounds with words while giving verbal and picture clues.  

I also read a short article from Edutopia today.  I love it when I read an article and it reinforces everything I've been doing!  I pulled out some old posters and hung them in the classroom to help my new student, but also to encourage my other students to learn and connect with a foreign language.  We will learn and communicate together as best we can.  Nos gusta aprender.