Click below to hear about connecting all 4 domains to content:
“I learned by making my own mistakes and trial and error, and that just has kind of been the theme for my career. If it doesn’t work, try it again in a different way.” -Maria Montroni-Currais
I love having the opportunity to talk to and interview amazing educators on my podcast and to share those insights and perspectives with you. Today I’m joined by an administrator with an ELL background, Maria Montroni-Currais.
In this episode, we’ll be talking about how to connect the 4 language domains to all content. I’ve been following Maria on Instagram, and I love seeing all the ways she is helping ELL students as an administrator in her school. Today she also shares her thoughts on assessments and standards.
Maria began her career in New Jersey public schools in 2009 and started writing for Everyone Deserves to Learn in 2013. She received an M.Ed in Teaching ESL from The College of New Jersey and obtained her Supervisor and Principal certifications through NJExcel. She currently serves as the Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for a PreK-8 school district in Camden County, NJ.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Why Maria believes speaking is the most important priority language domain
- Things you can do with students while they are in the silent period so when they’re ready to speak they will have the tools they need
- How to connect the four language domains to content in a way that’s relevant for students and will get them excited about learning
- Importance of understanding each student’s approximate proficiency levels in your classroom and how to use that data as a jumping-off point, especially with intermediate students
- How to target the most important thing you’re going to teach, assess, and report on so everybody is on the same track
Connect with Maria:
- Follow her on Instagram: @everyonedeservestolearn
- Follow her on Twitter: @MrsMCEDU
- Visit her website and blog: Everyone Deserves to Learn
- Email her at everyonedeservestolearn@gmail.com
Related resources:
- Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
- Check out the ELL Strategy Academy
- Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs
Related episodes and blog posts:
- Episode 13, 4 Ways to Easily Cover All 4 Domains Through a Read Aloud
- Episode 17, Breaking Down the Language Levels
- Episode 18, Breaking Down Language Objectives with Guest Courtney Morgan
- How to Shorten the Silent Period in Your ELL Students
Connect with Beth:
- Join the Facebook group: Inspiring Young Learners Engage!
- Follow her on Instagram @inspiringyounglearners.
More about Equipping ELLs:
We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.
Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.
