Assessing English Language Learners

Assessing English Language Learners Grand Canyon University ESL 533N April 10, 2013 Abstract The OTELA test is the assessment given in Ohio to determine if a student can be removed from the ELL program and be a part of the mainstream classroom. The test is similar to the ELDA test given in many other states. It is a shorter test in duration of number of questions on each part. The OTELA is compared more in detail to the ELDA, STAAR and the AZELLA. Each of these assessments are very similar although they have some differences.A few states have reported to have changed the test they have used in the past. By states changing their assessment, it shows these states are looking for a better way to determine if students should stay in the ELL program at their school. The OTELA test is the current test used in the Ohio schools. This test is used throughout Ohio in grades K-12 to assess English language proficient. This test is similar to the ELDA test but shorter number of questions are giv en. The test covers the four standards of Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening.When giving the test, the two sections of Reading, Writing, and Listening may be given with a group however the Speaking assessment must be given individually. The Speaking and Listening assessment comes with a CD for students to listen to and respond. The answer document provides the assessor with a rubric to easily score the students response in the Listening section. The test has some benefits and some drawbacks. On the plus side, the test is quick to administer. It is straight forward as well. The test is used to determine if the student needs to be reclassified as no longer ELL.When students are determined to be ELL, they must stay in the ELL program until their 2nd grade year. After that, if the student scores a composite score of five or higher or scores a four and completes a trail period of mainstream instruction and receives a four or five, they can be reclassified as not ELL (Ohio Departme nt of Education). Some drawbacks are this test is only used to determine if a student is continuing as an ELL student. The test results are not shared in the mainstream classroom or with the special education teachers.The test results, if shared, could be used to help drive the differentiated instruction in the classroom to best meet their needs. Students that still show they qualify as an ELL student but speak fluent English get overlooked in the mainstream classroom. The assessment should be presented to teachers in a way of bringing awareness to the needs of the ELL student regardless of their level of need. When the school is administering the test with the knowledge that it is only used to determine their eligibility as an ELL student, it cannot be used as a workable method for monitoring student progress.The test is administered then forgotten about until the results come. Then forgotten once again. It does not matter what assessment is given, but how the results are being uti lized. Closing the achievement gap is always the goal in every educational setting. In order to do this, the assessments being used in the classroom is extremely important. All states are required to administer an assessment designed to measure students' progress in â€Å"†¦ attaining proficiency, including a child's level of comprehension, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in English†.The English Language Development Assessment (ELDA) was developed to meet these requirements. This test focuses on four tests to tests students’ ability to speak, write, listen, and read in English (South Carolina State Department of Education, 2012). This is different from the OTELA where it does not calculate a comprehension score. This test is given throughout seven states. Some states have been using this test over serveral years and others just recently adopted this test. The STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) assessment is a new assessment t hat the state of Texas adopted this year.TAKS ( Texas Assessment of Knowledge Skills) is the assessment used in prior year. The difference with the STAAR assessment is that it will test content students studied that year, as opposed to testing content studied over multiple years. Doing so will strengthen the alignment between what is taught and what is tested for a given course of study. While STAAR mathematics, reading, writing, and social studies assessments in grades 3–8 will continue to address only those TEKS taught in the given subject and grade, the content of other STAAR assessments will change (STAAR Resources, 2012).The AZELLA (Arizona English Language Learners Assessment) like the OTELA, meets both state and federal requirements for assessing the language proficiency of students identified as second language learners and determines placement for appropriate instruction. The AZELLA score is used for entry and exit criteria for ELL program services, for measuring ann ual progress, and for monitoring the language proficiency of students for two years after they have exited the ELL/SEI program.References â€Å"Ohio Department of Education ODE. † ODE. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. http://www. ode. state. oh. us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail. aspx? page=3 â€Å"STAAR Resources. † Retrieved on 11 Apr 2013, from http://www. tea. state. tx. us/student. assessment/staar/ â€Å"South Carolina State Department of Education. † English Language Development Assessment. Retrieved on April 10, 2013, from http://ed. sc. gov/agency/programs-services/42/

It Is Hard to Possess a Sense of Belonging When We Are Unsure of Our Own Identity Essay

The journey in finding our identity and belonging can often be a struggle, since we ask ourselves, ‘who am I’ vs. whom do others want me to be? And where do I belong? This point in our live is subjective, because we want to feel accepted in society we deny ourselves of what we really are. It’s hard to have a sense of belonging when we ourselves are unsure of our own identity. There comes a time where our opinions and beliefs are differentiated from those around us, during this time some people may discover where they belong, where as many others do not. We are all different in our own ways no one is born equally some may take their differences as an advantage and some take it as a disadvantage and tries to hide this imperfection in order to fit in. Although we all live in the same world we are all different be it the shape of our eyes, the colour of our skin, the country we were born or the accent that we speak in and to others their sexuality. These are all the traits that come together and create our identity, however this differences are sometimes not accepted in the society that we live in, and the sad part is that even if we know what we really are deep inside, our society tells us otherwise. Shuffling through the book Growing up Asian in Australia, I read a lot of stories that made me feel nostalgic, having flashbacks in my head when I first step in Australia and the feeling of deja vu overwhelms me with emotions, while flipping through the stories I read something that caught my attention ‘My First Kiss’ by Lian Low. Her story is not something I would say that I could relate to completely, She grew up in country where ‘homosexuality is a criminal offence’, and deep inside she knew she was different but her surrounding kept her from being true to herself, â€Å"becoming more ‘womanly,’ I suddenly lost foot of my tomboy world† she denied herself in order for her to blend in. She wanted to be equal with the people around her but the difference can’t hide what she is â€Å"I felt a foreigner whenever I open my mouth. Whenever I spoke my accent betrayed my origins† â€Å"My attempt to blend in failed me as soon as I opened my mouth†. The reason why we are all unique is because we ultimately choose what does or does not impact us in a crucial or unimportant way, we have the choice to accept or deny our uniqueness but whichever we choses influences our form of distinctiveness. Everything and everyone can influence a person’s identity, while some influences can be minor, some can have a major effect on our lives just like Lian Low’s story after concealing and denying her sexuality she finally learned to accept her difference after her first kiss with a girl. She erudite in writing that once became her source of comfort and used to bury herself with, â€Å"Writing and performance have been outlets, `they have let me be myself, express myself and explore my multiple identities: Asian, woman, queer, migrant, Chinese-Malaysian-Australian. † It is not solely one stage of our lives when we are confronted with an identity crisis, but a continuous challenge throughout our lives as we encounter new experience that will alter our thoughts, emotions and perspective on ourselves. We have to learn to love and accept our individuality, In order for us to feel welcomed and accepted by someone or something In fact as suggested by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a psychology theory cantered on human’s innate desire of fulfilment, belonging is a need that we naturally seek in order to feel loved. Whether it’s belonging with your friends’ family or surrounding, we need to embrace our individuality to know what we want, what we are, and what we’re not.

Biography

â€Å"I make mistakes, but I don’t have any regrets† (Kimbio). Kim Kardashian grew up the same way any other kid would although some major events played a role in making her into the person she is today. Some of the many accomplishments she has are her own perfume, a reality TV show with her family, clothing store, and etc. She’s not only known for her accomplishments though she also makes generous donations to charity. Kim is a role model to many different people due to the achievements and events she’s been through; she is one very strong supportive individual. In the beginning, no one really knew who the Kardashians were besides Kim’s dad Robert Kardashian, who was a prominent attorney. Robert Defended O.J Simpson in his murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and this is where the start of â€Å"The Kardashians† began (Top25). He also owned a marketing company in where Kim first worked. Kim’s parents always told her â€Å"I will buy you nice things, but once you turn 18 you are cut off† (KimKardashian). At one point Kim asked him for some money to buy shoes off the internet in which she sold to people she knew making profit. This is how her name got around and people started to ask her to redesign their closets. Robert Kardashian pushed Kim to exceed in life and that’s exactly what she did, he started her off on the right foot and she made him proud. Most importantly, Kim has accomplished so much in her life and still has big plans. Singer Brandy appeared on a â€Å"worst dressed† list which made her realize she needed change in her style so she went straight to Kim to be her personal stylist. After stars saw Brandy’s new style they asked Kim to redesign their closets too. With Kim’s great style she and her two sisters Kourtney and Kloe decide to open a cloths store called D-A-S-H. The store has been so successful they ope ned another one and are planning on a third location. Also, the Kardashian family has their own hit reality show called â€Å"Keeping up with the Kardashians† (KimKardashian). Having this show only opened more opportunities for the family. For instance, Kim was offered to pose in Playboy, she opened her own perfume line, competed on dancing with the stars, and now has her own workout DVD. People working out always think that if you’re curvey it automatically categorizes you as fat but Kim is a perfect role model because she reassures them by saying â€Å"You always see the typical skinny models and I’m not that, I’m proud not to be that† (Kimbio). This encourages girls positively that they don’t have to be stick skinny to be pretty. Everything that Kim has done has made her a very successful role model. She was born into a rich family but everything she has or has done was all on her own. Kim wasn’t handed everything from mommy and da ddy, she did it on her own which makes it inspiring because it shows people that you can have nothing to start with and work your way up to success. In Addition, Kim has never thought only about herself, she has helped many people out and inspired even more. In 2010 Kim’s earnings were the highest of any other reality star at $6 billion dollars, but instead of keeping it all to herself she donated 10% to charity (Kimbio). She has donated to many different foundations, trying to help as many individuals as possible. People these days are greedy and only care about themselves so to see her help the less fortunate says a lot about her. Also, to see her model as a woman with curves lets every girl know that you do not need to starve yourself to be gorgeous your curves are what make you gorgeous (Top25). Not only does she do for herself but for others around her, many people only do one or the other so to see her do both gives people hope that there are still caring individuals i n today’s society. In the end, seeing other people succeed like Kim has inspires people that anything is possible, you can be whoever you want and do anything you set your mind to. Everything Kim has, she has from her own success. She doesn’t sit around waiting for people to do something for her she does it on her own. A lot of girls think they need someone to support them but Kim is a perfect example on if you push yourself hard enough you can do anything you want. Work Cited â€Å"Kim Kardashian Biography.† Biography True Story. 2011. AE Television Networks. 31 Aug. 2011 http://www.biography.com/articles/kim-kardashian-450760 â€Å"Kim Kardashian Biography.† Sweet Lyrics. 2011. Go Daddy. 31 Aug. 2011 http://sweetlyrics.com/bio-Kim%20Kardashian.html â€Å"Top 25 Celebrities.† Celebrity central. 2011. CNN. 31 Aug. 2011 http://www.people.com/people/kim-kardashian/biography/0,,20185121,00.html

International management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International management - Essay Example This will call for development, implementation and control of marketing strategies needed to attain and sustain firm’s competitive advantage through analysis and evaluation of contemporary issues in the marketing practice and development of a strategic marketing plan. The purpose of competitive strategy is to achieve sustainable competitive advantage to enhance business financial performance and recognizing relationships between elements of marketing mix and assessment of the competitive aspects of the market and industry structure. Firms competing in foreign markets may choose to adapt their products to fit local market needs or to standardize their offer so as to keep costs low, and to understand principles and behaviors underlying appropriate methods and effective performance I project based teams. Introduction Hewlett-Packard Company is a multinational information and technology corporation that provides hard ware, software, and technological services to final end consumer s, small and medium enterprises and large enterprises including governments, health and education sectors. It has a significant global market share specializing in developing and manufacturing networking hardware, computing networks and software, data storage and delivery of innovation and technological services to its clients. The firm sells its products and services directly to the consumers via online distribution, retail outlets such as consumer electronics and office supply, partnership production and consulting with major technology vendors. With a wide range of products in its line the company boasts diversification in enterprise security services such as network security, information security and information assurance compliancy, wireless access points, mobile applications, analytics and portfolio management software (HP.com). Whenever firms go international, major marketing decision to be made is what marketing program is to be devised; choice between development of a globa l product and creation of adapted product that satisfies foreign market’s consumer needs while meeting the global efficiency goals and responsiveness (Qian & N.B.E.R, 2012, 4). This paper will seek to evaluate the international marketing strategy by Hewlett-Packard Company [HP] and evaluate the effectiveness for its products and the impacts of the strategy in its global standards and market share. International Marketing Strategy As an international corporation HP Company has applied several international marketing strategies in a bid to acquire significant market share and coupled by the industry it is in, its innovative strategies of production gives it market sustainability. The logic behind this is formulation of competitive marketing strategies such as relationship marketing which serve as a moderator for sustenance of positional advantages (Peterson, 2007, 2) coupled with the production competitive advantage gives the firm positive impacts of competition and market cond itions on the formulation of other marketing strategies. Literature Review Standardization is selling of the same products in all markets regardless of the economic, socio- cultural and economic backgrounds; a driving force of globalization trends in the market due to higher convergence of consumer needs, tastes and preferences, more technological uniformity and

Semco Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Semco Company - Essay Example What would be the likely consequences of the changes in the short and medium term? It may help your answer if you consider key differences between your chosen case and Semco. One of the most important characteristics of the firm’s human resources management is the freedom related with the participation of employees in the organizational projects. Employees can choose the type of work that suits better to their needs and their time – referring to the time available on a daily basis for work, an issue particularly important for women with children. Furthermore, the firm’s top management is not accurately informed on the personal details of employees – a fact that could be criticized negatively by theorists and practitioners in the HR management sector. In accordance with the comments of the firm’s owner, R. Semler, ‘we could decide to find out which is which and who is who, but for two good reasons we never bother; first, the employment and contractual relationships are so complex that describing them all would take too much time and trouble; second, we think it’s all useless information’ (case study, p.64). The structure of the firm’s HR management can be compared to the open-source software – everyone can enter the firm and participate in its profits – the performance of each employee is depended on his/ her own ambitions and targets. Rather than trying to monitor employees in all their activities within the organization managers in Semco try to communicate with them quite often and give them the chance to participate actively in the firm’s key strategic decisions. The structure of the firm’s HR framework is not similar with others in the market. In fact, people with limited time or those that were working for the firm in the past have equal chances to participate in the development of the firm’s projects. The firm supports the development of industrial democracy giving the chance to

The Effects of Leakage Radiation from X-Rays Coursework - 120

The Effects of Leakage Radiation from X-Rays - Coursework Example The paper reveals the contribution of Heinrich Hertz to the history of radioactivity through the discovery of the presence of radio waves. However, it was Henri Becquerel, who conducted further studies on the beneficial effects of radioactive waves. The paper reveals that the work of the two scientists led to the discovery of the possible uses of radioactivity. Madame Curie is credited for having carried out researches that led to the discovery of more uses of radioactivity. The paper also reveals the contribution of Thomas A. Edison about the use of the most effective calcium tungstate-based option in the radiation process. Hal Gray is credited for having discovered the health-related use of radioactive waves while Herman Muller was the scientist who is credited for the discovery of the fact that radiation directly contributed to the production of new genetic traits.Radiation refers to the process through which energy is emitted in the form of waves or particles. Radiation pioneers played a very important role in radiation history effects. Scientists started making the first discoveries about radiation and atomic structures in the 19th century. A scientist by the name Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen is credited for the discovery of the basic properties of X-rays. Henri Becquerel was the one who first discovers radioactivity. All these discoveries and studies had a significant effect on the history of radioactivity. From the ideas that the pioneers discovered, other scientists are able to discover more about the use of radioactivity. In comparing the understanding of the concept of radioactivity during the 19th century, and the understanding of the same currently, it is evident that there is a significant improvement in the understanding and application of radioactivity in various fields.

Community Risk Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Community Risk Assessment - Assignment Example Implementation phase starts with the introductory meeting with the community leaders to discuss community problems. Then, information and data gathering follows. The researcher will explain the relationship of poverty, unemployment, and alcohol and substance abuse to criminal activity. The last step focuses on how the community uses the given information and decreases criminal activity.Evaluation PhaseThe decreasing risk of criminal activity in Chattanooga can be evaluated by the use of statistics or survey. Because poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and alcoholism are a long-term project, evaluation should take place from the period of 6 months to 1 year.Prognosis  Public policy and civic initiatives have reduced criminal activity related to substance abuse and alcoholism and was proven successful(McGinnis, Russo and Knickman, 2002, p. 84).The Healthy People Initiative also has broadened the functional status and quality of life, as well as the initiative in reducing health ca re disparities. However, the success of eradicating poverty and unemployment is still undetermined as cost-effectiveness or funding is was not clear and interventions are complex (McGinnis, Russo and Knickman, 2002, p. 86).Decreasing the risk for criminal activity requires funding from the local government. Acute care settings and rehabilitation settings will also aid in reducing risk for criminal activity. Among the other bodies that could help in decreasing the risk for criminal activity are the government, educators.... Healthy 2020 Objective aims to reduce the number of deaths attributable to alcoholism and substance abuse by 71, 681 deaths. A. Measures, Resources, and Personnel Eradicate, if not, minimize the risk of the community from criminal activity by addressing the problems related to poverty, unemployment, and drug and alcohol abuse. Poverty and unemployment can be accomplished through government and non-government programs while drug and alcohol abuse can be accomplished with the department of health, rehabilitation centers of the community, health-allied professionals, and cooperation from family and affected individuals. In general, decreasing the risk for criminal activity is a partnership between the law enforcement agencies, municipalities, communities, and NGOs. B. Role of Community Members The community member has a significant role in decreasing criminal activity of a community by participating in neighborhood-watch groups that provide information and support to the victims, patrol s the area, and deters subsequent criminal activity. C. Role of the Nurse The nurse primary role is early recognition of alcohol and drug problems through a thorough assessment. Further crimes can be prevented if the nurse recognize the risk factor early and suggest a possible treatment for patient, family, and authority. D. Role of the Others Among the other bodies that could help in decreasing the risk for criminal activity are the government, educators, health professionals, and family support system. The government is responsible for strict implementation of circulating policy, the health professions and educators for disseminating information and help centers, and the family for supporting and encouraging affected individual to seek