South Carolina Upstate News

Submitted by Crystal Fields

On March 23rd,  I had the great pleasure of meeting with 14 ESOL teachers from Richland County representing Lexington School District 2 and 5, Richland School District 1 and 2, and Yvonne Mitchell our Past President was able to attend representing Orangeburg School District 5. 

The meeting was held at El Chicos Restaurant on Bush River Road. 

Teachers shared some really great ideas:

• For Black History Month one teacher’s school had a living wax museum.  Students researched famous African Americans, dressed according to their character, wrote an information card for the museum display and then became their person.
• A talking character for a book report?  Instead of having ELLs write their book report, one teacher had their students become a character and give the class a report on all the details of their involvement in the book.
• Another teacher’s ESOL students participated in a living history museum.  The students were allowed to choose a character they had studied in their Social Studies class, dress and research facts about the character and then be on display in the museum.  These students had a button on their hand that when pressed they gave information about themselves.

Great ideas!  Performance based assessments work for our ESOL students and as ESOL teachers we have the opportunity to play a vital role in getting our students prepared for these special assignments.

Teachers expressed their concerns regarding budget cuts and lack of money for professional development and travel in their districts.  There were questions concerning NBCT supplements and being able to continue teaching under the TERI program.  These valid concerns are the same throughout the State of South Carolina.

Becky Krantz, ESOL teacher from Lexington School District 5, is the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year for her school.  Becky teaches at Seven Oaks Elementary.  She was one of three finalists for the district.  Carolina TESOL is proud of you!

Thanks to Mary Altus, Richland County Metro Represtative, for hosting this time for fellowship.  Sometimes ESOL teachers are "an island unto themselves" because we don't always fit into a team or grade level meeting at our school(s), but we always have FUN together!