How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century - Guilderland ...

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GUILDERLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING NAME OF COMMITTEE: Foreign Language Early Start Committee DATE OF MEETING: June 15, 2004 MEMBERS PRESENT: Nancy Andress, Cathy Beadnell, Martha Beck, Mary Helen Collen, Karen Covert-Jones, Marian DeSantis, Debbie Drumm, Barbara Fraterrigo, Martha Kemp, Lynn Luffman, Al Martino, Wendy Meola, Jennifer Politano, Stephanie Sakmar, Karen Shields, Dianne Walshhamton CHAIR: Nancy Andress RECORDER: Mary Helen Collen ITEMS DISCUSSED BY TOPIC: 1. Welcome Introductions were made. Handouts were distributed: LOTE NYS standards, Basic Structures of FLES, National Standards for Foreign Language. 2. Discussion Groups on Reading Group work - 10 minutes, discussion. Each table assigned a section: Section 2: Background - History Section 3: Rationale for Early Second Language Study Section 4: Augmentation for Implementation Questions: • most important points of section? • What questions do you have? Each group reported on these questions. Section 2: Important Points • Important in a global economy • sensitivity to other cultures • 1999 Education Excellence for All Children Act - 25% of elementary schools with a foreign language program by 2005 • 2000 Educate America - All students will leave grades 4, 8 and 12 with a demonstrated competency in foreign language Questions: • How supportive? Section 3: Important Points • FLES tied to cross-cultural understanding and attitudes toward others. • 10 years - critical period for attitude development • ELL students taught in (native) primary language first. Ownership own language first. • Learning cannot be isolated needs of society • Paradigm shift: melting pot - pluralistic society • Children started FLES earlier age = higher 2 nd language achievement over long-term • Studies done on aphasic people - children regain speaking ability where adults can’t 32
Questions • What are “pathological” studies? - Lennenberg • What is the appropriate age to start? • How much exposure? • What is the cultural make-up of Guilderland CSE? Section 4: Important Points • Critical age for making impression on children regarding foreigners age 10 - 5 th grade does intense study of USA and other countries • Starting a FLES program early “may” improve self-concept • “The ability to attain native-like phonological abilities in a 2 nd language begins to decline by age 6 in many individuals and beyond anyone beginning later than age 12.” • Critical age hypothesis Questions • What does this tell us about how we will “phase-in” a program? Start at K and go up or start at grade 5? After discussion, the group came to consensus. We should move ahead to develop a proposal for a FLES program in 2005-06. 3. The Ideal FLES Model Al reviewed Dr. Elaine Margarita’s 18 components of an Ideal FLES program. Other areas discussed: • This will not be an add-on for elementary teachers. • Parent concern - their child may not be part of the program with a partial phase in. • Choice of language - how does it impact instruction later on? • We are planning for a proficiency model. 4. Fall Visitations Al will make arrangements for teams of committee members to visit schools with FLES programs. He distributed a sampling of programs from Long Island districts. The committee will meet September 13 and visitations will be assigned. NEXT MEETING DATE: Monday, September 13, 2004 from 4:30 - 5:30 in the Guilderland Elementary Staff Room AGENDA: 1. Update/Sharing 2. Schedule for Visitation 3. Plan for 2004-2005 33
Page 2 and 3: Table of Contents FLES Committee Me
Page 4 and 5: Introduction This report results fr
Page 6 and 7: Guilderland FLES Philosophy Stateme
Page 8 and 9: programs achieve outcomes that are
Page 10 and 11: New Zealand French >12 Japanese, Ma
Page 12 and 13: Early in the year a presentation wi
Page 14 and 15: FLES Sections 2007-2008 Altamont Gr
Page 16 and 17: This is evident, for example, when
Page 18 and 19: FLES Research, Journal Articles, Pu
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Page 22 and 23: "put an enormous premium on creativ
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Page 28 and 29: 4. Next Steps • The committee cam
Page 30 and 31: • We can update budget. • Video
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