ELLM Matters

Early Literacy and Learning Model (ELLM) is Naples Children and Education Foundation and community funded partnership transforming traditional PreK settings into literacy focused classrooms.

Fourth Year Implementation Underway

Our Fourth year of ELLM in Collier County has provided our ELLM team with great opportunities to meet the specific needs of our community. We are coaching ELLM or ELLM Plus in 57 classes. The coaches are very experienced in coaching the ELLM/ELLM Plus model and are making sure teachers know how to provide the best practices for students to be successful when they enter Kindergarten. The team has worked cooperatively with all providers to develop instructional strategies to help improve outcomes for the students. From results of the ELLM standardized testing the past 3 years, we have seen incredible and consistent performance in letter knowledge. In oral language and vocabulary skills we have seen progress, but wanted to offer more. Much of the population of our classes has English as a second language and needs assistance in learning English words and developing vocabulary concepts. Our ELLM coaches have been creating and writing a program we call WOW, Words on Wings; an English Language Learner program.

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It focuses on developing vocabulary and concepts to expand students’ knowledge base, through the use of real life pictures, graphic organizers and playful oral language dramatic play activities. Before beginning the project the ELLM team researched best practices in the area of English as a second language and developed a set of strategies to incorporate into daily activities. We are currently piloting the new activities. We are constantly making improvements based on teacher and coach feedback. Teachers have been very positive about the program and students are using English in classroom conversations. We have pre tested a random sample group of classes to see how our students will do with this additional component to the regular ELLM/ELLM Plus curriculum. Our Trainings at the quarterly Teacher Get Together have focused on ideas and activities to implement the WOW program. WOW activities are a fun way for students to scaffold learning from Spanish to English. We are proud of the results we are seeing so far.

SEEDS Volunteer Program Takes Root

The volunteer component of the ELLM program, known as SEEDS and funded by a grant from the Stranahan Foundation, is off to a great start again this year. Many returning volunteers (Larks) started back in the classrooms in November. The Larks have recruited friends and neighbors to accompany them to classes. Many Larks request to work in one classroom with a friend which enables all the students to be seen in one visit. Seventy -three Larks are currently in ELLM classes. Mary Polizzotto, SEEDS coordinator, is still looking for additional volunteers in the Immokalee schools. There are only 4 volunteers in the Immokalee classes. Mary is willing to share information about the program with any organization willing to listen. The teachers and students in the SEEDS classrooms have only positive comments and love the program.

ELLM Matters was created to keep partners and Collier County community leaders informed about ELLM implementation and to provide insight to the program.

ELLM Trainings now Receive CEU Credit

ELLM has been providing complete literacy training for teachers to fully understand how to use ELLM materials to enhance learning in the classroom. This year all trainings have been written up and submitted to Edison College as part of Early Learning classes. All ELLM trainings have been approved and are available for CEU credit. This will help those who are renewing or applying for certificates to fulfill their requirements. ELLM trainings vary in hours; Edison charges participants $5.00 per hour for the credit. This is an added value for those who attend. Forms to receive CEU’s are available at each training session.

This student finds “his letter” on the alphabet chart.

Have you checked out ELLM on the web?

Collier County ELLM is on the web. We are a link on the Alliance of Educational Leaders website: www.swfleducation.com. We will post the calendar of events, notices about Teacher Get Togethers, current newsletters, information about our coaching staff as well as other offerings. To see what is going on with ELLM, check out the website and click for the link to ELLM.

Student in the Writing Center plays and practices using paper, pencils, markers, and stamps to create their own notes and letters.