In an attempt to better serve students and more accurately measure learning gains, we are piloting a managed enrollment plan for our ESL classes. We offer four nine-week sessions. Read on for more details.
Session Dates:
- Session 1: September 8, 2009 – November 12, 2009
- Session 2: November 16, 2009 - February 4, 2010
- Session 3: February 8, 2010 - April 22, 2010
- Session 4: April 26, 2010 – June 24, 2010
Objectives:
Our managed enrollment objectives are to provide sustained, high quality instruction, reduce attendance turbulence, and increase our paired test scores and learner gains.
Registration & Testing:
Students register and take the CASAS pretest prior to the start of a session. They take the CASAS post-test at the completion of the session. Students are required to have paired scores (a pre-test and a post test score) in order to continue to the next session.
Session 1 Registration to be extended:
Session 1 registration took place August 17-27. Classified and administrative staff coordinated registration and testing. Due to the changes in registration procedure and dates, we experienced lower enrollment numbers than usual. We therefore extended registration through the first week of instruction. Most of our ESL classes are now full (40 students +), but we will continue to enroll students in classes that are not yet at capacity.
Attendance Policy:
If a student misses 4 consecutive classes without informing his/her teacher of the reason for the absence, he or she will be dropped from class. The student must wait until the next session to re-enroll.
Curriculum and Instruction:
Teachers cover half of the core textbook per session. Promotional tests are administered at the end of session 2 and session 4. Consult your level’s pacing plan for a more detailed timeline.
- All-Star I Pacing Plan (2009-10)
- All-Star II Pacing Plan (2009-10)
- All-Star III Pacing Plan (2009-10)
- All-Star IV Pacing Plan (2009-10)
- Testing Calendar (2009-10)
Upcoming Registration & Testing Dates:
Registration and testing for upcoming sessions will be on the last week of each session and the first week of the new session.
- Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30pm-7:30pm
- Fridays, 8am-12pm
Comments are welcomed:
Our managed enrollment plan is a work in progress. We will learn and adapt as we go. Please feel free to share your comments and suggestions about our managed enrollment plan in the comment field below or email me at mrankin@nmusd.us. We welcome your input.
Will new session 2 students start at the beginning of the book again? If not, how can we expect them to pass the promotional test on the entire book at the end of session 2?
Just curious.
Good question, Corinne.
What do other PLC team members think? Should we do have the promotional test (i.e. Units 1-4) at the end of session 1 and half the test (i.e. Units 5-8) at the end of session 2?
Martha
Well I think new students coming in at second session would be the same as when we constantly had students entering our classes throughout the semester. We didn’t give them a different promotional test.
We can always try having two different promotional tests available for teacher who don’t feel comfortable giving the entire test to new students. Although I feel if they can pass the 2nd half of the book, they should be able to pass the 1st half of the book…right?
Hello Team,
First, THANKS, for your flexibility as we set in motion managed enrollment for 2009-10! As with any programmatic change, we will experience some bumps and a little “motion sickness.” Thanks for hangin’ on.
We will monitor and tweak the plan so that it runs smoothly and meets our objectives.
Tweak 1: Due to lower enrollment than expected, we’re converting a few classes to open entry/open exit. This change starts Monday, September 14.
Open-Entry Day Classes (through 1st session)
☼ All of Whittier’s morning classes
☼ BESST Beginning ESL– 8-11am
☼ BESST Beginning ESL – 11:30-2:30pm
Open-Entry Evening Classes (through 1st session)
☼ Beginning Literacy/Multi-Beginning – 6-8:45pm
☼ Multi-Intermediate Plus – 6-8:45pm
We hope this tweak will ease the transition as we strive to create the optimal climate of learning that focuses on learner persistence, learner goals, and learning gains.
Martha
I vote to give half the test at the end of session one.
Also I think two tests would make the two session plan more meaningful to our students.
ESL Teacher
(Martha Rankin added the hand-written response to the blog on the teacher’s behalf.)
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