This activity allowed me to read a diverse set of experiences from ELLs and some of their teachers and/or mentors. When we are focussed on theory, research, and outside voices, the true experiences and curriculum as lived experience can become lost. The reason why we are taking this course and why we continue to collaborate together to improve our teaching strategies is to improve the learning experiences and success outcomes for ELLs. Through these stories, I was able to see how alienated ELL students can feel and how the biased messages teachers send negatively affect these students and their motivation to learn, It is important that students are not neglected and ignored, we have a responsibility to empower their sense of confidence and affirm their identities, cultures, and languages. Empathy is the key tool we need as educators; many ELL students are facing several challenges in our classrooms that transcend language learning. We must take socioeconomic factors into consideration, truly get to know our students and foster an inclusive learning environment and use tools (like dual-language learning and peer-mentorship) to mediate and address these challenges. Understanding the STEP process and the kinds of strategies and activities that go into it is important for all teachers to understand. These assessments are used to help students, support staff, families, administrators, and educators plan and set goals that will best support the student. I was able to compile 60 pages of curriculum documents into a graphic organizer that helped me to better understand the process and the differentiated strategies in administering those assessments and providing necessary support and on-going assessments. Every student is different and will require different steps in order to achieve their goals and become proficient in English. One important thing I have taken away from this assignment is that STEP can be a fantastic resource in helping to support and identify the initial and ongoing developmental stages of ELLS; but that is only one part of the process to support ELLs on their journey to language acquisition. I created a video exploring many of the visions outlined in the EDUgains site and used what I have learned so far in this course to create an action plan to make sure these goals become a reality. I was able to have a product of the learning I have done thus far and feel as though many of the action plans will help support ELLs in my classroom to become confident and empowered by their diverse identities, languages, and cultures. Professor Cummins Pedagogy of Empowerment in our discussion of culturally inclusive pedagogy's informed my vision and action plans heavily as I related to the coercive power relations he discussed throughout my own education and was a reason i wanted to become a teacher to reverse those power relations. It is through a collaborative learning and working environment where real learning occurs and were student are put first and given opportunities to curate their own knowledge with support from the educator. I am looking forward to continuously adding to my vision and altering my action plan as this course goes on and my practice informs what i have learned here.
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