Week 1 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Jan 26, 2022 7:51PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi my name is Maria Camila Mejia, I go by Camila.  I am a 4th grade Spanish dual immersion
teacher in Santa Monica, CA. I am on my 7th year of teaching. I have a BA in Media Arts from
the University of New Mexico and a MA in Bilingual Education from Loyola Marymount
University.  I am from Bogota, Colombia and I immigrated to the US at 13.  I learned English in
a bilingual school in Colombia.

My professional objective is to deepen my knowledge to teach English learners and I need

credits for my salary scale.

I am taking this course to deepen my knowledge of methods for teaching English learners and
because it is requirement for the TESOL certificate.

I have taken the intro course.

No questions.

I remember Ms. Mulkey, my AP World history teacher, my senior year of high school. She
taught through Project-Based-Learning. Her lessons were engaging and fun.

from Week 1 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Jan 26, 2022 7:56PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Pamela,

Thank you for sharing your career story.  That’s awesome that you had a great government
teacher and it was fun, I remember my government class being very boring.  Which languages do
you know?

Sincerely,
Camila 
from Week 1 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Jan 29, 2022 2:54PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Nicolas,
I agree that Business English can open many doors for people.  Is there a particular country that
you would like to move to to teach English?
Camila
from Week 1 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Jan 29, 2022 2:55PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Thank you Kris, I go by Camila.

 Week 2 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Feb 2, 2022 7:39PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Two instructional techniques that I use in my classroom are:
1. Print-Rich Environment.
2. Sentence Frames.
Some of the Print-Rich Environment that helps students learn a language is vocabulary walls and
anchor charts that are connected to what is being taught. In my class, I have a  Tier 3 vocabulary
wall with cognates for all core subjects, which are updated as we move through the units.  The
use of cognates helps students make connections to their first language, which helps with second
language acquisition. I also have Thinking Maps which are also rotated as we learn new skills. 
This type of Print-Rich Environment helps students during academic discussions, writing, and to
remember how to use the skills.   
I also have a sentence frame wall with two types of sentence frames. One type of the frames are
basic discussion frames and the other is connected to the specific skill we are working on, such
as, compare and contrast, sequencing, cause, and effect, etc, which is rotated as we learn the
skills.  These frames help students during academic discussions, reading, and writing.  Having
them on the wall helps students speak during academic discussions, it helps them with reading
comprehension, and it helps them strengthen writing skills. 
These are two of the most effective strategies that I consistently use. 
 
 
from Week 2 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 5, 2022 3:05PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Jennifer,

Yes by cognates I mean the translation of similar words.  I work in a dual immersion Spanish
school so the two languages of focus are in English and Spanish.  Most of my student’s native
languages are either English or Spanish.

An example of how I’ve used a thinking map is to help identify cause and effect and with cause
and effect sentence frames students can explain cause and effect orally and in writing.

Thank you,
Camila
from Week 2 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 5, 2022 3:10PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Maria,

I agree that a talk rich environment is a great strategy to use in the classroom, specially for
language learners.  As I’ve gotten better at facilitating discussions in my class either through TPS
or whole group with the use of sentence frames, I’ve noticed how this solidifies content
comprehension and improves writing skills.

Thanks for sharing,

Camila 
from Week 2 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 5, 2022 3:11PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Yes I’m a huge fan of sentence frames because all of the benefits they have, not only in language
development but also understanding of the content being taught.

from Week 2 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Feb 5, 2022 3:14PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Adam,

I agree that assessments and answering questions on the spot can be very nerve racking
for students.  What are some examples of “low-threat” assessments? Are they like exit
tickets? 

Camila 

 Week 3 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Feb 9, 2022 7:25PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Thinking back to when I was in school I only remember taking the more traditional assessments.
The only classes I did portfolios for were art classes.

I don’t have any memories of a teacher or an assessment being unfair. 

I would like to assess my students through projects and portfolios.  I have attended a few Project
Based Learning trainings so that I can design a PBL unit and assess through the project.  But it
takes time to learn to know how to design and implement.
from Week 3 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 9, 2022 7:28PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Thank you for sharing your experience.  Makes me wonder how many of my students feel like
they are doing better than the data is showing

I think a writing portfolio and students seeing their writing growth is a great idea.
from Week 3 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 9, 2022 7:39PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Nicolas,

I had a very similar experience as you, as I am sure most people here.  

I like all your ideas about how you can implement more project based assessments in
your English business class. Makes me think there are many ways to assess with projects,
but I think it depends on the skills being assessed because for example assessing reading
has to be done the more traditional way. 

Camila

Week 5 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Feb 23, 2022 6:45PM
Maria Camila Mejia
A type of informal assessment that I use is an assessment tool during academic discussions.  I
use the tool to record student responses through a rating system and by focusing on specific oral
language standards. For example, I rate students' use of the four Ls (listen, look, lean, lower
voice) during partner share, I rate their use of the academic frames, use of academic language,
and overall comprehension of the academic topic being discussed.  This tool was created by my
coach as part of our School Improvement Plan. 
 
Camila
from Week 5 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 23, 2022 6:46PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Pamela,
Walking around, observing students, and taking notes on the observations is a great practice to
have as an educator and also a great way to informally assess students. 
Camila
from Week 5 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Feb 23, 2022 6:47PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Nicolas,
I agree, polls are not only a great way to informally assess students, but they are also fun
and engaging. 
Camila

 Week 7 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)

Mar 6, 2022 5:01PM
Maria Camila Mejia
The lesson plan template I researched was the Sheltered Instructional Observation Protocol
(SIOP) template 2.  This template is separated into two tables.  The first table asks for specific
information, such as teacher, grade, topic, standards, content objective, language objective,
learning strategies, key vocabulary, and materials.  The second table is organized in the sequence
of the lesson.  First is motivation, then presentation, practice, review, and extension. 
I like it because it helps the teacher organize a complete and engaging lesson while having clear
content and language objectives in connection to standards.  
Attached File: sioplessonplantemplates1-4.pdf
from Week 7 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Mar 8, 2022 7:00PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Maria,
Thank you for sharing such a detailed explanation of this lesson plan.  I also like how each
section is a question to help guide the lesson.  I also like how it asks about differentiation, it's a
good reminder to think about how to provide extra support.
Camila
from Week 7 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Mar 8, 2022 7:02PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Nicolas,
I agree, this lesson plan is definitely targeted toward language lessons. I think for other subjects
it can be modified by including academic vocabulary and some sentence frames.
Camila
from Week 7 Discussion ( 1st post due by Wednesday)
Mar 8, 2022 7:07PM
Maria Camila Mejia
Hi Eva,
I agree with you that the SIOP lesson plan is very thoughtful in teaching language.  This
year through my professional development at the school where I work I've been getting
some experience designing lessons through Sheltered Instruction and it helping me learn
about language and design more complete and comprehensible lessons.
Camila