Distinctive Schools

  • Home
  • DONATE
  • The Distinctive Way
    • Mission and Vision
    • Strategic Plan
    • Distinctive Schools Blog
    • Approach
  • Impact
    • Who We Serve
    • Results
    • Spotlight Distinctive
    • Case Studies
  • TEAM
    • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Shop Distinctive
  • Careers
    • Join Our Team
    • Current Employees
    • Employee Referrals
    • Career Lanes
  • Connect
    • Contact
  • COVID-19 Response
    • Reopening | Learn at Home, Learn at School
    • Reopening | Learn at Home, Learn at School – plan de reapertura
    • Technology Help
  • Home
  • DONATE
  • The Distinctive Way
    • Mission and Vision
    • Strategic Plan
    • Distinctive Schools Blog
    • Approach
  • Impact
    • Who We Serve
    • Results
    • Spotlight Distinctive
    • Case Studies
  • TEAM
    • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Shop Distinctive
  • Careers
    • Join Our Team
    • Current Employees
    • Employee Referrals
    • Career Lanes
  • Connect
    • Contact
  • COVID-19 Response
    • Reopening | Learn at Home, Learn at School
    • Reopening | Learn at Home, Learn at School – plan de reapertura
    • Technology Help

Distinctive schools blog
school updates, education news, and all things personalized learning

It takes a village: EL Supports & Updates

1/12/2018

0 Comments

 

It takes a village: EL Supports & Updates

Guest Author: Lori Fink, Distinctive Schools EL Network Coordinator
Personalized Learning from an English learner (EL) lens is super exciting, because it is very inline with WIDA’s Can Do philosophy, as well as Distinctive Schools’ strategic plan, to embrace the cultural and linguistic attributes each of our students bring to school. Likewise, relationships are at the heart of everything we do, and our students come from diverse backgrounds. Personalized learning promotes developing relationships and a deep understanding of student cultures. If we are to truly develop successful young people, we must focus on building relationships with our entire school community. Hence, as we look to establish impactful relationships with diverse students and families, an integral step is to develop strong school and home partnerships.  
In order to do so, Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS), Bucktown, Irving Park, Prairie, and West Belden, managed by Distinctive School, have a Bilingual Advisory Committee (BAC). The goal of the BAC is to facilitate leadership development of parents in order to advocate for the academic, social, and cultural development of all ELs. This year, our campuses have had tremendous success through the inclusion of the BAC in the school community. Participation has supported student academic and social-emotional success, celebrated and overcame language and cultural differences, and continues to empower families to be engaged in their child’s education.
Picture
Highlights: At CICS Bucktown, BAC parents organized a Fall Fest Potluck. A record breaking 75 students and parents participated. Families enjoyed food from different cultures and an authentic performance representative of music from the Andes Mountains.   
CICS Irving Park’s BAC helped to design and promote culturally and linguistically responsive classrooms by organizing a family history project and bulletin boards representative of classroom communities. Throughout the month long project, there was an excitement amongst the students and faculty as everyone was sharing and learning about each other’s culture.  
At CICS Prairie, parents strengthened their leadership skills by attending parent trainings hosted by the Office of Language and Culture. Parents learned about bilingual education, immigration rights, and parental involvement.  They were able to bring that information back to the school to share with the greater community. ​
Picture
Just like learning is personalized for our students, Distinctive Schools also provides personalized learning for our parents. For instance, voice and choice helps  drive our parental engagement. By asking families what they want, we are able to seek out meaningful opportunities that meet parent needs. It is through this model that we look forward to continuing to strengthen, bolster, and grow parent and community collaboration to provide a distinctive educational experience for all of our stakeholders.
Juntos podemos! ​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016

    Categories

    All
    Conferences
    Distinctive Schools Leaders
    Leadership
    National Board
    RAK Week
    Relativity
    The Distinctive Promise
    Trailblazer
    Trailblazing

    RSS Feed

Distinctive Schools:
910 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 315, Chicago, IL 60607

 Our Schools:
Art In Motion
CICS Bucktown
CICS Irving Park
CICS Prairie
CICS West Belden
Distinctive College Prep – Harper Woods
Distinctive College Prep – Redford
​
Plymouth Educational Center
​
River Heights Academy

Contact Us
312. 332. 4998
Fax: 312. 624. 8481