Every day before the ELPAC, when students walked into Mr. Macias’s ELD class, they saw their daily warm-up. They were asked to work in a group or individually on listening, speaking, writing, or reading tasks. They would then get asked a question on the spot by Mr. Macias as a way to prepare as if it were the real exam.
In March and April, students in the English Learner program at Hamilton then took the official ELPAC test for reclassification.
Mr. Macias, who teaches English and ELD in BIT, expressed that the test was hard for teachers.
“It’s stressful for teachers because we are trying to prepare these kids to reclassify,” Mr. Macias said. “I have to focus on specific elements that our students need to reach, because we want our students to do well and see progress.”
Students said they felt good about the preparation their teachers offered.
“My English teacher gives us iReady practices, IXL, and work to prepare for the test,” said Marili Morales, a 10th grader in CAA.
Another 10th grader, SAS student Veer Hans, said he also felt well prepared for the test.
“I think the ELPAC is not hard,” Veer said. “I study a lot using iReady, class work, and IXL so it can be easy and I can reclassify.”
The EL coordinator Mr. Seislove is in charge of making sure every student in the EL program takes the exam and reclassifies. He recently hosted a celebration for students who reclassified through their mid-year iReady test.
“It’s a big deal, so to see students improve on their English and reclassify is a wonderful experience,” Mr. Seislove said. “They have many things to accomplish and I know they try and do their best.”
English learner students need to score within two grade levels of their current grade on the iReady, get a full score of 4 on the ELPAC, and pass their English and ELD classes. A lot is required for students to reclassify and do well, but many students say they feel prepared and try their hardest to improve each time they test.
Just as some students feel confident for the ELPAC test, teachers are also confident that they will do well.
“Teachers are your biggest cheerleaders,” said Mr. Macias. “We want you guys to do better and reclassify.”
