San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Local News

July 16, 2009

SMCISD’s online language tool praised

San Marcos — Sixty six San Marcos English as a second language (ESL) students proved that online tools can help with learning a new language.

An independent study presented in the National Forum of Teacher Education Journal revealed the effectiveness of an online language program, ESLreadingsmart.com, with Hispanic students in ESL classrooms at San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. The study tracked the program’s effectiveness over two school years.

“The interactive and self-paced nature of ESLreadingsmart makes it ideal for a class of students with varied backgrounds, at different levels and with different proficiencies,” said Donald Davis, SMHS ESL teacher.

ESLreadingsmart.com is a Web-based program for ESL students and teachers from fourth through 12th grades. The program uses multimedia, computer-enabled instruction to improve English language and reading skills, accommodating different learning styles and proficiency levels.

The study was conducted in Texas, where the majority of ELL (English language learners) or ESL (English as a second language) students are Hispanic with traditionally low performances on statewide academic assessments, officials said. ESLreadingsmart’s online instruction was provided as a supplement to the materials already used in the classroom.

“The program is particularly valuable since it is available online, allowing students with computer access — at home or in the library — a way to continue to learn outside the classroom,” said Judy A. Leavell, an associate professor at St. Edward’s University in Austin.

With an increasing number of ELL/ESL students entering the classroom and the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act, school systems have had to step up their efforts to keep ELLs on track to graduate, officials said.

The first web-based instructional tool to be adopted by a state board of education for ESL classroom instruction, ESLreadingsmart.com is also aligned with reading standards in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. Additionally, ESLreadingsmart began programs in Canada, China and Mexico.

Alloy Multimedia, Inc., publisher and creator of ESLreadingsmart.com, is an international software developer and publisher with offices in Houston and Caracas, Venezuela.

Text Only
Local News
House Ads
Business Marquee
AP Video
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Facebook
Video
Seasonal Content