BLOG ENTRY #5

I have seen support for English learners in Mrs. Porritt’s class. There is a young girl from Mexico in the fourth-grade class that I have been in. She speaks very little English and has a disability. She is supported in many ways. She is pulled out of class to work with an aide daily on her English. She is also pulled from class to have specialized help in speech and reading. I wish this district had funding for dual immersion. She would benefit greatly from a program like that.

The landmark decision that stated that students must receive supplemental language materials to meet their needs was Lau v. Nichols in 1974. It led to the creation of guidelines school districts use to provide ELL instruction. These guidelines are called the Lau plan and ensure equal access to education. 


I am seeing the results of Brown v. Board of education in my service learning. There are no African American students in the class I am in but there are Hispanic and Asian children. The Brown ruling ensures all of them equal access to integrated education.

The Sputnik launch by Russia accelerated the United States STEM curriculum. I have seen a large effect from that in my service learning. More than half of the school day is spent on STEM subjects. Examples are Math games and trout management projects to determine scientific reasons for fish spawning and behavior.


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