Cabello Elementary School, Union City, California

DynEd Products used
Let's Go

Linking ESL Learning, Literacy Development, and Caring Education through Technology

The Cabello Elementary School in Union City, California, is a DynEd Success Story. It has been using DynEd solutions successfully to help students succeed in English and in school.

Let's Go has helped kids develop their first literacy skills in English as a Second Language

Real care for students and their needs to develop second language proficiency is at the core of Marilyn's and Cabello's story

Higher learner's motivation, confidence, and improved participation are some of the learning results

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) provides learners of diverse language backgrounds and learning styles with rich, multi- sensory content that they find motivating

Marilyn Mackinnon, one of the school's most beloved teachers and a top educator, was instrumental in setting up an English-language teaching program combining technology with English language instruction for her kids. That program, featuring extensive use of Let's Go has now been in place for more than 6 years. Marilyn and her children have enjoyed the program and its many possibilities in all her classes.

DynEd's Language-Learning Solutions

In DynEd, Marilyn found the pieces that she needed to make the computer lab useful for her ESL purposes: a unique skill-based approach to practicing English, effective and appropriate Content, a powerful Records Manager, Assessment Tools (Placement Tests and Mastery Tests), Teacher Training, and Consulting services.

The English-Learning Results

English-learning success can be measured with more than just Assessment Tools. It's also measured by the many ways in which teachers and parents see their kids progress in their development of English.

In Marilyn's own words and caring educational style, achievement is measured qualitatively too:

"All of my students are using the program and enjoying its many possibilities."

"Two of the children asked it they could go on Let's Go. I love it when they ask to go on the computer when they could do any activity in the room."

"Tomorrow morning, before school, I am starting a special tutoring of 6 boys in my class using only Let's Go. While half of them are on the computer, I will work with the other half using the other Let's Go materials that I have. It should be fun and at the same time boost the language skills of these little ones."

Our findings at Cabello Elementary School are similar to other DynEd school users:

• improved listening and speaking skills in English, which is impacting their overall language fluency
• increased motivation to practice speaking English and working on the computer, which also builds computer literacy among underprivileged populations
• higher student participation in both small groups and in class
• development of social skills to interact with the teacher and collaborate with classmates based on their willingness to communicate in English
• increased use of technology by teachers
• integrated ESL pedagogy and multiple-tool instructional support to ensure good retention of the second-language content
• open communication among teachers, students, and parents
• individualized attention to each student's needs and his or her individual timing for activities

Research shows that a better understanding of English as the medium of instruction impacts the second-language student's overall academic performance.

... and other Encouraging Results out of this Partnership

Marilyn also notes additional useful results:

• many students have voluntarily asked for more practice with Let's Go and working on the computer, even when they have free time and could be playing
• children from diverse language backgrounds are using English as a means of common communication and mutual, cultural understanding
• "shy" and new students get to become integrated into the classroom more quickly as their practice on the computer gives them a chance to develop confidence in their own abilities

The school's and DynEd's partnership have brought flexible and results-oriented English learning to these students.

Congratulations to Marilyn Mackinnon and all the staff at Cabello Elementary for helping learners achieve English communication!

One Day at a Time, One Student at a Time.

Effective English Learning is the means for mutual understanding in this class

Want to Replicate this Experience at your School? We work side by side with schools, universities, and training organizations to find the right Solutions to their needs.

Acknowledgments: We want to thank the Principal and the other staff of Cabello Elementary school for making this Success Story possible.
Thanks also to: Tom Moulin for some of the photo credits. Joanne Kamiya and Dawei Liu for helping to put together this page. Cecilia Gomez for her co-ordination and copy.
For more information on DynEd Solutions, please contact us at info@dyned.com.