The Language & Learning Post

Weekly News, Tips and information for the classroom teacher of English Language Learners!
Key Ideas--

ORAL REHEARSAL!!!
So this week I just wanted to share with you something
Kathy Shada reminded me of at a writing training. We often
model and teach what we want, but we dont give our
students time to express their thoughts orally. Sean Cain
stresses the importance of small group purposeful talk. It
has become clear to me just how important this is as I work
with only ELLs. When it comes to writing this step MUST be
included in our instruction.
At each step in the writing process (because writing is a
process and doesnt just happen) students need time
verbalize their thoughts before they put them down in
writing. From Kindergarten up, I can see a huge difference in
what goes onto the paper when I require students to
verbalize to me first.
Sometimes your ELLs will need help with agreement and
tense, but this gives all students a chance to work out their
thoughts and play with the language. What they write may
not end up exactly as they spoke, but hopefully it will help
with some of the anxiety that comes with writing!
Remember that anytime you give students a chance to talk
it out you MUST monitor those conversations. Drop in on
those students who you know have low oral and written
proficiency.
A Word about VOCABULARY...
Dont take it for granted!! This week and last, many of you
were asked in curriculum to cover MEDIA! Its easy to just
assume that our kids are familiar with this term or that it
is not that important. The thing is... every thing they read,
view or listen to is some form of media, even books.
Digital media is where its at! They will likely oneday work
in a field that requires constant use of digital media! Here
is the chance to teach and cover stuff that is part of their
REAL world. Just dont assume that they know what all the
words associated with digital media..... words like social
networking, bias, thread, contradiction, view point,wiki,
podcast, blog, search engine, influence, impact.... just to
name a few! These are real world terms that their
generation will actually need to know. So take advantage
of curriculum these weeks. Dont assume or lead students
to believe that just knowing what media is , is all they
need to know...its so much more than that!
ELPS FOCUS For the week of 12/16/13
Kinder
LLS: llsLen Lo
and derlve
meanlng from
a varleLy of
medla such as
audlo Lape,
vldeo, uvu,
and Cu 8CM Lo
bulld and
relnforce
concepL and
language
aualnmenL.[2l]
FIrst
* "#$%& 4C
demonsLraLe
comprehenslon
of lncreaslngly
complex Lngllsh
by paruclpaung
ln shared
readlng, reLelllng
or summarlzlng
maLerlal and
respondlng Lo
quesuons.
Second
* internalize new
basic and academic
language by using
and reusing it in
meaningful ways in
speaking and writing
activities that build
concept and
language attainment.
[1E]
learn new language
structures,
expressions, and
basic and academic
vocabulary heard
during classroom
instruction and
interactions.[2C]
Third
*"#$%& [2l] llsLen
Lo and derlve
meanlng from a
varleLy of medla.
[4l] demonsLraLe
Lngllsh
comprehenslon.
of supporung ldeas
and deLalls ln LexL
and graphlc
sources.
Fourth
*LLS: 4k
uemonsLraLe
Lngllsh
comprehenslon
and expand
readlng skllls by
employlng
analyucal skllls
such as evaluaung
wrluen
lnformauon and
performlng crlucal
analyses
commensuraLe
wlLh conLenL-area
and grade-level
needs.
Fifth
*"LS: 4k
demonsLraLe
comprehenslon by
employlng
analyucal skllls
such as evaluaung
wrluen
lnformauon and
performlng crlucal
analyses.
Sixth
*"#$%& 4u use
pre-readlng
supporLs such as
graphlc
organlzers,
lllusLrauons, and
pre-LaughL Loplc-
relaLed
vocabulary and
oLher pre-
readlng acuvlues
Lo enhance
comprehenslon
of wrluen LexL.
by, Alissa Tubbs
ESL Teacher
Lawrence
Just a thought....
Starting your lesson with a PREPLANNED Focus in your
lesson cycle is always important! Rich Allen, author of Green
Light Classrooms has some great ideas. One resource he uses is
the Green Book of Songs list by subject. Here is the web
address for the on-line book. You can find song suggestions on
almost any topic or idea! If you have a Spotify account just look
up the song and use a small bit of it at the on-set of your lesson.
http://www.greenbookofsongs.com