How would you like your students to have more choices in doing fun writing assignments? These choices would not take the place of those required assignments, but instead, give struggling students (especially ELLs/ESL students) more opportunities to "play" with English? If your answer is yes, read on!
For ELLs, English is not their native language. They generally have a very limited vocabulary base as compared to a native speaker. For example, a native speaker starts kindergarten with a vocabulary base of anywhere from 4,000-6,000 words. In contrast, an ELL at the intermediate level (middle/high school) has a receptive vocabulary base of between 7,000 and 10,000 words. Teachers need to find multiple ways to reinforce language in all 4 skill areas in every class if the ELL is to grow in English proficiency in all 4 skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
The two sites addressed in this blog today provide ELLs with non-traditional approaches to boosting writing skills. The writing activities are random, but engaging. Teachers could have them work with partners or in small groups. In this setting, ELLs would find other words to say "nice, good, bad, stuff, etc.". Teachers could have them devote a section in their binders to keep track of their overused words and then next to each one, a quality replacement. Think of this as their own "dictionary or thesaurus."
CREATIVE WRITING (probably for upper elementary through high school)
STORY STARTER JR. (for the weaker student)
I hope your students have fun with these sites. I know I did:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
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