The shift from reading textbooks to informational text will present students with far more challenging vocabulary. For students to successfully navigate such reading materials, they will require strategies to arrive at definitions, more times than not, on their own. So teachers will need to build these strategies into every lesson and reinforce them throughout the class period through all 4 language skills-listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The more reinforcement, the more likely it is that students will retain the language and the skills which aided them in arriving at definitions.
Eye On Education has generated an excellent short tip list on both effective and ineffective ways to teach vocabulary in this infographic on effective vocabulary instruction. The suggestions here apply to all grade levels as well as all content areas. An adaptation I have used for #2 is the frayer model (though it is being used for a biology class, it can be used with ANY content area and at ANY grade level). Teachers can modify them in any way that works for their students. I had the WORD in the center, top right box had a picture, bottom right a sentence from the text/book with the word in it, top left had a definition in their own words, and bottom left had a synonym or antonym or non-example.
These ten tips are great reminders that teachers must create original ways to build and nurture the growth of academic vocabulary for their students....and it can be a fun process:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Please friend us on FACEBOOK as ELL TEACHER PROS and follow us on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros.
Showing posts with label all grades. Show all posts
Showing posts with label all grades. Show all posts
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Teaching Students How to Build a Solid Financial Foundation!
With common core math lessons, teachers will need to build into lessons real world applications. One area in this domain that will finally get the attention it deserves is financial literacy. All too often, students possess a very limited knowledge of life beyond high school especially in areas of money related issues such as rent, mortgage, college expenses, car payments, credit cards, budgets, etc. Even young children can benefit from learning to budget their allowances. The goal should be that in every school and at every grade financial IQs are sharpened. Khan Academy and the Bank of America have risen to the challenge in addressing this critical need in young people.
To use this free resource, students will need to set up accounts. In fact, teachers may wish to share the site with parents. Many adults are using the site to see how much they remember from high school and college. Bill Gates even spends time there:) The videos are well done and do not contain any distracting items. Further, if teachers like flipping their classroom, they can assign the "lecture" to do at home and the "homework" to be done in school. Students who struggle with the lecture (students take mini-checks along the way which the teacher can monitor from home) can come to school the next day knowing that the teacher can help. While for those who encountered no problems can proceed on to more challenging assignments.
Try it out. Your students will thank you for it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Follow us also on FACEBOOK (ELL TEACHER PROS) and TWITTER @ell_teacherpros.
To use this free resource, students will need to set up accounts. In fact, teachers may wish to share the site with parents. Many adults are using the site to see how much they remember from high school and college. Bill Gates even spends time there:) The videos are well done and do not contain any distracting items. Further, if teachers like flipping their classroom, they can assign the "lecture" to do at home and the "homework" to be done in school. Students who struggle with the lecture (students take mini-checks along the way which the teacher can monitor from home) can come to school the next day knowing that the teacher can help. While for those who encountered no problems can proceed on to more challenging assignments.
Try it out. Your students will thank you for it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Follow us also on FACEBOOK (ELL TEACHER PROS) and TWITTER @ell_teacherpros.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Academic Language Tools for All Grade Levels
How can teachers address the many academic language needs of students in reading, writing, speaking, and listening within every day lessons? How can language development along with the teaching of content be skillfully woven into every lesson without losing sight of non-ELLs?
Though it may seem at first to be an impossible feat, it isn't. Using academic language tools, every class lesson has the potential to reach not only the English language learners but also all the other students including those with special needs.
The goal of the kit is to move students from informal speech (the language they use with their friends) to formal language ( the language which can only be acquired in school with the teacher). The expansion of vocabulary is addressed as students move from tier 1 words to tier 2 (more sophisticated vocabulary), and occasionally to tier 3 (the highest). As the base vocabulary becomes more richer or more academic, so do the writing and reading skills develop as well. If teachers want their students to succeed in common core, they will need to scaffold and nurture growth in those areas is their students are to be successful beyond high school.
This kit includes questioning techniques teachers should use in moving students away from conversational language. For example, students need to know how to pose questions in an academic setting or within an academic discussion. Question and sentence frames are included in this kit along with classroom activities to promote their use in any classroom. Activities like Think-Pair-Share, quick writes, cooperative learning (number heads together, jigsaw, etc.), prominently positioned question charts for easy reference, etc. make the process an enjoyable one for both students and teachers.
Summarizing, comparing/contrasting, sequencing/ordering, classifying, analyzing, inferring/predicting/hypothesizing, justifying, persuading, problem solving, synthesizing, evaluation, and cause and effect are all addressed here in this pdf along with suggestions for boosting vocabulary in all areas.
Here are some more graphic organizers: thinking maps and a free graphic organizer gold mine.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Follow us on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros and on FACEBOOK as ELL TEACHER PROS.
Though it may seem at first to be an impossible feat, it isn't. Using academic language tools, every class lesson has the potential to reach not only the English language learners but also all the other students including those with special needs.
The goal of the kit is to move students from informal speech (the language they use with their friends) to formal language ( the language which can only be acquired in school with the teacher). The expansion of vocabulary is addressed as students move from tier 1 words to tier 2 (more sophisticated vocabulary), and occasionally to tier 3 (the highest). As the base vocabulary becomes more richer or more academic, so do the writing and reading skills develop as well. If teachers want their students to succeed in common core, they will need to scaffold and nurture growth in those areas is their students are to be successful beyond high school.
This kit includes questioning techniques teachers should use in moving students away from conversational language. For example, students need to know how to pose questions in an academic setting or within an academic discussion. Question and sentence frames are included in this kit along with classroom activities to promote their use in any classroom. Activities like Think-Pair-Share, quick writes, cooperative learning (number heads together, jigsaw, etc.), prominently positioned question charts for easy reference, etc. make the process an enjoyable one for both students and teachers.
Summarizing, comparing/contrasting, sequencing/ordering, classifying, analyzing, inferring/predicting/hypothesizing, justifying, persuading, problem solving, synthesizing, evaluation, and cause and effect are all addressed here in this pdf along with suggestions for boosting vocabulary in all areas.
Here are some more graphic organizers: thinking maps and a free graphic organizer gold mine.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Follow us on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros and on FACEBOOK as ELL TEACHER PROS.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
EXIT SLIPS--Excellent Tool for Quick Assessments
All too often, teachers spend hours designing quality lessons that they believe will lead to a wonderful learning experience for all students in their classes. However, with more classrooms becoming increasingly diverse in student needs, teachers sometimes feel overwhelmed in planning for every possible scenario--English language learners at all levels of learning the language, students with special learning needs, native speakers of English with weak educational backgrounds, students from economically disadvantaged home settings, etc.
So within such a setting, what can teachers do to ensure that the vast majority of students master the major concepts of the lesson? In two words: EXIT SLIPS. This tool provides quick assessments of how well each student understood the lesson. Since they are ungraded, students do not stress over them. When teachers explain that this tool will help identify students who struggle so that the teacher can devise additional instructional tools to help them, students welcome them. After all, if they do well, their self-confidence soars. If they don't do well, they know that the teacher will help them grasp the lesson.
Here are some video clips on teachers using these tools to guide their instruction. The first one is on the use of exit slips in a high school math classroom. The second one demonstrates their use in a 3rd grade classroom.
Remember that exit slips are good for all grade levels and in all content areas. Use them and watch student academic performance improve dramatically!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Please also follow us on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros
So within such a setting, what can teachers do to ensure that the vast majority of students master the major concepts of the lesson? In two words: EXIT SLIPS. This tool provides quick assessments of how well each student understood the lesson. Since they are ungraded, students do not stress over them. When teachers explain that this tool will help identify students who struggle so that the teacher can devise additional instructional tools to help them, students welcome them. After all, if they do well, their self-confidence soars. If they don't do well, they know that the teacher will help them grasp the lesson.
Here are some video clips on teachers using these tools to guide their instruction. The first one is on the use of exit slips in a high school math classroom. The second one demonstrates their use in a 3rd grade classroom.
Remember that exit slips are good for all grade levels and in all content areas. Use them and watch student academic performance improve dramatically!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Please also follow us on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros
Friday, March 8, 2013
KNOWING STUDENT LEARNING STYLES LEADS TO BETTER STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CLASS
English language learners are people first and ELLs second. Each ELL has a unique learning style which, when validated by the teacher and therefore incorporated into the lesson, enables her/him to understand what is being taught. In addition, each teacher has her/his own preferred learning style which can easily dominate instructional delivery unless the teacher makes a conscious effort to build instructional activities aimed at all of the learning styles into every aspect of a given lesson/activity.
So, how can teachers meet the needs of all students in class? This video describes each of the learning styles--LEARNING STYLES . In this article a teacher can find her/his preferred learning style(s)-- FIND YOUR STYLE Here, teachers see that there maybe a mismatch of teaching style vs. learning style which could lead to misconception of an ELL's abilities-- "THEY'RE NOT DUMB, THEY'RE DIFFERENT."
With such diverse needs all within 4 walls, teachers need to develop instructional tool kits which will meet the needs of all without watering down curriculum or leaving any behind. The next two sites offer some practical and easy to implement approaches to address this. Great sources to bookmark or hold as favorites.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND LEARNING STYLES
(UK) LEARNING STYLES AND TEACHING
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Follow us also on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros
Schoolio Composition Books, Assorted Marble (Red, Blue, Purple, and (Google Affiliate Ad)
Google Nexus 7 32GB Tablet NEXUS7ASUS- (Google Affiliate Ad)
So, how can teachers meet the needs of all students in class? This video describes each of the learning styles--LEARNING STYLES . In this article a teacher can find her/his preferred learning style(s)-- FIND YOUR STYLE Here, teachers see that there maybe a mismatch of teaching style vs. learning style which could lead to misconception of an ELL's abilities-- "THEY'RE NOT DUMB, THEY'RE DIFFERENT."
With such diverse needs all within 4 walls, teachers need to develop instructional tool kits which will meet the needs of all without watering down curriculum or leaving any behind. The next two sites offer some practical and easy to implement approaches to address this. Great sources to bookmark or hold as favorites.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND LEARNING STYLES
(UK) LEARNING STYLES AND TEACHING
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Follow us also on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros
Schoolio Composition Books, Assorted Marble (Red, Blue, Purple, and (Google Affiliate Ad)
Google Nexus 7 32GB Tablet NEXUS7ASUS- (Google Affiliate Ad)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
More on Common Core in HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES and INFORMATIONAL TEXT IN OTHER SUBJECT AREAS
WEBINAR on COMMON CORE STANDARDS FOR HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCES
This is an audio presentation with the following:
* the rationale behind the common core standards in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects.
* the need for teachers to know about them
* guidance for teachers in using them
* specific ways the standards can be used to build literacy in history/social studies, and technical subjects.
SIGN UP FOR STANFORD'S NEWSLETTER ON MEETING NEEDS OF ELLS WITH COMMON CO
Stanford has launched an initiative to build support for teachers of ELLs with the implementation of the Common Core. Please go to the SIGN UP for the newsletter section and enter your email address for regular updates on their progress.
TEACHING CHANNEL - DIFFERENTIATION FOR COMMON CORE
With Common Core, teachers will need to pull teaching practices from SDAIE (specially designed academic instruction in English) to reach more students. The techniques used here benefit ALL students. A highly effective approach in delivering instruction is through differentiation. Here teachers keep to a major theme, but allow students different ways to demonstrate understanding of that theme. In the class, notice how both EOs and ELLs are all on task but at levels they can handle.
STANDARDS LEAD TO CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYSIS ON THE PART OF STUDENTS
Here is another overview on how the full implementation of Common Core will benefit all students by challenging them to think, analyze, persuade, dissect, etc. challenging informational text. Common Core will better prepare our students to go on to work or university and succeed. Seniors will finally graduate at or above grade level in their language and math abilities. It will take a few years to reach this point, but it is possible.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
This is an audio presentation with the following:
* the rationale behind the common core standards in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects.
* the need for teachers to know about them
* guidance for teachers in using them
* specific ways the standards can be used to build literacy in history/social studies, and technical subjects.
SIGN UP FOR STANFORD'S NEWSLETTER ON MEETING NEEDS OF ELLS WITH COMMON CO
Stanford has launched an initiative to build support for teachers of ELLs with the implementation of the Common Core. Please go to the SIGN UP for the newsletter section and enter your email address for regular updates on their progress.
TEACHING CHANNEL - DIFFERENTIATION FOR COMMON CORE
With Common Core, teachers will need to pull teaching practices from SDAIE (specially designed academic instruction in English) to reach more students. The techniques used here benefit ALL students. A highly effective approach in delivering instruction is through differentiation. Here teachers keep to a major theme, but allow students different ways to demonstrate understanding of that theme. In the class, notice how both EOs and ELLs are all on task but at levels they can handle.
STANDARDS LEAD TO CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYSIS ON THE PART OF STUDENTS
Here is another overview on how the full implementation of Common Core will benefit all students by challenging them to think, analyze, persuade, dissect, etc. challenging informational text. Common Core will better prepare our students to go on to work or university and succeed. Seniors will finally graduate at or above grade level in their language and math abilities. It will take a few years to reach this point, but it is possible.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Monday, May 14, 2012
Explore EDSITE'S Library of Great Lesson Plans in Humanities!
I know that the school year is drawing to a close, but this site is one worth exploring for future lesson planning in the coming school year.
You will find lessons arranged by subject, theme, and grade level. Subjects covered include anthropology, art history, folklore, mythology, religions, world languages, AP US history, world history, civics, literature, language arts, and much more. Activity sheets are included as well.
Further, you will find a collection of approved websites for teachers. I found one on SHAKESPEARE. Here students have several options as to what they would like to learn about him. How about "10 ways to be Shakespeare expert"? If they find words fascinating, why not have them check out words coined by the Bard? If they are curious about the time period he lived in, they will find the answers here. Please note that this is only 1 highlighted website here. You will want to check them all out:)
EDSITE: HUMANITIES ON THE WEB
Have fun exploring this site! I did:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
You will find lessons arranged by subject, theme, and grade level. Subjects covered include anthropology, art history, folklore, mythology, religions, world languages, AP US history, world history, civics, literature, language arts, and much more. Activity sheets are included as well.
Further, you will find a collection of approved websites for teachers. I found one on SHAKESPEARE. Here students have several options as to what they would like to learn about him. How about "10 ways to be Shakespeare expert"? If they find words fascinating, why not have them check out words coined by the Bard? If they are curious about the time period he lived in, they will find the answers here. Please note that this is only 1 highlighted website here. You will want to check them all out:)
EDSITE: HUMANITIES ON THE WEB
Have fun exploring this site! I did:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Sunday, May 6, 2012
GREAT Study Tool for ALL Students-ELLs and EOs Alike!
As the school year draws to a close, students are looking for ways to do well on final examinations. Many have created study cards which some teachers will let them bring to their exams. Here students are given one 3 X 5 index cars on which they write all the notes they think they will need for the exam. Only 1 card can be used however. Another strategy some use is to make their own decks of study cards to prep for exams. These cards are used to help students memorize key concepts. Some teachers allow kids to bring their organized binders in which students have been adding key notes all year long. These binders teachers have been checking (and grading) every 3 or 4 weeks to assess for completeness. Now, the big reward comes---if they have been keeping it current with all the course content, they will be able to refer to it in doing their finals.
To add some variety to the review tools just mentioned, teachers may want to consider adding the following online site: STUDY STACKS Here, teachers can create flashcards on as many subjects as they wish for their students to use in a variety of ways. Offer students options using formats that appeal to them and they will do well on their examinations. Teachers may also use flashcards created by other teachers if they like. Further, if teachers have really ambitious students, charge them with creating flashcards for the class! This site will take the pain out of studying:) Remember that the site is FREE to join.
Example GEOGRAPHY
Denise
To add some variety to the review tools just mentioned, teachers may want to consider adding the following online site: STUDY STACKS Here, teachers can create flashcards on as many subjects as they wish for their students to use in a variety of ways. Offer students options using formats that appeal to them and they will do well on their examinations. Teachers may also use flashcards created by other teachers if they like. Further, if teachers have really ambitious students, charge them with creating flashcards for the class! This site will take the pain out of studying:) Remember that the site is FREE to join.
Example GEOGRAPHY
Denise
| ELL TEACHER PROS |
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Have Access to Vast Video Library on ALL Subjects and Grades for FREE!
If you are eternally looking for just the right short clip video to support student understanding of key concepts of your lessons, you will be quite pleased with this site. Teachers' Domain is for educational use and is free thanks to public broadcasting. Along with thousands of media resources, instructional tools, and a wide range of classroom activities, you will also find sites offering professional development for classroom teachers. Registration is free for full access. If you don't register, you will only be allowed to access 7 sites.
TEACHERS' DOMAIN offers materials in all subject areas (Art, Physical Education, English language arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies) and at all grade levels. You may browse for resources by your state standards, national standards, or Common Core State Standards. The choice is strictly up to you. This collection of outstanding materials will make core content less overwhelming for ELLs especially. When teachers spend time building in tools to either help ELLs access prior knowledge OR build it when it is not there, they are setting ELLs up to experience success with the lesson.
For those of you looking for new teaching strategies, look no further. Under Professional Development, you simply type in the lesson planning support you are looking for and click. You will be presented with a wide variety of videos on teachers modeling the teaching strategies you need. The videos are of exemplary teachers. I took notes on WORD STORMING since I would like to share it with some novices at my site (I am an English Language Instructional Coach supporting teachers with ELLs or ESL students). I believe it will provide teachers with a better view of what their ELLs actually know BEFORE a lesson is started.
Remember that to use this site you must register with a school name. Please share this with colleagues.
Denise:)
ELL TEACHER PROS
TEACHERS' DOMAIN offers materials in all subject areas (Art, Physical Education, English language arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies) and at all grade levels. You may browse for resources by your state standards, national standards, or Common Core State Standards. The choice is strictly up to you. This collection of outstanding materials will make core content less overwhelming for ELLs especially. When teachers spend time building in tools to either help ELLs access prior knowledge OR build it when it is not there, they are setting ELLs up to experience success with the lesson.
For those of you looking for new teaching strategies, look no further. Under Professional Development, you simply type in the lesson planning support you are looking for and click. You will be presented with a wide variety of videos on teachers modeling the teaching strategies you need. The videos are of exemplary teachers. I took notes on WORD STORMING since I would like to share it with some novices at my site (I am an English Language Instructional Coach supporting teachers with ELLs or ESL students). I believe it will provide teachers with a better view of what their ELLs actually know BEFORE a lesson is started.
Remember that to use this site you must register with a school name. Please share this with colleagues.
Denise:)
ELL TEACHER PROS
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Instructional Resources to Support ELLs in Content Classes!
Everything you will see here is courtesy of Pearson Publishers. They have set up a free site to offer suggestions and support to teachers of ELLs. Though the options are there to buy textbooks from them, much of their material is free including video clips to offer details on instructional programs (SIOP), ELL Rights, approaches for teaching content, and much more.
ELL SUPPORT FROM PEARSON Here you will see the overview of everything on the site. The description is quite direct and therefore easy to follow. Again, it is a publisher and they hope you will buy books from them, but the free resources would be enough for most teachers who are accustomed to teaching ELLs. Dr. Cummins' work is evident in Pearson's products. His work on 2nd language acquisition (BICS--conversational language--and CALP--COGNITIVE ACADEMIC LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY) was a major contributor in the major shift from grammar only programs to academic success in mainstream classes.
ELL BILL OF RIGHTS There are millions of ELLs in US schools and teachers are searching for better programs and support to meet the diverse needs of this audience. This site is one source of support obviously, but there are many others. Schools offer onsite professional development workshops in this area. Many of those are well done. Where administration asks for input from teachers, they are even more successful. Look at the list and see if some (or all) of the ELL rights addressed are met in your school.
APPROACHES FOR TEACHING CONTENT TO ELLS Dr. Cummins and other leaders in teaching ELLs created this package for Pearson. Here is the overview of the next two pieces below.
FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR TEACHING CONTENT TO ELLS Five basic principles are outlined here on how ELLs can succeed in their classes. Many of you are probably already aware of many of them so feel free to share them with others.
1. Clear learning objectives.
2. Front load content/vocabulary.
3. Comprehensible Input.
4. Enable language production.
5. Assess for content and language understanding.
A good class has all 4 language skills going on all the time: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. A good class provides constant support and regular checks for understanding. A good class sets ELLs up to experience success with independent assignments/homework/projects. (Video clips elaborate on those 5 basic principles.)
SIOP (SHELTERED INSTRUCTION OBSERVATION PROTOCOL) One instructional approach that has experienced quite a bit of success is SIOP (video clips elaborate on this approach).
1. Lesson preparation.
2. Building background.
3. Comprehensible input.
4. Strategies.
5. Interaction.
6. Practice and application.
7. Lesson delivery.
8. Review and assessment.
I have been a teacher for years and this approach led me to re-evaluate the completeness of my lesson. Reflection on the effectiveness of our lessons is something each of us does in the hopes of identifying the weak areas so that they can be corrected for the next lesson:)
I hope you enjoy this post. I was impressed with Pearson's support of teachers.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
PS If you haven't voted for this blog yet, please do. It is much appreciated:)
ELL SUPPORT FROM PEARSON Here you will see the overview of everything on the site. The description is quite direct and therefore easy to follow. Again, it is a publisher and they hope you will buy books from them, but the free resources would be enough for most teachers who are accustomed to teaching ELLs. Dr. Cummins' work is evident in Pearson's products. His work on 2nd language acquisition (BICS--conversational language--and CALP--COGNITIVE ACADEMIC LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY) was a major contributor in the major shift from grammar only programs to academic success in mainstream classes.
ELL BILL OF RIGHTS There are millions of ELLs in US schools and teachers are searching for better programs and support to meet the diverse needs of this audience. This site is one source of support obviously, but there are many others. Schools offer onsite professional development workshops in this area. Many of those are well done. Where administration asks for input from teachers, they are even more successful. Look at the list and see if some (or all) of the ELL rights addressed are met in your school.
APPROACHES FOR TEACHING CONTENT TO ELLS Dr. Cummins and other leaders in teaching ELLs created this package for Pearson. Here is the overview of the next two pieces below.
FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR TEACHING CONTENT TO ELLS Five basic principles are outlined here on how ELLs can succeed in their classes. Many of you are probably already aware of many of them so feel free to share them with others.
1. Clear learning objectives.
2. Front load content/vocabulary.
3. Comprehensible Input.
4. Enable language production.
5. Assess for content and language understanding.
A good class has all 4 language skills going on all the time: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. A good class provides constant support and regular checks for understanding. A good class sets ELLs up to experience success with independent assignments/homework/projects. (Video clips elaborate on those 5 basic principles.)
SIOP (SHELTERED INSTRUCTION OBSERVATION PROTOCOL) One instructional approach that has experienced quite a bit of success is SIOP (video clips elaborate on this approach).
1. Lesson preparation.
2. Building background.
3. Comprehensible input.
4. Strategies.
5. Interaction.
6. Practice and application.
7. Lesson delivery.
8. Review and assessment.
I have been a teacher for years and this approach led me to re-evaluate the completeness of my lesson. Reflection on the effectiveness of our lessons is something each of us does in the hopes of identifying the weak areas so that they can be corrected for the next lesson:)
I hope you enjoy this post. I was impressed with Pearson's support of teachers.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
PS If you haven't voted for this blog yet, please do. It is much appreciated:)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
ACCESS THE NYC Public Library Digital Picture Collection ONLINE for FREE!
No matter what subject you teach, you generally need visual supports to help students access the main point of your lesson. Sometimes a textbook may have good materials, but often times it may fall a bit short in presenting a full picture of a concept or event. This leads teachers to trying to locate other sources to help clarify for students the concepts being taught.
To ease the work load in this area, check out NYC Public Library Digital Picture Collection. This is a photograph collection spanning hundreds of years and topics. To use the site, go to the long white slim rectangular box in the middle of the page. Click on drop down menu and then select the area of interest. You can save the images on your laptop unless your district blocks it. It is possible to print them out to use with a document camera. A last option is to save the links in a bookmark or favorite folder to pull from as needed.
These powerful images can be used by students too in creating reports, powerpoints, etc. In fact, if you have ELLs, you could pass out 1 photo to small groups of 2 or 4. Provide the students with some reflection questions. Allow them 5-7 minutes to discuss what the photo reveals to them without any writing. Once the small group discussions are completed, you can add to the vocabulary and content material by conducting a whole group discussion and charting the key points (and vocabulary) generated by the class. This approach fully equips the ELL to then take this knowledge and apply it to more demanding activities such as navigating key parts of the textbook or writing about the subject. MIND MAPS will help here (see MIND MAPS post for details). The more support you provide the ELL with in class, the more success the ELL will experience in doing any assignments based on the lesson you delivered.
Enjoy!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
To ease the work load in this area, check out NYC Public Library Digital Picture Collection. This is a photograph collection spanning hundreds of years and topics. To use the site, go to the long white slim rectangular box in the middle of the page. Click on drop down menu and then select the area of interest. You can save the images on your laptop unless your district blocks it. It is possible to print them out to use with a document camera. A last option is to save the links in a bookmark or favorite folder to pull from as needed.
These powerful images can be used by students too in creating reports, powerpoints, etc. In fact, if you have ELLs, you could pass out 1 photo to small groups of 2 or 4. Provide the students with some reflection questions. Allow them 5-7 minutes to discuss what the photo reveals to them without any writing. Once the small group discussions are completed, you can add to the vocabulary and content material by conducting a whole group discussion and charting the key points (and vocabulary) generated by the class. This approach fully equips the ELL to then take this knowledge and apply it to more demanding activities such as navigating key parts of the textbook or writing about the subject. MIND MAPS will help here (see MIND MAPS post for details). The more support you provide the ELL with in class, the more success the ELL will experience in doing any assignments based on the lesson you delivered.
Enjoy!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Can the Study of Geography Lead to Great Careers? YES!
If you have ever had students who asked you what kind of career could the study of geography lead to, you will want to inspire them with this video.
Thanks to the Google Earth, Environmental Defense Fund, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, etc., students will see scientists discuss how their knowledge of geography assists them in meeting the demands of their high pressure jobs. For example, FEMA is an agency that assists people struggling with natural disasters (ex. Katrina and its struggle to survive a class 5 hurricane). Using geography makes the rescue attempts a bit easier since the guess work is removed.
This is a short video, but one that will stay with students for quite a while:)
GEOGRAPHY
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thanks to the Google Earth, Environmental Defense Fund, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, etc., students will see scientists discuss how their knowledge of geography assists them in meeting the demands of their high pressure jobs. For example, FEMA is an agency that assists people struggling with natural disasters (ex. Katrina and its struggle to survive a class 5 hurricane). Using geography makes the rescue attempts a bit easier since the guess work is removed.
This is a short video, but one that will stay with students for quite a while:)
GEOGRAPHY
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Monday, April 2, 2012
Free Movies/Classic Cartoons for Kids:)
As spring break fast approaches, why not make kids (and parents of younger kids) aware of classic cartoons (ex. Popeye, Bugs Bunny, etc.), films (ex. Oliver Twist, Gulliver's Travels -1938, The Wizard of Oz-1910, etc.) and TV shows from the 1940's through the 1960's? In fact, there is also a section on science fiction and one of the films was the inspiration for "I Am Legend" from 2007 with Will Smith. The name of that film was "The Last Man On Earth" with Vincent Price!
A breakdown of categories is as follows:
FREE MOVIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
Why not "assign" one of these many films for "homework" over the vacation:) Students could create a DVD cover for the film along with a brief write-up on it without giving away the ending. Students should write just enough to motivate one to watch the film and no more.
Hope you and your students enjoy the site!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
A breakdown of categories is as follows:
If you have ELLs, why not try some of the cartoons. Some of them were created during WWII and therefore include commentary on the Allies winning WWII and the war effort at home in the US. Others address the period with customs, dress, slang, themes, political views, etc. Further, cartoons are short in length and with very visual antics. This leads to more accessible content and that carries over into more language!
Why not "assign" one of these many films for "homework" over the vacation:) Students could create a DVD cover for the film along with a brief write-up on it without giving away the ending. Students should write just enough to motivate one to watch the film and no more.
Hope you and your students enjoy the site!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Friday, March 30, 2012
FREE Math Activities Galore from NCTM:)
As high stakes testing fast approaches, teachers are looking for non-traditional approaches to assist students in sharpening their skills before the BIG day arrives:)
There are several ways to do this including worksheets, practice tests based on released questions, games, websites, etc. One site that should put some fun in review is this one: 108 FREE ONLINE MATH ACTIVITIES for grades K-12 from NCTM (national council of teachers of mathematics). All levels of math are covered here. The lesson site is down temporarily, but the activities site is alive and well.
In preparing for your state assessments, why not find games that provide practice in that area of math that your students are struggling with (or just want more practice in) and set them up to succeed in the academic games:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
PS ELL TEACHER PROS April newsletter is going out tomorrow at 9 PM PCT. Sign up to have it in your email box by 11:)
There are several ways to do this including worksheets, practice tests based on released questions, games, websites, etc. One site that should put some fun in review is this one: 108 FREE ONLINE MATH ACTIVITIES for grades K-12 from NCTM (national council of teachers of mathematics). All levels of math are covered here. The lesson site is down temporarily, but the activities site is alive and well.
In preparing for your state assessments, why not find games that provide practice in that area of math that your students are struggling with (or just want more practice in) and set them up to succeed in the academic games:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
PS ELL TEACHER PROS April newsletter is going out tomorrow at 9 PM PCT. Sign up to have it in your email box by 11:)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
WORDLESS ESSAYS---Brings Out the Writer in Every Student:)
We all have pictures with unforgettable stories behind them. We recall not just the names of the persons in the photos, but also every small detail of the event along with extensive information on every object in the picture. Sometimes those photos are associated with happy memories. Sometimes, not. However, every picture tells a unique story to anyone who sees it.
Wordless essays have the same effect. A series of photos together convey a message equal to a paragraph or more but without words. The words would come as students discuss with peers what their pictures say. For ELLs, this type of approach with "writing" offers them an opportunity to verbally share their images through often times their strongest skills-speaking and listening. In analyzing photos, ELLs have time to build vocabulary to make their story one that every classmate will want to read. In their small groups, discussions, access to word walls, student writing samples, journals (where ideas are stored without any focus on mechanics), personal dictionaries, etc., ELLs have time and support to eventually elaborate on an otherwise simplistic description to create a piece of grade level quality writing. Here they use their strongest language skills to develop their weakest ones-reading and writing.
WORDLESS ESSAY 1 Here is a simple one on making a chocolate topping for ice cream. This should be a crowd pleaser for the younger ones.
WORDLESS ESSAY 2 This one might fascinate older students especially those from that section of the world. Imagine how much language could be generated when students have much to say:)
Why not have your students use their cell phones to take pictures of things that are important to them and then bring the shots to school for an activity like this? Your students will be impressed with their results and will be motivated to find "just the right words" to tell their story.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Wordless essays have the same effect. A series of photos together convey a message equal to a paragraph or more but without words. The words would come as students discuss with peers what their pictures say. For ELLs, this type of approach with "writing" offers them an opportunity to verbally share their images through often times their strongest skills-speaking and listening. In analyzing photos, ELLs have time to build vocabulary to make their story one that every classmate will want to read. In their small groups, discussions, access to word walls, student writing samples, journals (where ideas are stored without any focus on mechanics), personal dictionaries, etc., ELLs have time and support to eventually elaborate on an otherwise simplistic description to create a piece of grade level quality writing. Here they use their strongest language skills to develop their weakest ones-reading and writing.
WORDLESS ESSAY 1 Here is a simple one on making a chocolate topping for ice cream. This should be a crowd pleaser for the younger ones.
WORDLESS ESSAY 2 This one might fascinate older students especially those from that section of the world. Imagine how much language could be generated when students have much to say:)
Why not have your students use their cell phones to take pictures of things that are important to them and then bring the shots to school for an activity like this? Your students will be impressed with their results and will be motivated to find "just the right words" to tell their story.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Math OUTSIDE the Classroom? Help Kids Make that Vital Connection:)
All too often, students rarely see how the math they use in school has many applications in the real world outside of school. In fact, math can have a fun side to it from time to time:) Prove it with this site: FUN MATH FOR KIDS.
Some of the activities I explored were math and music, electoral votes, kite making, tetris math, and create a graph. Directions were easy to follow and actually fun. This is a site that teachers could encourage parents to use with their children. In fact, parents would be able to support classroom lessons with some of these sites. Further, when parents are actively involved in their children's classwork/homework, children are more motivated to learn. Parents are an integral part of a child's education. Any site that encourages that should be widely circulated at Back-to-School Night, parent conferences, etc.
For almost any teacher from any discipline, why not try linking some of the sites to the actual lessons with math applications which you are working on in class? If you are a social studies teacher, why not try CREATE A GRAPH? Graph voting trends in stellar colors and styles. If you are a math teacher, take surveys and graph results. If you are science, create graphs showing lab results. PE? Graph heart rates for the class.
Try it. You will like it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Some of the activities I explored were math and music, electoral votes, kite making, tetris math, and create a graph. Directions were easy to follow and actually fun. This is a site that teachers could encourage parents to use with their children. In fact, parents would be able to support classroom lessons with some of these sites. Further, when parents are actively involved in their children's classwork/homework, children are more motivated to learn. Parents are an integral part of a child's education. Any site that encourages that should be widely circulated at Back-to-School Night, parent conferences, etc.
For almost any teacher from any discipline, why not try linking some of the sites to the actual lessons with math applications which you are working on in class? If you are a social studies teacher, why not try CREATE A GRAPH? Graph voting trends in stellar colors and styles. If you are a math teacher, take surveys and graph results. If you are science, create graphs showing lab results. PE? Graph heart rates for the class.
Try it. You will like it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Need Short Educational Videos for Your Classes? LOOK NO MORE:)
How many times do teachers try to find just the right educational videos for their classes only to have their choice blocked due to district policies on use of YOUTUBE? Nothing is more frustrating when after all the searching, a teacher has found just the right one to support instruction and then can't show it! ELLs need such supports to make those vital connections to content if they are to fully comprehend the lessons. Leaving that important component out sets them up for mediocre work at best in a classroom.
Well, here is a site with over 35,000 APPROVED videos (mostly from YOUTUBE) that have been cleared to run in any classroom even those with a YOUTUBE block (not all districts have this, but many do). All grades are here along with every subject area. Teaching about Anne Frank? There is a copy of the ONLY video in the world with her in it. Teaching TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD? One video provides through pictures background knowledge of the time leading up that of the book. Students follow the period from the happy 1920's to the hard times of the depression to the pain of Jim Crow laws. For ELLs with no background knowledge of US history, such a site sets them up to have an idea of why the book was written. This is an example of building that crucial background knowledge to truly appreciate the message behind the novel.
All subject areas are listed here as well as grade levels. Teachers should join just in case they have videos that they would like added. To date, over 15,000,000 videos have been watched! Here is the site: WATCH KNOW LEARN Bookmark it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Well, here is a site with over 35,000 APPROVED videos (mostly from YOUTUBE) that have been cleared to run in any classroom even those with a YOUTUBE block (not all districts have this, but many do). All grades are here along with every subject area. Teaching about Anne Frank? There is a copy of the ONLY video in the world with her in it. Teaching TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD? One video provides through pictures background knowledge of the time leading up that of the book. Students follow the period from the happy 1920's to the hard times of the depression to the pain of Jim Crow laws. For ELLs with no background knowledge of US history, such a site sets them up to have an idea of why the book was written. This is an example of building that crucial background knowledge to truly appreciate the message behind the novel.
All subject areas are listed here as well as grade levels. Teachers should join just in case they have videos that they would like added. To date, over 15,000,000 videos have been watched! Here is the site: WATCH KNOW LEARN Bookmark it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Carl Sagan's COSMOS--He Demystified the Universe For All of Us:)
Back in 1980, Dr. Carl Sagan launched this video masterpiece on the origin of the cosmos. He took the intensely academic and made it accessible for the non-scientist. Watching this series was akin to having a blindfold removed on a bright sunny day! It was truly an awesome experience searching through the cosmos from one's living room. The explanations were laymen friendly (but informative) and students from elementary through university were glued by their television sets every week waiting in high anticipation for the next episode.
In your science lesson on the solar system, you might want to include a few clips from the series to provide background knowledge for your ELLs. The visuals usually stimulate prior knowledge for them and that means that your lessons will give you the desired results:)
COSMOS
I hope you enjoy it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
In your science lesson on the solar system, you might want to include a few clips from the series to provide background knowledge for your ELLs. The visuals usually stimulate prior knowledge for them and that means that your lessons will give you the desired results:)
COSMOS
I hope you enjoy it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Google Lit Trips--A New Way to Motivate Students to Read:)
Google literature trips are a whole new way of engaging students in reading literature. Google Lit Trips highlight the journeys characters take using Google Earth so that students can "see" the terrain, architecture, etc. which the characters have to navigate through. All along the way, students will see placemarks with information about “real world” references made in whatever book they are reading. This is an example of adding real context to a story and that is a must for ELLs especially so that they can truly appreciate the novel that they are reading.
The free downloadable files cover grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12, and higher education. The novels covered are found on the SITE MAP. Every item listed there has a downloadable file that covers the novel. Please note that the files are not like Cliff Notes. These files are designed to augment instruction and facilitate a student's understanding of the novel.
Take the video tours of the site here: VIDEOS The google earth one gives you an overview of how GOOGLE LIT TRIPS breathes life into any novel:)
GOOGLE LIT TRIPS
Enjoy your journey:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
The free downloadable files cover grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12, and higher education. The novels covered are found on the SITE MAP. Every item listed there has a downloadable file that covers the novel. Please note that the files are not like Cliff Notes. These files are designed to augment instruction and facilitate a student's understanding of the novel.
Take the video tours of the site here: VIDEOS The google earth one gives you an overview of how GOOGLE LIT TRIPS breathes life into any novel:)
GOOGLE LIT TRIPS
Enjoy your journey:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Monday, March 5, 2012
PRESENTING AT C.A.B.E. 3/8/12:)
This coming Thursday, I will be leading an institute on creating virtual dioramas at CABE (Thursday half-day institute 10:45-1:45). It is an honor to have been selected. When I finish the presentation, I will upload all documents to my website at ELL TEACHER PROS. The institute will have close to 100 people in it. I believe that they will truly enjoy the presentation. If possible, I will upload some video from the workshop so that you can see me in action doing what I love with a passion--helping ELLs to succeed in school:)
Denise
Denise
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