Preparing Students to Become Responsible Global Citizens:)

As the United States approaches national standards (a.k.a. common core), teachers will need to add a global component to all their lessons.  This vital connection is one that will not only make lessons more meaningful in that they serve a use in the real world, but also energize students about learning since these lessons will look at every aspect of a lesson from multiple cultural perspectives:)

This feature of a lesson will appear at every grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade.  Students will see how decisions on almost subject material extends beyond American borders.  If the focus of a lesson is on fossil fuels and their effect on the household budget, students could look beyond the pocketbook to the long term effects on the planet's environment in terms of climate change and how specific sections of the planet might suffer more ecologically speaking than other parts.  Students building community gardens might team up with students in poorer countries using SKYPE to jointly plan gardens, and in doing so, as teams discover more effective ways to produce viable plants able to survive drought and pests.  Teams of students from different countries could plan joint projects on common themes.  Such collaboration definitely sets up American students to work in a globally diverse workforce when the finish college or vocational schools. TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT  --see how this teacher moves the lesson beyond the classroom with ease. 

Such active engagement through peaking student interest will also bring the struggling student into the lesson more successfully than in the past.  Start that spark of interest is the key to motivating them to want to learn.  Teachers scaffolding and checking for understanding regularly will ensure that no one is left behind.  Long term English language learners, those with special needs, and those who just need more time to process information will be more actively engaged with little prodding on the part of the teacher.  HOW TO REACH UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTS --see how this teacher reaches underperforming students through accessible, interesting, engaging lessons and activities.

 Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS
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Explore Great Instructional Tools That Ensure Educational Equity for ELLs

This week, my colleague and I, delivered two well attended sessions on how teachers can fully support ELLs (especially long-term ones---those who have been in the US for years, but not making any progress academically) in mainstream content subject areas.

One was an institute on the following:

Expanding Instructional Tool Kits Ensures Equity in
Common Core Classrooms!
10:45 AM - 1:45 PM
The Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Room: Seaview A
Denise Stewart, San Jose USD/National Hispanic
University
Cheryl Sawyer, Youth Policy Institute
Grade Level: K-12
Language: English
Strand: English Language Development
Audience Level: New to Field/Experienced

Common Core Standards are coming soon. Classroom instruction in the mainstream class will radically change for ELLs and their teachers. This institute will highlight key instructional strategies, tools, activities, and web resources to facilitate transition. Teachers will interact with all of them as they explore lesson planning with quality scaffolding devices. ELLs will not be left behind with the right support. Our common core tool kit will ensure equity in the classroom for all students. (Teachers should bring laptops.)

The second one was:

86 Thursday
Thursday, February 14, 2013
52. Webquests-Powerful Instructional Tools for
Common Core Based Lessons
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Long Beach Convention Center
Room: 102C
Cheryl Sawyer, Youth Policy Institute
Denise Stewart, San Jose USD/National Hispanic
University
Grade Level: K-12
Language: English
Strand: The Digital Age in the Classroom
Audience Level: New to Field/Experienced

Presenters will address a brief history of webquests, key parts of a well-written webquest, and educational benefits for ELs such as building computer skills, conducting research, and interacting with peers to meet common core standards. Presenters will focus on task design patterns emphasizing those parts deemed most effective for ELs to develop language and access grade level content. With guidance from presenters, participants will design their own webquests for their specific students and subject areas.


To access ALL of our handouts, go to our website below:

ELL TEACHER PROS

Enjoy:)

Denise and Cheryl