Homework is assigned to just about every class on a daily basis. However, the purpose behind it is sometimes not clear to students or their parents. What are the students expected to learn from it or is it just a continuation of unfinished classwork? Do students receive additional insight into the topic or just complete a worksheet? For homework to have purpose, it should have students applying newly acquired knowledge to the real world which generally involves ongoing problem solving in team settings for the most part.
So what is the key to motivating students to want to do any type of assignment after school? Well, it must be interesting. Students must be excited about trying the assigned task. Teachers must set the tone by tempting them with an approach that resonates with them. For example, if studying biology, why not have students create a garden on school grounds. This would involve a team effort to plan and tend the garden from the planting of the seeds to the harvesting of the vegetables and fruits. This type of activity adds meaning to ecology. Further, the produce can be taken home to add to meals or given to homeless shelters to feed those who are struggling. This "homework" would not be a one day event, but would span the semester and would involve math, science, internet research, reading, writing/blogging, etc. In this type of team setting, one student could also be the groups official chronicler (one who would blog team's progress).
Take a look at this article on homework for more ideas on getting students jazzed about doing homework! :)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Check us out on TWITTER @ell_teacherpros and PINTEREST under dmcyberteacher.
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Thursday, October 31, 2013
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
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Look at CHILD LABOR in the US in 1908-1912
Though child labor is a thing of the past for the most part in the US, it is still an issue in some countries. This site offers a window to the loss of childhood that these children experienced. Children today might develop a deeper appreciation for the lives they lead now--school, a home, parents taking care of their many needs, laws that protect them from unfair labor practices, etc.
This site (at end of post) could easily enhance a lesson in social studies, geography, world history, economics, writing, etc. If this surfaced in an English class, it could be tied to Upton Sinclair's THE JUNGLE (you may download this book for free from this link). As students progressed through the book, they could be reminded of what life was really like for these children--children who didn't know how old they were, who could barely reach the work assigned work area without a box to stand on, who toiled long hours selling newspapers often catching pneumonia (no health insurance), who looked much older than their years due to the harsh working environment, etc.
In an ELD class, these photos could be used to build a comparison/contrast composition. With a double-bubble graphic organizer, students would look at a child's life in 2012 vs a child's life then. This could be done as a small group activity where students could work as teams to complete the graphic organizer. Once the teacher had an opportunity to make sure that everyone was on the same page, s/he could have them start developing their essay outlines. The actual writing of the essay could be done with a partner (if the process is semi-new for them) or individually with teacher support as needed.
CHILD LABOR IN US (photographs and captions from Lewis Hine)
I hope you can use these photos in some of your lessons.
Denise:)
ELL TEACHER PROS
This site (at end of post) could easily enhance a lesson in social studies, geography, world history, economics, writing, etc. If this surfaced in an English class, it could be tied to Upton Sinclair's THE JUNGLE (you may download this book for free from this link). As students progressed through the book, they could be reminded of what life was really like for these children--children who didn't know how old they were, who could barely reach the work assigned work area without a box to stand on, who toiled long hours selling newspapers often catching pneumonia (no health insurance), who looked much older than their years due to the harsh working environment, etc.
In an ELD class, these photos could be used to build a comparison/contrast composition. With a double-bubble graphic organizer, students would look at a child's life in 2012 vs a child's life then. This could be done as a small group activity where students could work as teams to complete the graphic organizer. Once the teacher had an opportunity to make sure that everyone was on the same page, s/he could have them start developing their essay outlines. The actual writing of the essay could be done with a partner (if the process is semi-new for them) or individually with teacher support as needed.
CHILD LABOR IN US (photographs and captions from Lewis Hine)
I hope you can use these photos in some of your lessons.
Denise:)
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Amazing Historical Photographs!
If you teach history, you will want to bookmark this site. The photographs here capture famous historical figures and events through time. In fact, the first photograph ever taken (1826) is here!
Some of the major items captured here are the Titanic before and after the disaster, Hitler as a baby (the only time he was innocent), Che and Fidel in their youth, the destruction of the Berlin Wall, and black surgeons saving a white KKK member in the south before the Civil Rights Bill was passed. There are so many incredible photos in this collection. Teachers can use the to add to almost any lesson.
If you teach ELLs, these photos could build content background knowledge as you go through a unit on the Wright brothers (Aviation history) and how their invention still affects their lives today for example.
31 GREAT ICONIC PHOTOS
Hope you enjoy the site and don't forget to see me at C.A.B.E. (California Association of Bilingual Educators) on 3/8/11 for a half day workshop on creating virtual dioramas!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Some of the major items captured here are the Titanic before and after the disaster, Hitler as a baby (the only time he was innocent), Che and Fidel in their youth, the destruction of the Berlin Wall, and black surgeons saving a white KKK member in the south before the Civil Rights Bill was passed. There are so many incredible photos in this collection. Teachers can use the to add to almost any lesson.
If you teach ELLs, these photos could build content background knowledge as you go through a unit on the Wright brothers (Aviation history) and how their invention still affects their lives today for example.
31 GREAT ICONIC PHOTOS
Hope you enjoy the site and don't forget to see me at C.A.B.E. (California Association of Bilingual Educators) on 3/8/11 for a half day workshop on creating virtual dioramas!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Helping Kids Understand the World Wide Financial Crisis
The world is probably dealing with the worst financial crisis since the depression of the 1930s. Jobs are hard to find. Homes are being lost due to foreclosures. Parents are struggling to put food on the table with drastically reduced finances. Marriages are breaking up. The list goes on. Yet, despite all those tragic events, students will still come to school--probably the one area of stability in their lives.
With school opening around many parts of the US this month, teachers will most likely be faced with questions from students. Some questions might focus on their own family's financial woes while others might focus on how could this debacle occur in America. Other students might want to know how the activities on Wall Street personally affect their lives. Then there are those who might question why the president doesn't have the power to "fix things."
Well with all this turmoil in the world, there is a unique opportunity to make a learning experience out of it. HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS Scholastic Magazine offers some well thought out lesson plans on many parts of the puzzle and the lessons are developed in such a way as to make them fully comprehensible for ELLs and EOs. Many come with PDF worksheets, downloadable books, photographs of struggling Americans during the 1930s, etc. Since this section is aimed at grades 3-8 (though high school ELLs would benefit from it as well), you will need to see which sections apply to your grade level.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
With school opening around many parts of the US this month, teachers will most likely be faced with questions from students. Some questions might focus on their own family's financial woes while others might focus on how could this debacle occur in America. Other students might want to know how the activities on Wall Street personally affect their lives. Then there are those who might question why the president doesn't have the power to "fix things."
Well with all this turmoil in the world, there is a unique opportunity to make a learning experience out of it. HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS Scholastic Magazine offers some well thought out lesson plans on many parts of the puzzle and the lessons are developed in such a way as to make them fully comprehensible for ELLs and EOs. Many come with PDF worksheets, downloadable books, photographs of struggling Americans during the 1930s, etc. Since this section is aimed at grades 3-8 (though high school ELLs would benefit from it as well), you will need to see which sections apply to your grade level.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
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