Turn the Writing Process for Students Into a Major Publishing Event---Bring in Blogging as Part of Class Routine:)

Often times, when teachers start to address the writing process with their students, they face a classroom of uninspired students:)  The traditional paper and pencil approach is needed of course from time to time, but those tools could definitely benefit from a little 21st century technology.  After all, students are already using the internet daily through laptops, iPads, and smartphones so why not bring the familiar into the classroom to work to the teacher's benefit?  This approach to writing will energize kids as they find out that what they create will be published online for all the world to see.  This will be a worldwide audience extending far beyond the walls of the classroom:)

If teachers are a bit hesitant about trying it due to a lack of familiarity, they will benefit from reviewing this chart.  Class blogs are great starting points since the teacher can maintain control over what does and does not get posted.  Further, this vehicle allows the teacher to model the process with student input.  As the students explore the features (pluses and minuses) of a blog, they build the confidence to try blogging for the teacher on their own (on school related assignments which the teacher would have some control over).  Parents would need to be involved here.  Their permission would be called for in many districts. 

So where should a teacher look for blogging platforms?  Here is a link which offers some of the best ones out there. Teachers should explore them all to see which one feels most comfortable for them to work with in their classes. 

Last, but not least, 8 REASONS why teachers should include blogging in their classrooms.

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Follow us on Facebook as ELL TEACHER PROS and on Twitter @ell_teacherpros.

Quick Assessment Strategies From S.I.O.P. (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) Provide Access to Language and Content for ALL

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol is an instructional program aimed at English language learners at all levels of English proficiency including long term ELLs.  Though geared to English language learners, all students would benefit from the many tools employed in SIOP to deliver solid understanding of content and boost use of academic vocabulary/writing.  Accountability is held throughout any lesson through creative ongoing checks for understanding and quality quick assessments.

How does SIOP live up to its reputation?  Take a look at successful and easy to implement assessments for a clear view of the effectiveness of these strategies in the classroom.  Though a great deal of prep on the teacher's part is involved since 90% of the time students should be actively using language as they delve through content, the prep time is worth it since students make amazing jumps in both language and grade level content mastery.  THIS approach is what Common Core is aiming at in the new curriculum. 

Remember as stated before in this blog, implementing common core lessons will not necessitate throwing out strategies used in the past, but rather applying a different focus in their use:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS
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Creative Ways to Fully Engage ALL Students in Learning Process!

How does a teacher infuse instruction with enough creative student engagement activities to hold and maintain student attention for the length of the lesson?  It is an issue most teachers grapple with every day since it is their goal to motivate students to want to learn and enjoy the experience every step of the way.  Productive student engagement with regular monitoring on the part of the teacher holds all students accountable to learn.  This approach leaves no student behind.  English language learners especially need this type of active instruction and monitoring.  It is the only way they will acquire both content and English proficiency.

In this video, a national board certified English language arts teacher leads his class through some lessons on  To Kill a Mockingbird.  Though the video is about 26 minutes, it is well worth the view.  Teacher evaluators and coaches are viewing David Preto's English language arts class to see if he has generated a lesson that is more active in its delivery--more directed student engagement.  In this video, evaluators observe the lesson on site as well as on video to see if he is following up on suggestions.  See his skills grow over the full length of the video.  Does he achieve the perfect lesson?  No, but through his willingness to keep honing his skills, it is evident that he will do it.

GREAT STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN LEARNING PROCESS

As teachers, such self-reflection should be an on-going process for all.  Lesson delivery should be adjusted regularly.  Why?  This is a must because student populations change from year to year.  Also, with the number of English language learners growing from year to year, lessons that worked well 10 years ago with English speaking populations might not run as effectively with this new population. 

In less than 2 weeks, it will be the start of 2013.  A new semester will be here.  Why not shake things up a bit in class by reaching outside the comfort zone and try some new approaches:)

Enjoy your well deserved winter break!

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS


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Film in the Classroom Thanks to the Learning Network from The New York Times

The New York Times' Learning Network is a must-have for any classroom teacher at any grade level for any content area.  It includes a multitude of lessons on all subject areas, graphic organizers, templates, additional resources, incredible websites...and everything is free.

FILM + CONTENT=POWERFUL INSTRUCTION  Every lesson or activity found here is linked to the common core standards.  In fact, the NYT considers itself a partner with teachers in implementing the common core through all grade levels.  Everything offered here is free including subscribing to their blog.  Teachers may also access lessons by subject category (16 groups are listed).  Here is also a link with suggestions on how to use this incredible tool:  HOW TO USE THIS BLOG.

BIOLOGY IN FILM:  USING ANIMATION TO STUDY CELL STRUCTURE
For biology teachers, this is an amazing link.  Though the lesson is meticulously planned out, the animation on CELLS is breathtaking.  The details are amazing.  Students, especially ELLs, in watching the clip will develop a deeper knowledge of what the inner components of cell structure.  Textbooks can not capture this type of detail (from Harvard University).  This should be part of every biology lesson in cells.  Here is the animation clip by itself:  CELL STRUCTURE.

Inspire students with a new way at looking at course content material.  Learning can indeed be fun:)

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

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Watch Scientist Inspire Diverse Middle Schoolers to Think About Pursuing Careers in the Sciences:)

It is never too early to start inspiring students of all ages and backgrounds to think about their future careers.  Though students know that school is there to assist them in planning for their lives beyond high school, they often times fail to make connections between courses and career options.  Including guest speakers on a monthly basis, for example, is one very effective way to tap student interest in the subject matter and link career options to it. 

With an upcoming shortage of scientists in many parts of the world, why not start bringing in professionals from various science fields to ignite sparks of interest in the minds of students.  Many of the presenters are trained on how to work with diverse student bodies including ELLs.  Some may have a background in education while others are just naturally talented in assisting kids on making those connections from the classroom to the lab for example. Further, since diversity in the workforce is increasingly more common than in the past, it would be possible to have female/male speaker representatives from all the ethnic groups.  This would be quite empowering for minorities especially.

BEST PRACTICES FOR SCIENTISTS VISITING CLASSROOMS

Notice how Daniele Bergeron, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, delivers a presentation on careers in science and in doing so, employs many tried and true instructional techniques to capture and then maintain student interest.  In fact, this would be a wonderful video to share with teachers in general since Daniele uses many checks-for-understanding, has excellent classroom management skills, employs short videos to spark interest, validates all answers without passing judgement, relates academic concepts to student background knowledge, addresses academic vocabulary by relating it to what they know, has a great sense of humor, etc. 

Share this with colleagues who rarely try new approaches.  It might motivate them to do something different:)

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

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FREE Multimedia Approach to Supporting ELLs in ALL Levels of Mathematics

With the new common core standards in mathematics, teachers will need to have students address ongoing problem solving in all areas of math.  The book alone will no longer drive instruction.  High stakes tests will soon take a back seat as students apply all areas of math to life beyond the classroom.  In such a learning environment where students are encouraged to work as teams in finding multiple solutions to real world problems, math will become relevant to all including the ELL.  Word problems will be ones encountered in business.  Team problem solving will take precedence over struggling in isolation.  With such a radical transformation of the classroom, ELLs will develop more confidence in dealing with math since it will finally be accessible.

This site is an excellent multimedia resource covering all areas of math through trigonometry.  Each level of math is accompanied by videos of real world application.  A video often times makes a world of difference to an ELL.  The visual component allows them to SEE the problem and hear the problem discussed.  Once the task is assigned by the teacher, this background information along with the low anxiety of working within a small group (or partner) has the potential to build an ELL's confidence in offering her/his ideas to solve the problem or task.  With a team work approach, students quickly learn that there is more than one way to come to an answer.  Isn't that the goal of team work in the real world?

MATH INTERACTIVES

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS


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Sharp EL377TB 10 Digit Basic Calculator
Casio FX-9750GII Graphic Calculator FX9750GII-WE

How About FREE Online Graphic Novels for Your Students to Read Over the VACATION:)

It is every teacher's hope that students will pick up a few good novels over the summer both classic as well as graphic (similar to comic book layouts).  One way to have this occur is to add a convenience feature to it.  After all, if everything is free and the selection offers many genres, they should have no trouble finding something to suit their interests.

Students will need a computer or a good smart phone to access the materials.  Once downloaded, they are free to read at at their leisure.  If they are older, why not encourage them to read to younger siblings?  Or, after reading, create their own graphic short story on a topic of interest to them.  This brings in writing, and unbeknownst to them, keeps their writing skills sharp.  There is also the added bonus of enriching their vocabulary base.  English teachers will be quite happy to say the least.

FREE ONLINE GRAPHIC NOVELS

Denise


ELL TEACHER PROS

Endangered Languages--An Online Collaborative Effort to Protect Global Linguisitic Diversity

Isn't it ironic that as the population of the world continues to expand, the number of languages spoken by its residents is dropping.  This has the potential to be a great loss to the all since once a language disappears, so does the culture.

The focus of this initiative is to find a way to slow down the trend.  If not stopped, 50% of world languages will be gone by 2100.  Information on agencies trying to save these languages is included along with email links to participate in the project.

THE WORLD THROUGH 3,054 DIFFERENT LENSES  could offer students the opportunity to explore languages and their accompanying cultures before they disappear.  It could easily be incorporated into a geography project or a social studies research paper.  The more informed students are on this sad chapter in world history, the better the chances are of reversing this trend towards oblivion. 

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

Common Core Standards--English Language Arts and USE OF PRIMARY SOURCES

With the new common core standards being rolled out for English, teachers at the high school level will need to spend 70% of instructional time on informational text/non-fiction materials.  This is long overdue since universities have been urging schools to spend more time better preparing students for college.  In fact, most incoming freshmen must take remedial writing classes in their first year to prepare them for university work.

What will be quite different for students will be working with primary sources on a regular basis.  Many students are foggy on what they are, but this site explains what they are on a student level and then provides examples of primary sources throughout the site. To offer an overview of the key forms primary sources, go to OVERVIEW.  Each form is explained in detail and then students take on "detective" roles to search for evidence to use for solving "problems."  Isn't that what is asked of students in many universities--to THINK, ANALYZE, SYNTHESIZE, PERSUADE, etc.?  Notice that PERSONAL NARRATIVE is no where to be found and yet this writing style is still heavily used in all grades.

In the SPEED ROUND, students have to use their knowledge of all forms of primary sources addressed throughout the site to answer questions against a timer.  If you have struggling learners mixed in your mainstream classes, you could do a numbered heads together (cooperative learning in mixed ability groups) and then do a team competition.  It would be a WIN-WIN opportunity for all (and a bit of fun in the process).

PRIMARY SOURCES   ---  Here is the link to the entire site.  Bookmark it to hold for the unveiling of common core standards:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

PS  If you would like a detailed view of the common core ELA standards and how they will be implemented in school, you should subscribe to ELL TEACHER PROS to receive our monthly newsletter.  I will be providing both overall description of the process as well as providing videos and sample unit lessons in our JUNE NEWSLETTER to be released on May 31st.

Prove To Your Students That Learning A Language CAN Be FUN:)

If you teach ELLs (ESL students) at the beginning level, you will like the following site:

FREE LANGUAGE COURSES

In this site, students can practice basic vocabulary, do some writing based on dialogues,  focus on listening/repeating, and complete a wide variety of exercises.  The conversations are geared to beginners.  With the summer fast approaching, beginners will need some support in maintaining their English skills over the summer.  This is one source, but there are many more within my blog (just go to SEARCH box on the home page and type in English activities).  Since all the sites are free and on the internet, all a student needs is access to a computer (or smart phone).

For ELLs with more English, why not have them try the following site:

ELLO

Here students will hear people speaking English from all over the English speaking world.  The topics addressed cover an fascinating collection of subjects that students will find amusing to say the least.  One that caught my eye was on a young man who was broke in New York City.  He had been living in a bust boom cycle over several years.  Here (as with all the other scenarios) you have real world conversations on high interest topics.

Students will also find listening games.  Students are presented with several pictures which are talked about in a short dialogue.  Students need to identify the specific objects the narrator addressed and if they do, they score high:)

There are also many videos in many different language settings.  Speakers of English talk about a wide range of topics of interest to them.  This is great listening practice and for free.

Why not make it an assignment to have them find their favorite section and report back to the class on what they discovered? :)  Over the summer, how about having them create their own videos?

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Have Students Who Need More Support in Math (and more)? This Site Might Help:)

Keeping to the theme of "test prep", this post will cover an easy to navigate website that allows students to review math from basic arithmetic through calculus.  It consists of number problems-no word problems.   This makes it possible for ELLs especially to review the math without struggling with the many language issues that arise in solving math word problems.  This site is a quick assessment of a student's grasp of key concepts.  Students may also retake the quizzes as often as they like.   

Since basic math is part of the site, even students as young as elementary school age would benefit from it.  Computers have infinite patience so those kids who need more time to master the process will have all the time they need.  Further, since the site is free (though you have to register), parents could continue to help them at home.  Since language is not an issue, parents who don't know English but who understand math, would be able to support their children  in honing their math skills at home.  Grades 6-8 (middle school) would have access to pre-algebra and algebra.  Again, the focus here is on computing answers to mathematical equations minus the language.  Once ELLs (and others) understand the layout and purpose of the equation, they are ready (with assistance) to start working on word problems through careful guidance on the part of the teacher and through carefully orchestrated small group OR partner learning activities.  Last, there is high school.  Every level of math from algebra through calculus is here.  Students can monitor their progress through immediate feedback.  If they did poorly, they will have enough specific feedback from the quizzes to know where they need more support from teacher. 

This site also has a few other areas students can assess themselves in as well:
Languages--English, German, French, and Spanish
Geography--Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe
Science--Cells, anatomy, elements, and conversion.
These activities are not as in depth as the math, but still serve as a quick overview review of major concepts covered in class.

THAT QUIZ

Hope your students benefit from the site's offerings:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Teach Geography? Use This Site to Help Students Review for Final Exams:)

With the end of the school year fast approaching, teachers are trying to prepare their students for end of the year examinations.  There are many ways to do this, but it never hurts to make the review process as painless as possible:)  One way to accomplish this is through activities that are highly interactive and fun.

One approach for geography is with GEOGRAPHY.  Here students can review names of continents, countries, and capital cities.  First students are "tutored" and then they may test themselves.  If the answer they selected was wrong, the program lets them try again at the end of the quiz. Second, students may also review background information on each country.  The readings are short, but detailed.  ELLs, with some support, would be able to do well here.  Third, students may also get a refresher on oceans and landscapes. 

In total, this would be a great resource to supplement coursework and prepare them for final examinations. 

Denise


ELL TEACHER PROS

The History of Maths! Absolutely Fascinating to Watch:)

Have your students ever wondered how math came into existence?  Of course those few who find the subject exciting need little encouragement here, but for those who do, these sites will provide incredible insight behind numbers and how they came into being:)  As a non-math person, I found this BBC series quite engaging in that its delivery is totally accessible to non-math individuals.  Further, in these videos, every segment of humanity is recognized from every continent.  If you have ELLs in your classes, you see some wide smiles when their culture is showcased.

HISTORY OF MATHS

In HISTORY OF MATHS, you will discover the many paths of discovery humans took along the way trying to find patterns and solve puzzles.  Egyptians were acknowledged at length in their handling of complex mathematics.  Land and taxes were the driving force:)


CONTINUTATION OF EGYPTIAN MATH
This section continues where the introduction left off.   The Babylonians are explored here along with their contributions to math.  Here the links to astronomy and math are a major focus in the clip.  Quadratic equations were also born in Babylonia.  Last, but not least, the concept of ZERO was touched on, but not fully addressed for 1000 years.


HISTORY OF MATH IN ASIA  The 13th century was the golden age of math in China.  Many of the formulas developed were linked also to astronomy.  India is also covered here and the fact that their number system laid the ground for our present day 9 number system.  They also created the number zero (now 0-9 was a reality). 


HISTORY OF MATH IN EUROPE You will travel through Italy and France.  The journey over the history of math in Europe then explores the major contributions of Newton and others to the field of mathematics.

I only wish that such a program as this BBC one had been available when I was in school many years ago.  For me, math class consisted of doing lots of exercises with no history or tie-in to the real world.  I loved this series. 

Denise


ELL TEACHER PROS

The OLYMPICS--A Teaching Opportunity In All Content Areas!

With the summer Olympics fast approaching, teachers may want to bring it into their classes in some unusual ways. 

First, teachers may want to have students look at the history of the games.  Here you will find a short animated cartoon on it.  It covers its earliest origins in just enough detail for students (about 8 minutes).  All main points are addressed in student friendly fashion while also delivering content.  In this same section, students can also get the names of every medalist going back to 1896.

Second, if you teach world history, you will enjoy taking a look at clips of past Olympic games going back to 1896.  I spent some time looking at the 1936 games.  The video clip is 2 minutes 25 seconds long and focuses not only on Jesse Owens, but on Jesse's German rival who helped him to qualify for the long jump.  In fact, the two remained friends until Jesse's friend was killed in World War 2.  Take whatever time period you are covering and weave in the games!  Another plus here is that ELLs will feel validated when their country is covered as a past host country.  Imagine being Mexican and seeing how Mexico welcomed the games back in 1968!

Third, if mathematics is the focus, why not look at any one of the 35 SPORTS (Winter OR Summer) and pick one the students like.  Create questions with more than one correct answer if possible such as "How much faster should the number two person have run so that he could have won?" "At what angle, should the bow have been raised so the arrow would hit the target?  (archery)"  Have students try making up their own math questions.  ELLs can fully participate here since drawing out sketches with numbers would be the basics needed to make their case:)

Fourth, if you teach science, take a look at the summer or winter games to show science in action.  If it is the winter games, try the luge events.  How does the knowledge of physics add excitement to luge?  If skiing is a favorite, how does one score a gold using science?

OLYMPICS  This site has so much more than I could address here.  Explore it and share it with your students.  It is truly an inspirational site.

Denise


ELL TEACHER PROS

Use Writing to Spur Imagination (and thereby Boost Vocabulary Base)!

With spring break over, students will probably be still in vacation mode when they return. So what is a teacher to do in English class to motivate them to start writing again? How does a teacher show kids that writing can be fun and still boost academic skills in language structure and vocabulary? Imaginative writing assignments fit the bill:)

When teachers find and use in their classes fun assignments, such as many of the prompts in CREATIVE WRITING TOPICS, they will see more students being actively engaged in the task. The ideal setting is in small cooperative learning groups (4 per group). Here the ELL has an opportunity to "play" with language in working with his/her group. Since English is not the home language of the ELL, language skills are not as sharp as those of the English only student. The ELL often relies on overly simplistic vocabulary (nice, good, bad, was/were, etc.) and very basic sentence structure because of this. So, since the listening and speaking skills of ELLs are better than their reading and writing abilities, teachers should have ELLs approach writing and reading through their strongest skills of listening and speaking. Group work makes this possible with ease.

Using the material from this site, the ELL can share her/his thoughts and then take part in writing down the ideas of the group with peer support. An ELL could also be assigned a role as a proof reader with the rest of the group chiming in as needed. A teacher could have the ELL read the result of the group's collaborative efforts aloud to the class. One other option might be to have the students within groups create comic strips (or story boards) on their topic. Here the writing pressure is eased a bit, but the content remains the same---to address the prompt. As an ELL's confidence grows in writing so will quality in more traditional assignments improve.

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

P.S. This blog is a nominee for the MOST FASCINATING BLOG OF 2012. If you would like to vote for me, just click on the "VOTE FOR ME" badge on the right side of the blog just above my profile. Thanks:)

MATH: From Textbook to REAL WORLD CAREERS!

If you are a math teacher, you have probably heard your students wonder how algebra could ever be used in the real world. They never seem to make the connection that mathematics does have a life beyond the classroom:)

The site, MATH IN THE REAL WORLD, takes algebra and shows its direct connection to music, the clothing industry, and the world of video games. You see the professionals in each field talking about how math is instrumental in their line of work first. Such insight will open up a lively class discussion as students try to make the connection, but then the website goes a bit further in that students in the film are presented with a REAL WORLD problem in the assigned industry to solve as a team. Every student is actively engaged in a team approach to solving the assigned task.

When the classroom teacher is done having students in his/her class come up with possible solutions (and there is almost always more than one), the teacher may click on the link which shows how the student teams arrived at viable solutions to each of the problems. Here is where the classroom teacher can lead the class in making comparisons of the two approaches (class approach and the one or ones used by the students in the videos).

I wish my math teachers had put a "face" on math for me a zillion years ago. I might have learned to like it:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Two FREE Writing Sites to Remove Writer's Block for Kids:)

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

HAVE FUN WITH HISTORY! See How Future Was Viewed in the Past:)

If you teach English literature, world history, science, or US history, you will truly the benefits of weaving in some of the material from this history site. Every major period from the 1700's to date is covered with free videos. Almost every topic you can envision is represented here.

Now, due to its size, I have pulled out only one area for this post and that is the world of science fiction. You will find unique views of what people in the past envisioned the world of the future to be. There is even a full length play from 1954 on George Orwell's 1984. RETRO FUTURE

The material here can easily supplement any content class material (including ELD/ESL). Every possible writing style can be used here: description, narration, comparsion/contrast, persuasive essay, and expository. Have students make their projections on life in 100 years. Through cooperative learning, model writings, video support with lots of think-pair-share and small group interaction, mind maps, and word walls (GOOGLE SEARCH WITHIN THIS BLOG WILL OFFER DETAILS ON EACH), ELLs will have the linguistic tools to write! Of course, it won't be perfect with the first draft, but through the drafting process along with peer editing and teacher one-on-one conferencing, the ELL will be able to generate a solid essay. Solid writing skills transfer to better grades, admittance to university/college, and good career choice opportunities in life.

Explore the future from the past:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Moving Away from Ambiguous Word Choices:)

ELLs generally struggle with vocabulary choices when trying complete academic assignments. Overuse of common words with multiple meanings is the frequent choice. You will see a word like BREAK in every other sentence because ELLs don't have an extensive enough language background to supply suitable synonyms for the word. When in doubt, the same word is used repeatedly. On this site, a student clicks on the word he/she is using to see what other choices exist. Each choice selected is equipped with its definition and part of speech to help the student pick the correct form of the word substitution.

A teacher's guidance is a must-have though since finding just the right word will take some practice. To help students remember great word selections, a word wall could be created with possibly 3 columns: column 1 (weak words), column 2 (strong words), column 3 (AWESOME WORDS). Words could be added throughout the week as needed. The list would be kept up all year. If teachers hold on to student writing samples, journals, logs, etc., they will see major growth in student word choice. Students will be amazed at their greatly expanded vocabulary base by the end of the year---guaranteed! :)

AMBIGUOUS WORDS

Enjoy!

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

1938 Radio Broadcast of WAR OF THE WORLDS!

Do you and your students enjoy the works of H.G. Wells? If so, you will appreciate the radio broadcast of this work of art. Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre turned the story into a radio play with repeated interruptions of reports of extraterrestrial invasions landing in New Jersey scattered throughout the show. To add to the drama was the absence of commercials which in turn raised the fright level of the listeners.

Of course, to avoid any hysteria in a day where radio as opposed to TV was the norm, Welles and company made it a point to intersperse announcements that this was just a Halloween prank. Though some newspapers painted a picture of widespread panic, most people knew it was not real.

So how might a teacher use this site with ELLs?

If you have a mixed ability class, you can find an adapted novel for the ELLs so that they may fully participate in class activities, projects, discussions, and projects. The shortened version relays most of the key information in a format that an ELL can follow.

Once the groundwork has been laid in the theme, a teacher could bring in clips of the radio show. Since it is 57 minutes long, a teacher needs to play it in segments of 10-15 minutes with note-taking sheets. Students could do a double-bubble comparing/contrasting the book with the radio show. This could be done in small cooperative learning groups so that the ELL has time to process his/her understanding of the assignment.

Here is the link to WAR OF THE WORLDS. Teachers could also assign a mini-research project on how people of the time reacted to the broadcast, what happened to Orson Welles and his theatrical group, or what might happen if an alien invasion ever happened to earth.

Hope you and your students enjoy the link:)

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

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