The Language & Learning Post

Weekly News, Tips and information for the classroom teacher of English Language Learners!
Key Ideas--
OK its going to be a short and furiously fast week, but I do
have something for you to think about from Harveys book,
Comprehension Connections.
QUESTIONING??????
Harvey begins her questioning chapter recounting a time she
asked a question during a family dinner and was totally
humiliated by the laughter that accompanied that question. She
explains that we sometimes spend so much time planning our
own questioning, we forget to teach the students how to
question on their own. I myself have found that questioning
before reading is more powerful than predicting. (OK dont
gasp.... I just have the kids turn their predictions into
questions.) I know we are approaching testing season, and we
are more worried about answers, however life long learner
question 24/7! Harveys book has some great hands on
lessons and even more quotes, songs and wordless pictures
books to help practice this skill.
I just thought that it was important to remind ourselves to have
students question as well as answer. When readers starts with
questions (Yes, Yes, they must be the right question. Again
more room for modeling and teaching) they are more likely to
become engaged in the text that they are reading. So, dont
forget to strongly encourage your students to generate
questions before, during and after reading.
Good luck on your check points next week! Yall got this!
ELPS FOCUS For the week of 1/20/13
Kinder
use sLraLeglc
learnlng
Lechnlques such
as concepL
mapplng,
drawlng,
memorlzlng,
comparlng,
conLrasung, and
revlewlng Lo
acqulre baslc
and grade-level
vocabulary.[1C]
FIrst
* 4C
demonsLraLe
comprehenslon
of Lngllsh by
paruclpaung ln
shared readlng,
reLelllng or
summarlzlng
maLerlal and
respondlng Lo
quesuons.
Second
* demonsLraLe
comprehenslon
of lncreaslngly
complex Lngllsh
by paruclpaung
ln shared
readlng, reLelllng
or summarlzlng
maLerlal,
respondlng Lo
quesuons, and
Laklng noLes
commensuraLe
wlLh conLenL
area and grade
level needs.[4C]
Third
*[[4!] demonsLraLe
Lngllsh
comprehenslon and
expand readlng skllls
by employlng
lnferenual skllls such
as predlcung, maklng
connecuons beLween
ldeas, drawlng
lnferences, and
concluslons from LexL
and graphlc sources,
and ndlng
supporung LexL
evldence
commensuraLe wlLh
conLenL-area needs.
Fourth
* 4l use vlsual and
conLexLual supporL
and supporL from
peers and Leachers
Lo read grade-
approprlaLe conLenL-
area LexL, enhance
and conrm
undersLandlng, and
develop vocabulary,
grasp of language
sLrucLures, and
background
knowledge needed
Lo comprehend
lncreaslngly
challenglng language.
Fifth
* 4l demonsLraLe
comprehenslon by
employlng baslc
readlng skllls such
as demonsLraung
undersLandlng of
supporung ldeas
and deLalls ln LexL
and graphlc
sources,
summarlzlng LexL,
and dlsungulshlng
maln ldeas from
deLalls
commensuraLe
wlLh conLenL-area
needs.
Sixth
* 4l demonsLraLe
comprehenslon by
employlng baslc
readlng skllls such
as demonsLraung
undersLandlng of
supporung ldeas
and deLalls ln LexL
and graphlc
sources,
summarlzlng LexL,
and dlsungulshlng
maln ldeas from
deLalls
commensuraLe
wlLh conLenL-area
needs.
by, Alissa Tubbs
ESL Teacher
Lawrence
Its crunch time! Dont forget to let me
know if you need help with tutoring. I
am more than willing to help in any way needed.
--Also.... if there are particular skills or
areas that your ELLs are struggling
with in class, let me know. I can scaffold
and taylor my instruction to support their needs
in class.
A Word about VOCABULARY...
Please encourage your ELLs to use a
dicitionary when they are working on
reading and writing assignments. This
is an allowable accomodation for LEP
students, as long as they are using it
in class and it proves to be helpful.