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Al/NY - Catfish - For now or for the summer?
catfish - do you have to deal with many esl students at your schools
Aron - Hi, I just finished my first year as a second grade teacher. I was wondering if you all had any books you could recommend fo r the summer.
catfish - our esl population is expanding at a rate of 10-15% each year
Al/NY - catfish - where are you teaching?
catfish - try to look on the web site at ncbe and they have many papers you can get free on teaching elementary students
catfish - i am teaching in texas in a small town in east texas
Al/NY - catfish - On Long Island, NY most public schools have esl pull out programs.
catfish - i just became a esl teacher and a spanish teacher-before i taught special ed
catfish - we have dual-language prorgrams at the elementary level and esl programs at the secondary level
Aron - I teach in Milwaukeee and all of my students are native spanish speakers. I run my esl class as a reading class. Solid curriculm but not exciting
catfish - i used several web sites from the dept of education in new york last semester when i took classed on the web from texas a&M
catfish - do you use tpr approach
catfish - i find that at the middle school level i must teach my students via the whole language approach
catfish - most of my kids read at a 2nd-3rd grade level
Al/NY - Whole language/relevant curriculum works with every age group.
catfish - aron-how do you approach teaching vocabulary for content areas
Aron - I use graphic organizers and turn them into books. I teach 2nd grade though
catfish - graphic organizers work at all levels-i also do some high school teaching for esl and i use it there to teach writing
catfish - i stress the use of the basic sentence patterns instead of essay writings at first using sentence strips
Aron - The truth is that you are asking the wrong teacher. I avoid middle school kids like the plauge
catfish - my middle school kids are essentially elemntary students
catfish - i still use stickers and reward tickets
catfish - they love listening to music while they work-i let them listen to music from their native lands
Aron - Reading magazines and writing letters to the editors/ journalists does not appeal to them?
catfish - i let them read books and magazines they love word scrambles and word finds
catfish - i use special ed reading books and elementary basal readers some times
Aron - I use those puzzles also but I am skeptical as to their benifits.
catfish - most of my students are mexican or guatemalan
catfish - i make them find the words and then make the use the dictionary to find the meaning and write sentences
Aron - So, why can't they read a simple article about a pop music star or a comic book and respond to it. THen you have to hook them into the political.
catfish - i try to only limit the words in the puzzles to 12-15 words and go by a theme
catfish - that works well with my older kids
catfish - i like to use articles like that-but i like to get articles which are in english and spanish--side by side
Aron - If they are not using the words in their lifes outside of school maybe there is no relevance for them? Although if they are reading at a 2-3 grade level then they probably have some oral proficiency. you should get them into letter writing
catfish - each month i take them to the library and have them look up informtion on some latin or hispanic country to teach them reading skills and motivate them
catfish - in texas the problem is t hat we have only 3years to prepare them for our taks test
catfish - i encourage them to talk in class in english or spanish
catfish - does your state have such test like our tass/taks test
catfish - test that they must pass to go on to the next grade
Aron - I brought my kids to the library and had them find out the ratio between English and spanish books and english and spanish speaking library users. Seeing the huge disparity they wrote persuasive letters to the library and the media asking for spending changes. The kids felt super important and they loved it.
catfish - that is a good way to combine english and math-i do not teach math-many of my kids want more spanish books in the library -i will try that
catfish - what style of writing is hardest to teach to you
catfish - what do you teach-this is the first time for me on this site
catfish - i teach middle school and high school, but find that my esl students at both levels are like elementary students since they are mostly first year immgrants
maggie - I teach 3rd grade next year. First time back in the classroom I have been working for Educational Productions who produce video training materials for primary staff development
catfish - i must teach like a elementary teacher
maggie - I have taught previously for 23 years.
catfish - boy! that is a change-did you miss the kids
maggie - Probably I whave a good friend that does ESL in high school and I used to help her a lot
maggie - Yes I did and I missed the interaction you have with a staff
catfish - i worked in the business world and left
catfish - will you have any esl kids in your class next year
maggie - Yeah the business world has something to be desired as I think teaching is in your blood
catfish - are you teaching in a large school-i teach in an school of 1200 kids
maggie - I am not sure It is in a Catholic School and I have taught oversea before so I had experience before there was ESL
maggie - No it is a small school K=7th grade next year we will add 8th grade
catfish - i am thinking of teaching overseas when i retire in 10 years-i am taking several online esl teaching programs which will certify me to teach overseas esl classes
maggie - Where is your school
catfish - does your school follow the state curriculum where you teach
maggie - Of course
catfish - i teach in east texas near tyler,texas
maggie - And we also use Core Knowledge
catfish - are you getting many voucher students
maggie - I am in Las vegas and my friend is in Hillsboro
maggie - You know I am not sure as I haven't asked
catfish - what reading programs do you use
catfish - alesiafae-what do you teach
alesiafae - what are we discussing this evening?
alesiafae - new to 4th grade this coming year.
maggie - We were really just introducing oursleves
alesiafae - I don't know what to expect. Any hints, suggestions, etc?
catfish - anything tha deals with elementary or middle schools- or what ever is an important to y'all (you all)
maggie - Never taught except Student teaching
maggie - What do you want to discuss
catfish - reading
catfish - writing skills
alesiafae - I've taught 2nd and 3rd before...just wanted to know is 4th very different...by the way, Hi Brenda!
maggie - I have taught previously for 23 years.
catfish - how do you use films to teach reading
alesiafae - Wow! 23 years!
catfish - i am from texas and florida-east texas
maggie - Just have been out a school as I have been an educational consultant for the private sector for 4 year
catfish - okay -i do to- i teach spanish,esl,world history, u.s. history, and world geography
catfish - i also tutor esl students
Sheri - I teach 4th grade and love it!
catfish - where in illinois do you teach alesiafae--you may find the 4th graders be more behavior problems
alesiafae - tell me more Sheri!
alesiafae - how should I combat those behavior problems?
alesiafae - I'm in the Southeast suburbs of Chicago Catfish
catfish - if i went down to elementary level from my middle school/high school job- i would go teach the 4th and 5th grades
Sheri - I did my student teaching in Kindergarten but have taught 4th grade for 6 years now.
alesiafae - Sheri tell me why you love 4th grade.
catfish - do not get me wrong--4th graders are fun to teach- but they start to get more independent at that level
catfish - in texas-that is when the students start getting lower scores on our state tests
alesiafae - gotcha independant....I have to ask myself how I can work off of that independence...make it a plus
alesiafae - Maggie and Sheri.....any input?
Sheri - They are still sweet and like their teacher. They are old enough to do more independent work but still depend on your guidance and approval. Kind of hard to put into words exactly.
Missy - Yes they are still wanting to be children
catfish - sheri-what grade levels are at your school
alesiafae - okay so little incentives, games, some rewards...are not out of place?
Sheri - Be involved, be interesting- you will lose them quick and they will see right through you if you are not prepared!
catfish - our schools are pre-k to 3rd and 4th-5th
Sheri - my school has grades 3-6
Sheri - lots of hands on!
alesiafae - well, I would use incentives in my 2nd and 3rd grade class.
catfish - does your building principal let your class be an active and noisy one as long as the students are learning
Sheri - yes!
alesiafae - I'll be at a new school....not sure.
catfish - i find that my kids i teach today verses 10 years ago are less attentive and noiser at all levels
catfish - i let my kids work on the floor as long as they are working and use a lot of peer tutoring
alesiafae - sounds good catfish
catfish - my principal loves it-i have very little discipline problems
Sheri - catfish, what grade do you teach?
catfish - i teach middle and high school esl students who are essentially 2-3rd graders academically
catfish - many have been in this country less than 6months
catfish - i use a dual-language approach-i teach in english and spanish
catfish - i have three years to pull them up to grade level
alesiafae - you're extremely talented catfish
catfish - so far i have had good luck-80% pass the excet tests and graduate
catfish - sheri-do you have many esl students
alesiafae - KUDOS to you...keep up the good work!
alesiafae - thank you ladies for all the tidbits...I must be going.
Sheri - no, not in my class, but our school does have some
Sheri - good luck alesiafae
alesiafae - Thanks Sheri!
catfish - alesiafae-same here
catfish - sheri-what reading method/program do you use
Sheri - we use a modified Cunningham 4 Block model
catfish - i have never heard of that-what is it like
catfish - we do not use any set method-that is a problem-each campus uses a different method
Sheri - you teach 4 blocks for L. Arts : self selected reading, guided reading, writing, and spelling/word
Sheri - I don't much care for it myself, that's why we modify it
catfish - that is interesting-does the self reading first help the guided reading-we do the opposite
Sheri - teach it in any order, they recommend keeping to specific times which is impossible
catfish - in our elementary and middle school we use guided reading first and then let the students read at the end of the class in learning centers
Data Queen - At the risk of incurring your wrath, I have found the conversations interesting
catfish - how do you use learning centers if you use them
catfish - are they thematic in nature
Data Queen - Not my grade level. I have taught first, and currently third
Sheri - i am taking a class on gifted and talented learners now. How does your school service those children?
catfish - in regular classes-all of our teachers must have 30 hours ofg/t training and then get 6hours each year of additional g/t training
Data Queen - Well, it did say elementary too. I will continue to "listen" . I work with upper grade teachers too and a lower el teacher may wander in.
catfish - we must incorporate into our regular lesson plans g/t modificatiions
catfish - this summer i am going to 5 workshops on g/t training- including how to art
catfish - that should read how to use art to teache the g/t student in your c lass
Sheri - our school has a pullout program, but no real curriculum developed yet
catfish - we have to-or else the state willl cite us for not meeting the needs of the g/t student
Sheri - lucky you!
catfish - catch y'all later-got to go
Sheri - I bet you can't wait!
