Re: Any advice?
Posted by lynne/ca on 9/02/08
On 9/02/08, Brandi wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> This is my fifth year of teaching and I am beginning the
ESL
> program for my whole district this year. We have a migrant
> population of ELLs who are in our district for about the
> first quarter of our school year. During this time, I have
> about 70 students that are considered to be an ELL and I am
> between three buildings. What are some strategies that I
> can give to the mainstream teachers in regards to spelling,
> math and reading, especially for the very limited English
> speakers?
>
> In addition to trying to help a lot of students, I have one
> building that wants me to be responsible for contacting the
> parents in regards to attendance. At this point, I think
> that's a lot to ask of me, but I am lacking a diplomatic
way
> to state that. Any advice?
For spelling - they might want to give newcomer students a
separate spelling list of words that will be more relevant
to them (more high-frequency words which they have a more
immediate need for). Whether they are using the regular
spelling list or a different one, I'd make sure the ELL's
know what the words mean. (Visuals, translations, etc - if
students are old enough to use translation glossaries,
encourage them to do so.) What are your grade levels?
For math - visuals, visuals, and visuals.... teachers should
write out problems on the board and show how they are solved
step-by-step. Avoid word problems with newcomers. For more
advanced students, teach them how to understand word
problems by doing examples together and talking about which
words in the problem are key words.
For reading - more visuals, role playing of stories, ask
students to draw what happens in the story to demonstrate
comprehension, teach vocabulary - lots of vocabulary.
Now for the contacting-parents-about-attendance issue... do
you have a job description? Who contacts the parents of
students who aren't ELL's? Are you bilingual - is that why
you're being asked to do this? How did they handle this last
year when you weren't there to do it?
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Any advice?, 9/02/08, by Brandi.
- Re: Any advice?, 9/02/08, by lynne/ca.
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