Re: an educated answer for classroom teachers

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On 8/22/09, Blackkitty wrote:
> Hello all,
> I'd like to know if anyone could let me know of an educated
> answer when classrom teachers ask this question, "What
> exactly do you do with ELLs?" and a good explaination for
> ELD (English Language Development.) I appreciate your help.
> I'm new at this, and I'm still learning the ropes.
> THank you!
>
I agree with the previous poster. You are teaching the 4
areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. That being
said, at the same time you're also what I like to call
a "Cultural Liaison", introducing students to the intricacies
of American life and culture. A good thing to tell the
mainstream teachers when they ask is that while they are
responsible for teaching the topic, your job is to support
them by going into more detail and giving the student that
essential background knowledge. In other words, if the
mainstream teacher is doing an American Revolution lesson,
you support it by maybe covering the key players, Washington
etc, people that every American child has had ingrained in
them from kindergarten.

I think most mainstream teachers get fazed by the that that
ESL students are silent in the beginning. I always tell the
teachers to wait it out a couple of months,and let the child
ease into the routine and work and they'll see a huge
difference.  

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