Unlocking the Mysteries of Our ESOL Students

1. Unlocking the Mysteries of Our ESOL Students

2. In order for us to help our ESOL students, we must first understand their unique situations, needs, and desires. Here is one of the most practical, informational ESOL websites I have found for understanding and accommodating the needs of ESOL students! Home Page: http://www.everythingesl.net/ Lesson plans, Teaching Tips, Resource Picks, and Ask Judy

3. We all have similar concerns about how to best educate our ESOL students. We wonder— • What language is spoken at home? • Do their parents understand English? Are they able to help with schoolwork? • What was their life like before they got here? • Were they a witness to traumatic events? • What is their home life like now? • What are their cultural expectations? • How can I honor their culture?

4. How can I make them feel comfortable and accepted? • How can I help my mainstream students accept them? • How do I begin? Do I allow them to work in their native language, or insist on English from the start? • If I don’t speak their language, what can I do to facilitate communication? • How do I help them make the transition to English? • What is the language acquisition process? • How do I help my students to learn to read and write in English? • How do I help my students to comprehend content area reading? • What resources are available to help me?

5. In order to answer these questions, you first need to get to know your students. You then need to learn strategies for meeting their needs. This can be done by: • Interviewing the student or other family members. • Working with the district ESL teacher • Talking with other teachers • Attending workshops and classes • Reading professional articles on ESL instruction • Using interactive online resources • Using software that has been adapted for ESL students • Using online language translators • Using community resource people as translators • Using the teaching skills you already have!

6. The following slides contain descriptions of informative articles. To read the article, click on the link on the bottom of each slide.

7. How can I make my ESOL students feel accepted and socially comfortable? Article: Communicating with Gestures by Judie Haynes Very few gestures are universally understood and interpreted. What is perfectly acceptable in the United States may be rude, or even obscene, in other cultures. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/body_language.php

8. Activities for Newcomers by Judie Haynes When brand new English language learners first enter your school, it can be overwhelming for the teachers responsible for their instruction. It's hard to know what to do first. Here are some activity-based tips to get you started. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/september.php

9. Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance by Judie Haynes Discover how you can alleviate many newcomers' fears by creating an atmosphere of acceptance and welcome in all of your classes. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/nurturing.php

10. Help Your Newcomers Develop Pride in Their Heritage by Judie Haynes Do you know how to use the diversity in your classroom to help your newcomers develop pride in their native languages and cultures? Try some of these ideas. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/culturedisplay.php

11. ESL Teacher as Cultural Broker by Judie Haynes Simple awareness on the part of mainstream staff members will help them deal more effectively with cross-cultural dissension. As ESL/bilingual professionals we need to teach strategies which help our colleagues understand the role culture plays in the behavior and reactions of second language learners and their parents. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/crosscultural.php

12. English Language Learners and the "Hidden Curriculum" by Judie Haynes The TESOL Standards formalized what ESL professionals have been doing all along: Teaching our students culturally appropriate responses in a variety of situations. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/goal3.php

13. Explaining BICS and CALP by Judie Haynes Classroom teachers need to understand the difference between social language and academic language acquisition. Here is a simple description of BICS and CALP as theorized by Jim Cummins. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/bics_calp.php

14. How can I help my ESOL students with learning Content Area Curriculum? Challenges for ELLs in Content Area Learning by Judie Haynes Do you want to help classroom teachers in your school with their English language learners? Begin by understanding the challenges ELLs face in their content area learning. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/challenges_ells_content_area_l_65322.php

15. SIOP: Making Content Comprehensible for ELLs by Judie Haynes The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) was developed to make content material comprehensible to English Language Learners. This model is the result of the work of Jana Echevarria, MaryEllen Vogt and Deborah J. Short. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/using_siop_model_08621.php.php

16. Content-based Surveys and Interviews by Judie Haynes Get your English language learners involved in content area learning. Promote the development of your ELLs' oral language skills and content area vocabulary through oral surveys written in a cooperative group setting. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/oral_survey.php

17. Graphic Organizers for Content Instruction by Judie Haynes Graphic organizers make content area information more accessible to second language learners. They convert complex information into manageable chunks. Download graphic organizers from this page. Learn More: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/graphic_organizers.php

18. To learn much more about working with ESOL students, examine the remainder of helpful articles at this wonderful website! http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/

19. Also, visit the following websites for more information or interactive activities for your students. The following websites can be found on the Clara Byrd Baker network (Go to My Computer, then Shared on cbb (drive r), then go to the lab folder, then the ESL Resources folder.) For Teacher Reference: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/alfabetoenespanol.html (Spanish alphabet) http://www.manythings.org/ (Games, quizzes, audio files, etc.) http://www.apples4theteacher.com/resources/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=&topic=3 http://www.educationalpress.org/educationalpress/Index.asp (Make bingo boards, worksheets, etc.) http://www.everythingesl.net/quicktips/ (Great quick tips for classroom teachers)

20. http://www.gate.net/~labooks/xDolchSpanish.html (Spanish/English Dolch sight words) http://www.fastq.com/%7Ejbpratt/education/links/eceactonline.html (English activities and games) http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/200/vocab/index.htm (Great for every day vocabulary) http://www.songsforteaching.com/esleflesol.htm (Songs and soundclips in English) http://pbskids.org/stories.html (Interactive stories) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html#courses (English language courses online)

21. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bll/index.htm (Building Language for Literacy) http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/challenges_ells_content_area_l_65322.php (Challenges for ELLs in Content Area Reading article) http://www.logos.it/pls/dictionary/new_dictionary.elenco_dizio_project?pjCode=10&lang=EN&u_code=4395 (Picture dictionary in many languages plus audio) http://www.gate.net/~labooks/xDolchSpanish.html (Spanish/English Dolch sight words) http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Kids/ (Links to resources)

22. For Students: http://www.starfall.com/ (One of my favorites for kids to learn to read.) http://www.anglaisfacile.com/kids/indexg.php (Games and worksheets for learning English) http://pbskids.org/mayaandmiguel/flash.html (Can switch back and forth between English and Spanish) http://www.my-spanish-dictionary.com/ (Good for communicating with Spanish speakers) http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/adventure/index.htm http://pbskids.org/stories.html (Online stories) http://duber.com/CALL/asl.html (American Sign Language)

23. http://www.ilovelanguages.com/ (Guide to language websites) http://www.tolearnenglish.com/ (Audio lessons, quizzes, etc.) http://www.1-language.com/ (Free materials for learning English) http://www.caslt.org/research/esllinks1_5.htm (Vocabulary, dictionaries) http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/litt.htm (Animated and interactive stories) http://pbskids.org/mayaandmiguel/flash_esp.html (Interactive Spanish/English) http://www.alfy.com/Storyville/Flash/snowframe1.asp?resize=TRUE (Animated and interactive stories) http://www.1-language.com/eslphonics/ (Downloadable ESL phonics worksheets)

24. http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/ (Interactive Storybooks) http://www.eslkid.com/ (Interactive activities) http://www.funbrain.com/verb/ (Verbs games) http://madridteacher.com/Activities/ (Vocabulary games in English) http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/kidsgames_frame.html (Learn English games) http://www.wordmania.org/wmindex7.htm (Word games with pictures)

25. http://www.eslcafe.com/ (Dave’s ESL Café) http://www.manythings.org/vq/ (Easy Vocabulary Quizzes with Pictures) http://www.scs.k12.tn.us/SCS/subject-areas/ESL/esl.html#Resources%20for%20Primary%20and%20Newcomers (ESL Resource Page) http://www.factmonster.com/games.html (Reference website) http://www.funbrain.com/words.html (Word Games) http://www.genkienglish.net/gamemenu.htm (Songs, games, etc. to learn English) http://www.iknowthat.com/com (Fun, educational, animated games) http://www.learningplanet.com/act/fl/aact/index.asp (Interactive Alphabet) http://www.lil-fingers.com/storybooks/index.html (Simple Interactive Storybooks)

26. http://www.logos.it/pls/dictionary/new_dictionary.elenco_dizio_project?pjCode=10&lang=EN&u_code=4395 (Picture dictionary in many languages plus audio) http://www.gate.net/~labooks/xDolchSpanish.html (Spanish/English Dolch sight words) http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Kids/ (Links to resources) http://www.meddybemps.com/letterary/guide_and_archives.html (Handwriting guide) http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html (Picture dictionary in many languages) http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.htm# (Another favorite) http://www.pdictionary.com/ (Internet picture dictionary)

27. Enjoy the challenges of working with ESL students, as you enjoy the challenges of teaching all your students. Keep an open mind, ask questions, and remember to listen! Just continue to do what you do best!