Course Reflection & ESL Literacy

As my third(!) graduate class this summer comes to a close, I like reflecting on the course and what I have learned.  I have really enjoyed this course because we had the opportunity to create a lot of projects and examples, instead of simply reading about them.  In this way, I feel much more prepared to use them in a classroom setting.  Also, I felt like our assignments have practical applications and were not tasks you could "go through the motions" on and expect a good score or achieve real learning.

I found our last section about ESL and literacy to be very intimidating.  Because of personal weaknesses, I find topics like phonics and phonemes to be daunting.  However, I do feel like I have resources available to be successful.  Also, by focusing a unit about literacy, I was able to recognize personal strengths and weaknesses.  This way, I am able to share ideas with others, but also research on my own to eliminate deficits.

Unfortunately, because I teach Spanish, I will not be able to immediately use all of our materials from this course.  I was, however, able to glean some instructional ideas that I can use this fall in my Spanish I classes.  I have already started a binder and look forward to using these resources in the future. 

And now, I will take a much needed break before school starts again in August!
Sarah :-)

ESL Literacy & Material Selection

As part of an assignment for my master's program, we had to select and evaluate reading materials for ELLs.  This was quite a challenging process, as it was my first time completing such a task!  I think there are a couple of important points to consider when selecting and evaluating reading materials for ELLs.  First, you want to make sure the text is appropriate for your students by examining content such as vocabulary, metacognition, discussion generation, and illustrations.  If your selection is a good example of these four categories, it will most likely be a good choice for your classroom.  Certain areas that may be lacking can be overcome with supplemental activities or materials, but stand alone text would be an ideal choice.

Choosing reading materials can be difficult, but choosing the correct book can set students on a lifetime of reading.  I think it is important to choose books that have a good balance of academic and social vocabulary/language that are also high interest reads.  Finding these truly great books can be a challenge, but I think well worth your search and effort.  No matter what subject or grade you teach, I think it is important to promote literacy and reading.  For second language learners, this becomes even more important as reading builds vocabulary and understanding of written grammatical structures within the language. Therefore, the more any student reads, the larger their vocabulary will be.  Grammar knowledge is later translated into writing and conversation.

To sum up, selecting materials for ELLs was a laborious process, but worth the knowledge and experience gained.  Selecting appropriate literature for any student can make a big difference and the same is true for ELLs.  Promoting literacy and reading can mean the difference in success and failure in school and beyond.

Happy reading! :-)
Sarah

ELL and Teaching

Unfortunately, I have had very limited experience with English as a Second Language.  As a Spanish teacher, I have some understanding of the language learning process.  However, the goals of an ESL program and those of a Modern Language department are quite different.  While I would like the goal of the program to be fluency, that is unrealistic in only the two years students are required to take another language, and an elective course at that!  Also, I am not accountable in terms of state mandated tests and speaking proficiency levels. 

As I previously mentioned, language learning has always interested me and am learning tons of new skills that I can even apply in my Spanish classroom in the fall.  With the growing diversity in the United States, I think it would be beneficial for teachers to have to take ESL classes at their university before graduation.  This way, they would be more prepared to meet the needs of their student population.  I am excited to continue my education and in the process improve the quality of education I can provide for my students!

Adiós,
Sarah

Reflections on teaching...

I still consider myself a "newbie" in the education world, as I will be entering my third year of teaching in August.  That said, I have a variety of teaching experiences, from student teaching in western Wisconsin, to teaching middle school summer school courses, to my first "real" job as a traveling middle school Spanish teacher, to at last, a full-time teacher in Tennessee.  Unfortunately, even with these different experiences, I have had very limited work with ESL students. 

I do, however, know a second language myself and find languages and language acquisition fascinating.  Having both learned another language and lived/studied abroad for a few months, I would like to relate this experience to future students I may work with.  When I have completed my master's degree, I would like to combine my degrees in Social Studies/History, Spanish, and ESL to work with high school students.

I believe second language learners should have the same rights to education as any other students and should be held to the same high standards and expectations.  Also, while it is important for students to learn English to become active citizens, I think it is also important for us to learn about the culture, language, and heritage of our ELL students.  What a fantastic learning opportunity for teachers, students, and the school community!

Hasta luego,

Sarah