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Tag: graphic organizer

Integrating Speaking and Writing for ELLs

Integrating Speaking and Writing for ELLs

Speaking and writing are two components of language development. With elementary-aged students, the typical progression is that students progress more quickly in speaking than in writing.  This is most likely due to the fact that all students at that age are learning writing, while speaking is a natural way that children socialize. For older students, some may be more comfortable writing down ideas before speaking. Integrating speaking and writing provides English Language Learners with additional and opportunities for vocabulary development….

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Setting Language Goals with ELLs

Setting Language Goals with ELLs

Goal setting is helpful for students to reflect on their learning. Students can set goals at any point in the year. Setting language goals for ELLs is particularly beneficial at the beginning of the school year, at the beginning of the calendar year, and before beginning WIDA or other language testing. For English Language Learners, setting a language goal helps them to become aware of how they are progressing in learning the English Language. This can look different depending on…

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Using Would You Rather Questions with ELLs

Using Would You Rather Questions with ELLs

Help students tell about their opinion and develop critical thinking skills. Would you rather questions are fun ways for students to practice speaking and writing. Here are some ideas for using them with your English Language Learners. Speaking Warm-Up When meeting with a small group of students use would you rather questions as a way to get students talking in a structured way. Choose a question then have each student answer the question.  Students can then tell why they choose…

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4 Ways to Support ELLs Writing through Listening and Speaking

4 Ways to Support ELLs Writing through Listening and Speaking

For many children learning a new language they go through a similar progression of language acquisition. Listening skills come first, then speaking, then reading, finally writing. With this information in mind, I find it helpful to integrate language skills. This also has the added benefit of helping students generate ideas in multiple ways and helping children that learn in different ways to be successful. Here are some ideas to help students listen and talk before they begin writing, including Speak…

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Describing Characters & a Freebie

Describing Characters & a Freebie

I’ve been working with my first grades on using adjectives to describe characters.  They did a great job of using evidence from the books to describe their answers.  Even my lower language students were able to participate. We read two books: Llama Lama mad at mama & Yoko.           First I showed students pictures of character emotions.  They shared examples of when they felt various emotions.  Then as I read the books they would identify how the…

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What am I Poems

What am I Poems

My second graders are starting a unit on poetry.  As an introduction we read what am I poems.  Each poem described an animal or food. They students enjoyed trying to guess what food/animal it was describing. https://mcdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/What-Am-I-Poems-2558976-1463706256/original-2558976-2.jpg For my low language ELL students, I also have vocabulary sheets that they could refer to while guessing. https://mcdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/What-Am-I-Poetry-Bundle-2557790-1463706452/original-2557790-4.jpg Then they used a template to write their own what am I poems. There were great for my struggling writers. They did not get…

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Mentor Text for Writing: A Chair For My Mother

Mentor Text for Writing: A Chair For My Mother

My 4th grade ESOL students are writing memoirs. I did a mini lesson on descriptive writing using A Chair For My Mother.  This book has many examples of descriptive adjectives and sensory details. I did a read aloud and paused every few pages so that students could share examples they heard. One page offers a vivid description of the armchair that family is saving up to buy. “Yes, a chair. A wonderful, beautiful, fat, soft armchair. We will get one…

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