Fun websites and apps for ELD teachers!

Hello everyone,

Can you believe it is mid-December already?  Suddenly the year seems like it is going by quickly!

With that in mind I thought I should be using a few more fun apps and website activities in my class to jazz up the wintertime.  If you are feeling the same way, check out the short list of fun ELD websites and apps below.  You might want to try some of these with your kiddos.  I would love to hear about some of your favorite websites or apps for teaching ELD.  Let me know what they are.

Happy Teaching,

 

ELL tab - www.soesd.k12.or.us

 

Interactive Smart Board - 

 http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0

 

Math Lingo -

 http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mw

/swfs/mathlingo_grade2.html 

Grammar Gallery  - 

 ttp://www.mygrammargallery.org/

 

Starfall.com -http://www.starfall.com/

 

Google Translator - 

http://translate.google.com/ 

www.usalearns.org 

(free language practice)

Dragon Dictation -

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app

/dragon-dictation/id341446764?mt=8

ManyThings.org 

 – http://www.manythings.org/

Esltechies - http://esltechies.com/2011/05/20/digital-storytelling-for-ells/

Hoops and Yoyo  http://www.hallmark.com/online/hoopsandyoyo/animations/hyy-manners.aspx

StoryBuilder -    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storybuilder-for-ipad/id377631532?mt=8

Preposition Builder - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prepositionbuilder/id413939528?mt=8

Question Builder - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/question-builder-for-ipad/id364823150?mt=8

 

The Third Wheel Idiom

Here is a cute video on being the third wheel. Aren't idioms fun!
The Third Wheel from Melissa Kumaresan on Vimeo.
Happy Teaching!

Teaching Math to Second Language Learners

Hi everyone,

As we all look forward to planning for the classroom after the holiday vacations, many of us will be thinking about effective ways to teach second language learners.

Teachers want to include the instructional strategies that will increase comprehension in second language learners. Here is a list compiled by Virginia Department of Education Division of Instruction back in 2004.  These are tried and true methods that still hold true today.

•  Integrate the four language modes (listening, speaking, reading, writing) into mathematics class.

• Model the process. Talk aloud while solving problems on the overhead or chalkboard to show the thinking process and common errors.

• Have students explain their thinking process aloud to a classmate while solving a problem.

• Integrate reading and writing through the use of journals, learning logs, poems, literature, etc.

• Give explicit instruction and practice in reading and writing word problems. Teach students to identify key words in word problems that indicate a certain mathematical operation.

• Begin class with warm-up activities using mathematical language to give students practice in sentence construction.

• Write a cloze exercise (a short paragraph with key words missing) or sentence starters (i.e., Perimeter is the…) on the board for students to copy and complete when they enter class.

• Give students a computation problem to solve, and then have them write the steps they used to solve it in complete sentences.

• Post labels and vocabulary cards around the classroom on completed word problems, number lines, rulers, fraction diagrams, and/or objects in the class.

•  Have students paraphrase and write complex concepts in their own words (individually, pairs, or whole class).

• Review mathematical vocabulary and concepts using games such as TIC TAC TOE, BINGO, Concentration, Charades, etc.

Use a variety of modes of instruction

• Design multi-sensory lessons (visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic).

• Use visuals whenever possible to reinforce auditory instruction (i.e., charts, graphs, manipulatives, diagrams, models, real objects).

• Use graphic organizers to visually represent mathematical concepts.

• Design hands-on activities.

• Vary groupings throughout the lesson (i.e., independent work, pair work, small groups, whole class).

• Use real-life problem-solving situations to teach new concepts.

• Make interdisciplinary connections whenever possible.

  Click here to view their article!

  Happy Teaching!

  
  
  

  
  

Idioms

Hello everyone,
I recently was searching through Vimeo and found some great idiom videos to show my high school kids.  I wanted to share this one...I think they did a great job.

A great lesson would include the students having to write down the idioms as they appear in the video and then having them do a survey throughout the school to try and find out their meanings.

I would love to hear your ideas of lessons you would use with this video!

Idioms from Oh My! on Vimeo.


Happy Teaching!







Idioms from Oh My! on Vimeo.
Happy Teaching! Lori

Teachers Pay Teachers Cyber Sale!

Hello everyone!
The big Teachers pay Teachers cyber sale is another thing to celebrate this time of year!  

Click on over to the Fun To Teach Store and save big on December 2nd and 3rd.  

All of our products are 20% off and TPT is offering another 10% off that discount!  

 

Time to shop! 

Happy Teaching,



Click here to go to our Teachers Pay Teachers' Store!

I Just Barely Made It!

Hi everyone,

During the previous year I noticed that a group of my intermediate speakers of English were struggling with the phrases ‘just barely’.  They were substituting ‘just hardly’ for it.  I put together a one day  ELD lesson and then created this chant to practice continued practice, until they became fluent with the phrase.  I want to share the call back with any of you who might be able to use it.  So here is the little call back chant I wrote to practice the phrase “just barely”.

I Just Barely Made It!

I just got out of bed,

and barely touched my breakfast.

I just grabbed my books

And headed out the door!

WHEW!

I just barely made it.

I just barely made it.

I just barely made it, to school on time!

 Hear it here!

Happy Teaching,

ESL RESOURCES FOR YOU!

Helllo everyone!
I am excited about being listed in an article by Masters in ESL.
They compiled a list of resources and included the Fun To Teach Blog!  Yahoo!
The best part is all the great resources they list for teaching ESL.  Take a minute and check it out!

Happy Teaching! Lori

200 ways to say went

Hi everyone,

I found a great pin that has 200 words to replace the word 'went'.
I want to make an anchor chart for my class using some of these!



Click Here to see the pin!


Happy Teaching!

Lori

Favorite Structured Language Practice Activities!

Hi everyone,

Recently I was asked for a list of my favorite structured language practice activities.  There are so many that it was hard to choose just a few.  I began to compile a list of these tried and true old favorites and I thought I would share them here with you.  Each Tuesday for a while I will post a couple of fun activities to promote language practices.  Many you will recognize or remember and hopefully you will find one or two to use with your class!  I would love to hear what some of your favorites are!

Happy Teaching!

Whip Around

1.   Pick an interesting subject for group to speak about.

2.   Post sentence frames for prompts and replies you want students to practice.

3.  Students go around each contributing a prompt or reply that contributes to the topic discussion.

Write, Quiz, Trade

1.   Students write a question and answer on a sticky note.

2.   Students mingle through room to find a partner. 

3.  Each person takes a turn asking his/her question and answering their partners.

4.  When complete, partners trade sticky notes and move to find a new partner.

Have you heard of Grammaroplois?

Hi everyone!

Have you heard of Grammaroplois?

 

 Lifetime Access only $23.99 (40% OFF)

I have been looking around the web for new curriculum that I can use in my class for English Language Development and stumbled across this "Schoolhouse Rock" type of a curriculum.

This is a cool, fun site that allows kids to see grammar in a lighthearted way.  Grammaropolis uses cartoon characters of nouns, verbs, adjectives and the other parts of speech as stars in their books, songs, videos, and interactive games. 

If you go to their site you can access the materials they have on nouns.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THEIR SITE!

Here is a blurb from their website:

• Unlimited Access to every part of speech!

• 9 illustrated books

• 9 animated music videos

• 20 animated shorts

• 28 different quiz categories

• Word Sort: an interactive game to test your knowledge of the parts of speech.

• Performance Tracking for up to 5 students

• Join Today! 

    

Check it out, this might be something you can use in your classroom!

Happy Teaching!

 

 

This post contains my affiliate link.

 

Favorite Structured Language Practice Activities!

Hi everyone,

Recently I was asked for a list of my favorite structured language practice activities.  There are so many that it was hard to choose just a few.  I began to compile a list of these tried and true old favorites and I thought I would share them here with you.  Each Tuesday for a while I will post a couple of fun activities to promote language practices.  Many you will recognize or remember and hopefully you will find one or two to use with your class!  I would love to hear what some of your favorites are!

Happy Teaching!

Structured Role Play

1.   Create environment for students to practice language:

·       Giving or taking orders in a Restaurant

·       Giving directions to someone

·       Taking a phone message

·       Making an appointment at a Doctor’s office

·       Giving a class presentation

·       Checking in at a Doctor’s office

·       Introductions at school

·       Random encounters with friends and/or strangers

·       Conflict resolution at school

News Anchor Person

1.  Students create news stories with a partner using taught language frames and vocabulary.

2.  Students present their news stories to the class.

Really Good Stuff Blog Article

Hi everyone!

If you are interested in reading an article I wrote about Back to School with Second Language Learners in the Classroom, click on over to Really Good Stuff.  I am a monthly columnist for them and September's post was all about establishing a learning environment for 2nd language learners!  Coming back to school after this long break seems like a great time to review some of these helpful ideas!

Back to School with Second Language Learners in the Classroom by Lori Wolfe

by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist

As we head back to our classroom and prepare for a new school year, many of us will find English Language Learners (ELLs) on our rosters. I would like to share some ideas used to establish a warm, and supportive learning environment for second language learners.


Click here to read!

Happy Teaching!


Lori

4 More Resources

Hi everyone,

Laura over in Hillsboro sent me 4 more resources I would like to share with you.

The name of this site...English for everyone...says it all!  If you need an instant worksheet here it is!

http://englishforeveryone.org/Topics/Verb-Tenses.htm




http://www.k12reader.com/subject/1st-grade-reading-comprehension-worksheets/

https://cateacherresources.wikispaces.com/Elementary+Language+Arts  (requires free wikispace registration)  COMPREHENSIVE SITE
 http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Fregeau-AssessingELLs.html  great, teacher-friendly handout for classroom teachers

 

Thank you Laura!

Happy Teaching!

Lori

Academic Language Graphic Organizer!

Hi everyone,
Academic language is a complex concept and requires teaching students the phonological features of English, vocabulary and word formation rules (Lexical knowledge), grammar, discourse, and cognition.  I wrote a blog post about the difference between academic language and academic vocabulary, what follows is a brief summary.

Academic language is the overriding concept and has the following facets interwoven into it:
·      Vocabulary and word formation includes teaching prefixes, suffixes and roots, tier 1, 2, and 3 words (here is where academic vocabulary comes in), parts of speech, multiple meanings of words and the grammar rules that apply to word formation and usage.
·      Phonological features include the sound patterns and intonation of English.
·      Grammar comprises the correct use, rules, and understanding of the parts of speech, word classes, inflections, increasing word complexity, understanding complex sentence structures and syntax.
·      Discourse entails the ability to use words to organize knowledge and exchange ideas,
·      Cognition encompasses the mental action of thinking, understanding, learning and remembering.
 
Click here to download!

Happy Teaching! Lori

15 Grammar Goofs!

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

Happy Teaching!

Lori

Back to School Parent Resources

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Back to School Parent Resources

Explaining the Common Core Standards

Welcome back to school everyone!

 Like many teachers, I want my student’s parents to understand the Common Core State Standards.  I am planning to send home a ‘Back to School’ letter, which will start my Common Core Parent Awareness Campaign for parents of English Language Learners (ELLs) at my school.    

My plan is to distribute this information over the next few months.  By sending home monthly “Common Core Information Letters” I hope to make sure parents understand the standards that are connected with each elementary grade level and add some tools they can employ at home to help support their child’s education.

Below is a list of resources I found that are available in English and Spanish.

Who:  National PTA

Where:  http://pta.org/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2796

What:  Grade level Parent Guides in English and Spanish

The National PTA provides a wealth of information!  Click on over to this site for K-8 and High School parent guides for English language arts and mathematics (English and Spanish).  They developed these guides to help parents become familiar with the expectations for student performance at each grade. The guides include “talking to the teacher” and activities parents can do with their children at home.

The following description is taken from their website:

Parent Guides

Two-page Parents' Guides to Student Success (Color)
Color versions of the two-page Parent Guides

Four-page Parents' Guides to Student Success (Black and white)
Black and white versions of the four-page Parent Guides

Four-page Parents' Guides to Student Success (Color)
Color versions of the four-page Parent Guides

Who:  Council of the Great City Schools

Where: http://www.cgcs.org/domain/36 .

What:  Parent Letters in English and Spanish

This informative resource in English and Spanish is from the Council of the Great City Schools.  The guides at this site offer parents roadmaps to the Common Core.  The roadmaps cover what K-8 students learn in English Language Arts and Math.  The menu on the left hand side offers these “roadmaps” in Spanish.

http://www.cgcs.org/domain/36 .

Who:  Education Northwest

Where:  http://educationnorthwest.org/resource/1547

What:  Parent information letters in English and Spanish

Education Northwest produced a series called “Spotlight on the Common Core State Standards”.  One of the issues in that series aims to inform parents on what they need to know about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and how the standards will influence teaching and assessment. 

The following description is taken from their website:

Spotlight on the Common Core State Standards - What Do Parents Need to Know?  A series published by Education Northwest to keep regional stakeholders informed about the Common Core initiative.

http://educationnorthwest.org/resource/1547

What Do Parents Need to Know?

¿Que Necesitan Saber Los Padres?

Let me know what resources that you use to keep your parents up to date with the Common Core!

Happy Teaching!