More Word Families for Dictations
Here is a list of over 50 word families for Word Family Dictations or any other word study you do in your class.
Alphabetics in the ESOL Class: Word Family Dictation
Sometimes I use dictation to help students focus on spelling and sound patterns in English. This is one variation.
Word Family Dictation:
1. I draw two columns on the board and write a word family at the top of each column. Students copy the columns on paper.
2. I say a word and students repeat it. Students then identify which column the word belongs in.
3. Students sound out and write the word on their papers.
4. I ask the class to spell the word aloud as I write it in the appropriate column on the board.
Here are some contrasting word family dictation options:
|
at |
ot |
|
cat fat mat rat flat sat that
|
dot got shot not pot hot |
|
all |
ell |
|
hall small tall ball wall mall fall |
cell fell sell spell well smell yell |
|
in |
ine |
|
pin twin chin bin skin thin
|
fine mine line nine shine |
|
ock |
ick |
|
sock block clock lock rock stock shock |
sick kick click lick stick trick brick |
Multilevel Dictation Handout
This is a handout a collegue, John Antonellis, created to use with dictations in his class.
Conversation Cards: A Warm-up Activity
Questions are the springboard for most conversations in English, whether they be “What do you do?” “Are you from around here?” or “How was your day?” These questions are a great way to open or extend a conversation. In my low-level English class we practice and recycle these questions regularly. Here’s how:
Conversation Cards
- At the end of every class I write any new questions we practiced that day on cards- one question per card.
- At the beginning of the following class , I place piles of the cards facedown on tabletops around the room.
- As students come in, they meet in pairs and take turns picking up a card and asking their partner the question.
- The activity lasts about 5 minutes.
Notes:
- The piles of cards grow over time. If you have open enrollment, change the color of the cards occasionally so you can easily sort out old questions.
- Students can also write these questions for their own set of cards.
- This is a great way to absorb late-comers without disruption, as they can quickly join any group and take a turn without direction or transition.
Sample questions:
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What do you do?
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Where do you work?
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Where are you from?
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How was your day?
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How was your week-end?
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What are your plans for the week-end?
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Do you have family here?
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Where do you work?
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How’s the family?
Delegating Responsibility: Classroom Jobs
As you plan for the new school year, consider setting up a system of classroom jobs for students. The benefits are plentiful. By taking on specific responsibilities for their classroom, students practice new skills in communication and leadership. They also develop a strong sense of co-responsibility for their learning community and they usually improve their attendance.
A List of Possible Classroom Jobs:
Technology Assistant
- Cues the audio on the CD player.
- Sets up the Overhead or LCD Projector.
- Starts up the computers when needed.
Materials Assistant
- Hands out papers, cards, pens, pencils, and other learning materials as needed.
- Collects the materials at the end of an activity.
Board Assistant
- Writes the date on the board
- Copies school announcements on the board.
- Erases the board when asked.
Attendance Assistant
- Takes roll-call every class.
- Delivers the attendance list to the proper mailbox.
Welcome Committee
Two or three students welcome new students to the class and bring them up to speed on class routines and expectations. This is an ongoing job throughout the term.
Study Buddies
Everyone can be paired with a classmate to be study buddies. Study buddies:
- communicate homework assignments when one buddy is absent.
- compare their homework assignments when completed.
- work together to organize their papers or notebooks.
- review (and complete) class notes together.
Practical Questions:
How many jobs do I assign? I introduce one job a week so the class has some time to understand what each job entails. I limit the total to three or four jobs so it is not too confusing who is responsible for what.
How often do students rotate? Since my classes meet twice a week throughout the school year, I rotate the jobs on a monthly basis so students get enough time to learn their jobs well and experience a couple of skill sets.
How do I train them? As I introduce the job, I tell the whole class about the job, explaining its duties and supplying a list of phrases and questions useful in performing the job. Then as students rotate, they train one another in the job duties.
Do students volunteer or get assigned? The most timid students get first dibs on which job they prefer, but in the end everyone holds a job.
Study Skills: Navigating a Textbook
To become independent learners, students need to understand where learning resources are located. Here are some tips for orienting students to resources in their textbooks and encouraging them to study on their own.
Language for Working in Teams
Group work requires all sorts of language that might not be in the book. This is the language of turn-taking, clarifying, and making suggestions. Explicitly teach these gambits before students get into groups, so everyone is equipped with the language skills to work together.
Pleasure Reading in a Summer ESOL Class
This summer students in my multilevel class will explore some independent reading.
Becoming More Effective Learners
We all have ways to get the most out of our study time. Some of us work best in the early morning. Others do better burning that midnight oil. Over many years, we have developed study and work habits that support our strengths.
