Category Archives: Reading and Writing
Checklists for Teaching Writing in Low-Level ESOL Classes
Teacher’s Checklist PRE-WRITE ü a. Have students practiced the language necessary to complete the writing task? b. Have students thought/talked about what they are going to write? WRITE ü c. Is there a model of the format? (letter, paragraph, sentences) d. Is there model language students can refer …
Eight Great Reading Fluency Activities
According to the National Reading Panel, the four components of reading are: comprehension, vocabulary, fluency and alphabetics. As ESOL teachers we know how to teach vocabulary and comprehension, but fluency and alphabetics are terra incognita. So here, I introduce four classics and four more contemporary activities that focus on specific skill development in reading …
The Multisensory Checklist for Teaching Language
Here is a list I wrote to remind myself of the many modalities I can use in my class. Instructions: Just think back to your last week or two of teaching and check the boxes off. (To maximize this exercise, do it at regular intervals for several weeks.) Don’t expect to check all the boxes. …
Multilevel Dictation Handout
This is a handout a collegue, John Antonellis, created to use with dictations in his class.
Dictation with Word Families
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 …
Pleasure Reading in a Summer ESOL Class
This summer students in my multilevel class will explore some independent reading.
Scaffolding Student Writing with Sentence Stems
Recently we have been reading a very simple family drama and we have learned many words for feelings. Here are some of the sentence stems we have recently used.
Making Connections in Reading
Researchers have long said that effective readers make connections. Good readers connect what they are reading to their own lives, to the world, and to other texts.
Spelling and Visualization
Spelling those sight words in English is a challenge for us all, but it’s a particular challenge for our low-level literacy students. This is a technique I learned from a Special Education teacher. It really works!
