Resources for English Language Learners

The call has been put out to find resources in languages other than English. Students need to be able to read the content in both languages. The language they are most comfortable and English. There is plenty of research to support students approaching content in their own language to support their learning in english.

Below are some starting points to support the effort. Assessments such as past regents exams are available in many languages. They can be found at:


http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/regentsexams.htm

Here are some resources for content materials in other language:

The articles available on Wikipedia.org the on line encyclopedia are translated into many langaugages. Check the website and look at the left hand column will allow you to find translations. For example see the article on Thomas Jefferson in Spanish:


http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson

Research based ideas and articles discuss concrete ideas to help students challenged by text:

Published by the American Educational Research Association

http://www.aera.net/uploadedFiles/Journals_and_Publications/Research_Points/RP_Winter04.pdf

Working Effectively With English Language Learners

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/newteacher/NTBilingual.shtml

Our Productive PD Meetings

At the High School for Teaching and Professions we meet for Professional Development sessions. In my opinion these sessions are at their most professional and productive when we discuss issues that effect our specific classrooms. Recently one of our discussions in the History Department centered around the needs of our English Language Learners (ELLs). Tom Lopez opened the discussion by asking several questions about his freshmen students in general education classes. These questions are open for discussion:

How can we be sure ELLs are connecting with the content they are reading?

What can we do if ELL students are not fluent in their native language?

Where can we find content in languages other than english?

Are there strategies that can support ELLs in content classes?

Once again I am turning to LDOnline.org to start the discussion. These articles discuss ELLs and learning disabilities. Keep in mind I am not saying ELLs are learning disabled but strategies for students with learning disabilities and ELL center around slowing down the processing of content, and focusing on finding supplemental strategies to processing materials (like using audio and visuals).

See these articles:

A Guide to Learning Disabilities for the ESL Classroom Practitioner
By: Christine Root (1994)


http://www.ldonline.org/article/8765


Effective Reading Instruction for Struggling Spanish-Speaking Readers: A Combination of Two Literatures
By: Roxanne F. Hudson and Stephen W. Smith (2001)


http://www.ldonline.org/article/6363


More to come, let me know what you think, sign up for the feed if you would like to get my posts as the infrequently come out.

Rockey

Dyslexia Info

John Murren, a teacher at The High School for Teaching and the Profession identified a student with learning differences that he believed may be dyslexia. John wanted to know what can be done to help this student.

Our Special Education Department teachers, Mrs. Attah, Mrs. Hassanbelliu,
Mr. Spooner and myself agreed that this student could be helped with interventions like Wilson Reading and services in the Resource Room but it will take time to get her certified for services.

In the mean time what I'd like to do is help all teachers develop strategies they can all use in all classes. We all have some ideas we can share. There are many resources but here are a few to open the discussion. Let's get the dialogue rolling!

Here are a few resources:

Dyslexia Basics
By: International Dyslexia Association (2007)

http://www.ldonline.org/article/16282

Dyslexia and High School By: Melinda Pongrey (2008)
Task orientation and concrete ideas for the classroom:

http://www.ldonline.org/article/25150

Let me know what you think! More links to come and yes, you have to read them!

Rockey