ESOL Specific Websites

                 After searching and looking through multiple ESOL websites I reached the conclusion that it is very difficult to find ESOL specific websites for my particular classroom setting. I wanted to find a website that would give me useful language tools for teachers, students, and parents. As a bilingual teacher I am always looking for articles and resources about teaching language structures (forms/functions). I also look for engaging activities for my students. Many of the websites that I looked through were not very user-friendly or appealing. These websites had too much adverting and links to other products. These websites would not be appropriate for the age level I work with (K/1^st grade).   

                 A website that I looked at was ABEWeb. This is an ESOL website with multiple links to resources for different levels ranging from K-12 grade. After looking at the main menu I selected level 0 because I work with k-1^st grade students. After selecting Level 0 another page opened up with more selections: grammar, listening, pronunciation, reading, spelling, vocabulary, writing, and topic specific links. After selecting a topic a new page opened up with games, listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. This website has specific vocabulary links with vocabulary pictures and the correct pronunciation of each word. I liked this website because it was not cluttered with advertising. It was very simple looking and straight forward. It had some good ideas for teaching students different topics such as food and daily living. I personally would not use this website because it seems to be for an older audience although it is describes as a K-1 website. I would suggest this website for older students or parents looking to better their English.

link to website: https://abeweb.mpls.k12.mn.us/

                 This assignment was very difficult. I would have liked to have found a website that connected better to my schools philosophy of teaching English. Our district is using Literacy Squared in many schools and to be honest none of these websites support their ideology of teaching English. One of the main objectives of Literacy Squared is to teach language in context. English is taught in a literacy based way with culturally relevant text and cross language connections. Language is a resource and many of these websites to do not have this concept. It made sense not being able to find a website that I could use because there are so many different programs for teaching English. It is even difficult for our districts in Oregon to come to agreement on the most ideal program for our ELL’s. 

                 Although it was difficult finding a specific ESOL website that I would use in my classroom there are many websites that are not ESOL specific that I would use to support my ELL’s. There are reading websites such readinga-z, starfall, pbskids, and tumblebooks that are very useful and provide a context to the language students are learning. 

Language Forms and Functions

In order to help students become successful English speakers in the academic area we must provide direct language instruction.  According to Claude Goldenber in Teaching English Language Learners, " Effective language instruction provides a combination of explicit teaching that helps students directly and effectively learn features of the second language such as syntax, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and norms of social usage and ample opportunities to use the second language in meaningful and motivating situations" (Goldenberg, 13). We must help students learn to communicate their needs, thoughts, and opinions. In order to help them in their communication skills our language instruction must include instruction in the correct usage of forms and functions.

Language Forms and Functions PDF Document: 

www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/standards/elp/files/langfunc.pdf

These are some examples of how I have used language forms and functions in my classroom.

Literacy Resources

A way to support English language learners in their literacy comprehension is to include texts that are culturally relevant. It is also important to recognize that student's first language is a resource that they can can use to help them in their development of their second language. Many schools have literacy instruction for English language learners in their first language. Their literacy skills are strengthen in their first language and then they are able to take these skills and transfer them to their second language literacy. In order to encourage first language as a resource we can include bilingual texts in our classrooms.


A website that provides multiple literacy resources for teachers, parents, and administrators is Colorin Colorado.

Colorin Colorado:

http://www.colorincolorado.org/

Other literacy webistes include:

http://www.starfall.com/

http://www.readinga-z.com/

http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/customer_login.asp?accessdenied=%2Flibrary%2Fasp%2Fbook%5Fdetails%2Easp%3FCategory%3DPictureBooks%26offset%3D60

Welcome

Welcome to educational resources for English language learners! Within our schools there is a growing number of students who have been identified as English language learners. These students are expected to learn the content and language skills that will help them to be active citizens in our society. Our goal as language teachers is to help students be proficient in their second language in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grade level content. In this blog I will be including a variety of resources that I use frequently in my classroom and resources that provide more information on strategies to use in an ESOL classroom.