Academic Vocabulary Strategies
Academic Vocabulary Strategies
Your Name
Grand Canyon University: ESL 433N
Date
Academic Vocabulary Strategies
Academic Vocabulary Strategies
Your introduction belongs here. It should be three sentences and your final sentence should
be your thesis statement.
Strategies
You need to discuss at least one teaching strategy that will assist ELLs develop academic
vocabulary. You need to support this section with at least one in-text citation, not a direct quote.
Conclusion
You need to restate the thesis here and wrap up the paper in two-three sentences.
Academic Vocabulary Strategies
Reference
(You must have at least one source. If you have more than one source, please place an “s” at the
end of the word Reference. Remove this before submitting.)
Academic Vocabulary Strategies
1
No
Submission
0.00%
2
Insufficient
65.00%
3
Approaching
75.00%
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Acceptable
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Target
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The strategy to teach
The strategy to teach
academic vocabulary
academic vocabulary
A strategy to teach
A strategy well-suited to teach
40.0%
or the resources needed
or the resources
academic vocabulary
Not
academic vocabulary and all
Strategy and
to facilitate it are not needed to facilitate it and resources needed
addressed.
of the resources needed to
Resources
clearly identified or
could be more clearly
to facilitate it are
facilitate it are included.
are inadequate for the
identified or better
identified.
task.
suited for the task.
The examples of how
academic vocabulary
could be incorporated
40.0%
into the content areas
Not
Academic
is not clearly
addressed.
Vocabulary
articulated; or
cannot realistically be
carried out in an
educational setting.
The explanation
The examples of how includes examples of
The explanation includes
academic vocabulary
how academic
creative examples of how
could be incorporated vocabulary could be academic vocabulary could
into the content areas incorporated into
be incorporated into all of
could be more clearly the content areas. The
the content areas. The
articulated; or may not
examples could
examples could realistically
be easily carried out in
realistically be
be carried out in an
an educational setting.
carried out in an
educational setting.
educational setting.
An attempt is made to
organize the content,
The content could be
but the sequence is
organized better
10.0%
Not
indiscernible. The ideas
even though it provides
Organization addressed.
presented are
the audience with a
compartmentalized and
sense of the main idea.
may not relate to each
other.
Surface errors are
10.0%
pervasive enough that
Mechanics
they impede
(spelling,
Not
communication of
punctuation, addressed.
meaning. Inappropriate
grammar, and
word choice or sentence
language use)
construction are used.
The content is
logically organized.
The ideas presented
relate to each other.
The content provides
the audience with a
clear sense of the
main idea.
The content is
well-organized and logical.
There is a sequential
progression of ideas that
relate to each other. The
content is presented as a
cohesive unit and provides
the audience with a clear
sense of the main idea.
Frequent and repetitive Submission includes
mechanical errors are
some mechanical
Submission is virtually free
present but are not errors, but they do not
of mechanical errors.
overly distracting to hinder comprehension.
Word choice reflects wellthe reader; or
A variety of effective
developed use of practice
inconsistent language sentence structures
and content-related language.
or word choice is
are used, as well as
Sentence structures are
present; or sentence
some practice and
varied and engaging.
structure could be
content-related
more varied.
language.
Linguistically Diverse Students & Their Families
Building English Language Learners’
Academic Vocabulary
Strategies & Tips
Claire Sibold
Introduction
According to Beck, McKeown, and
Kucan’s Three Tier Model (2002), when it
comes to language instruction the distinction between academic vocabulary words
and content specific words has a significant
bearing on the language success of English
language learners (ELLs). By using the
strategies decribed in this article teachers
and parents will have the means to develop
ELLs’ vocabulary through reading, direct
instruction, and reinforcement activities and
games. Teachers and parents can use these
strategies before, during, and after reading,
and thus provide students with a set of tools
they can use independently as they read.
Often vocabulary instruction receives
inadequate attention in elementary and
secondary classrooms (Biemiller & Boote,
2006). Academic vocabulary, specifically
the language that may occur in multiple
contexts or the precise words that are
presented in a specific context, can help
students acquire new learning strategies
and skills (Marzano, 2005).
Academic vocabulary, however, is
notably more difficult to learn than conversational language because it is more
specific and sometimes abstract, making
it difficult to grasp. Knowledge of this kind
of technical vocabulary in any specific content area—for example, social science, science, mathematics, or language arts—is
directly linked to content knowledge.
Stahl and Fairbanks (1986) found that
such vocabulary instruction directly improves students’ reading comprehension
of textbook content.
While the majority of teachers develop
students’ vocabulary across the curricuClaire Sibold is a professor
in the School of Education
at Biola University,
La Mirada, California.
lum, it is essential that English language
learners have explicit instruction about the
academic vocabulary that is necessary for
their success in school.
The Importance to ELLs
When English language learners
struggle with reading comprehension, it can
often be attributed to their difficulty with
understanding the vocabulary. Many studies
report that low academic language skills are
associated with low academic performance
(Baumann, Edwards, Font, Tereshinski, et
al, 2002; Biemiller & Boote, 2006; Carlo,
August, McLaughlin, Snow, et al, 2004).
These studies also report a discrepancy
among students of diverse ethnicities related
to the amount of vocabulary they know and
the depth to which they know and use that
vocabulary. According to Beck, McKeown,
and Kucan, “there are profound differences
in vocabulary knowledge among learners
from different ability or socioeconomic (SES)
groups” (2002, p. 1).
Thus, students with smaller vocabularies are at a greater disadvantage in learning, and this lack of knowledge too often is
the main barrier to their comprehension
of texts and lectures (Newton, Padak, &
Rasinski, 2008). According to Graves (2006)
and Zwiers (2008), ELLs require assistance
in developing content-related vocabulary in
their second language if they are to experience success in school.
Both native English speakers and ELLs
need support in learning the language that
is used in the classroom as part of instruction, reading, discussion, and assignments.
Interweaving direct instruction in academic
language helps students acquire an understanding of abstract concepts, multiple
meaning words, and content vocabulary.
When students are able to understand the
vocabulary for the that content they are
reading and hearing, they will have a better
understanding of the material. While wide
reading promotes vocabulary growth, ELLs
who do not read enough cannot acquire the
word wealth that would help them with
language learning.
Three Tier Model
Beck, McKeown, and Kucan’s (2002)
Three Tier Model places vocabulary words
into three categories: Tier 1 which consists
of basic or common words, Tier 2 which
involves words that are used across the
curriculum and multiple meaning words,
and Tier 3 which is content specific vocabulary. In this model (see Figure 1),
Figure 1
Graphic Organizer of Three Tier Model
Three Tier Model
Tier 2:
General Academic
and Multiple Meaning Words
Tier 1:
Basic Words
sight words
function words
words that name objects
u
u
u
usage only in specific field
u technical vocabulary
u not part of everyday use
u
u
u
important to understanding text
words used across the curriculum
u words with several meanings
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
24
Tier 3:
Specific Content Words
Teaching Language Learning
Tier 1 words are the most common words
in English and they make up a significant
percentage of the words students read.
These words generally require little or no
instruction, e.g., table, swim, cars, and
dog (Wosley, 2009). Sight words, function
words, and words that name objects are
included within Tier 1 vocabulary.
Tier 2 words are useful terms found
with high frequency. These are words
that are important to understanding the
text and are used across the curriculum.
For example, analyze, compare, and
conclusion are words commonly used in
academic settings during instruction, in
discussions, on tests, and in assignments.
Multiple meaning words such as set, bat,
base, and check have several meanings and
must be presented in context in order to
be understood. Students who are proficient
in English typically have a better grasp of
these words and are able to use them to
communicate.
Tier 3 vocabulary words are found
with less frequency and are typically limited to specific content areas. According to
Vacca and Vacca (2008) these words have
“usage and application only in a particular
subject field,” e.g., centimeter, kilogram,
and deciliter in a mathematics or science
class, or abolitionist, emancipation, and
secession in a history class (p. 145).
It is relatively easy for teachers to iden-
tify these Tier 3 words in their textbooks. Students, on the other hand, struggle to define
or explain the meaning of these vocabulary
words, words that are not part of the language
they use every day. Therefore, this technical
vocabulary needs to be taught explicitly and
thoroughly (Vacca & Vacca, 2008).
Effective Vocabulary Instruction
Effective vocabulary instruction emphasizes direct instruction. For example,
presenting both key words that help ELLs
understand difficult text and multiplemeaning words that require students to
use context to figure out the meaning will
be necessary. By using direct instruction,
teachers can incorporate relevant vocabulary into the before, during, and after reading stages of instruction (see Table 1).
In order to help students remember
new words, teachers can ask ELLS to associate the new words with things that are
already familiar to them, or the teacher
can translate the words into the students’
primary language (Colorado, 2007). After
students read, teachers can use word play
to reinforce the understanding of new words
and create enthusiasm for learning those
new words. For example, “Find the Antonym” (divide g multiply) and “Which One
Doesn’t Fit” (square, circle, ruler, triangle)
are two possibilities
While students may learn new words
by encountering them in their reading,
it is critical that teachers give ELLs the
tools for acquiring vocabulary through
explicit instructions. To create enthusiasm for learning new words, teachers can
help students hunt for clues that unlock
the meaning of unknown words such as
synonyms, descriptions, explanations, and
visual aids.
It is important to connect the new
words to students’ prior knowledge. To do
this, teachers can actively involve ELLs in
learning new words, create a vocabulary
rich environment, and teach through a
variety of strategies. For younger children,
realia, actual objects or items, are useful
for making abstract words more concrete.
For example, in teaching shapes, teachers
can bring to the classroom objects of different shapes.
Real objects, pictures, and photographs
that clearly match unfamiliar words provide visuals that help ELLs make sense of
the new words, e.g., photographs of frogs
and salamanders to illustrate “amphibians.” Teachers can also use anchor words
for new words, e.g., “baseball cards” as the
anchor for “collection,” “frogs” for “amphibians,” and “rice” for “grains.”
To create a rich vocabulary environment teachers can use a word wall that
contains words from different content
Table 1
Three Stages for Incorporating Relevant Vocabulary
Before Reading:
Pronounce the word and use the Spanish equivalent; then have students repeat the word in English several times
Tap students’ prior knowledge and identify anchor or familiar words for new vocabulary words, e.g., “walk” as the anchor for “saunter”
u Pre-teach words before students read the material
u Introduce graphic organizers that show relationships among words
u Show realia, actual objects, pictures, picture books, and video clips to introduce vocabulary
u Use the Spanish equivalent
u Teach students how to use the structure of words, e.g., compound words, prefixes, roots, and suffixes, to break down a word into the meaningful units
u
u
During Reading:
Define words in context, using sentences from students’ reading material
Help students find the context clues that will help them determine the meaning of an unknown word as they read
u Use graphic organizers to help students process the content
u Show students how to use the dictionary to confirm their predictions about the meaning of the vocabulary they meet in their reading
u Talk-through the words as students hear these during oral reading
u Use a variety of strategies to help students process the meaning of difficult words
u
u
After Reading:
Focus on a limited number of key words, particularly interrelated words, to increase the depth of their understanding and concept development
Give students multiple exposures to words throughout the day in order to cement their understanding of the word meanings
u Reinforce new words through activities, discussions, and assignments following students’ reading
u Help make the words meaningful to students by linking the words with familiar things, people, or experiences
u Have students incorporate the new words into students’ writing assignments
u Help students integrate new words into their speaking and writing vocabularies
u Display word walls and other graphic organizers with the new vocabulary and definitions
u
u
WINTER 2011
25
Linguistically Diverse Students & Their Families
areas, word books, and develop a reading
room with books that teach and reinforce
new concepts. Word walls engage students
visually and can be used to display content
vocabulary from the curriculum or involve
students in activities that will help them
learn new words. It is also helpful to integrate the new vocabulary into students’
writing assignments.
Strategies for Teaching
Academic Vocabulary
It is important to explicitly teach
vocabulary using effective strategies that
will engage students in learning new
words—for example, association strategies, imagery, and graphic organizers.
When introducing a new word, it is helpful
to avoid a lexical definition as dictionary
definitions often include other words that
are equally difficult and do not make
sense to the students. Instead, teachers
can provide students with a description or
explanation of the word or an example as
shown in Figure 2.
Repetition is one of the keys to learning a new word. First, have the students
listen to the pronunciation of the new word
and at the same time view a picture or an
actual object that goes with the word. Have
them repeat the word out loud at least
three times. Then have them use the word
in a sentence similar to what appears in
the material the students are reading. For
example, the teacher reads, “There are four
geographic regions in California.” Then the
teacher explains that regions are parts of
Figure 2
Presenting a New Word
Introduce the new word g Provide synonyms g Describe or explain the word g Use the word in a sentence
the state of California. She shows these
regions on a map. Students can work in
pairs to come up with a new sentence using
the word in question. This procedure can
be repeated with each key word as shown
in Figure 3.
When teaching academic vocabulary
using this repetition cycle, carefully select a few content-specific words from the
textbook that are critical to students’ understanding of the main concepts, topics, or
sub-topics. After developing activities that
provide multiple exposures to the words
in context, then present opportunities for
the student to practice using these words.
Through the use of a variety of strategies,
teachers can scaffold students’ learning of
new vocabulary. Since learning vocabulary
through reading may not be sufficient,
direct teaching of vocabulary words will
ensure learning and greater opportunities
for academic success.
Sample Strategies
for Elementary Students
Signal Word of the Day
In an elementary classroom the
teacher selects a word for the day from
students’ reading as the “signal word” of
the day. The teacher pronounces the word;
Figure 3
Repetition Cycle
then the students echo the word. This word
is used as a signal for the children to start
or stop an activity.
When the students are seated, the
teacher checks their understanding of the
word. The teacher asks: “What does this
character mean?” “Can you use the word in
a sentence?” To help the class pay attention
to the word the rest of the day, the teacher
states the definition of the word and has the
students say in unison the word. Through
this method the use of repetition and the
multiple exposure to the word throughout
the day increases the students’ retention of
new words.
“Talk-through” Strategy
with Reading Aloud
Both teachers and parents can help students learn new words by “talking-through”
the definitions and giving examples during
oral reading. This allows students to hear
the word in context. For example, in reading a passage from the science textbook on
the earth’s water, teachers would stop and
talk through the meanings of cover, surface,
and atmosphere.
Repeated readings of the text are essential for learners with more limited vocabularies and help them link the pronunciation of new words withtheir meanings.
After reading, reinforcement activities can
help cement the students’ newly obtained
knowledge.
Academic Vocabulary Journals
Students
repeat the
word 3x
Say the
word
Students
write the word
in a sentence
Read the word’
from the
textbook
In a fifth-grade class, the teacher asks
students to guess what a new word means;
the teacher then gives the students the
formal definition. Next, the students use
the word in a sentence and draw a pictorial
representation of the word. Students record the new words alphabetically in their
journals. These academic journals may
also be created in chart form and include
ratings, pictures, and ideas that are connected to the new words (see Figure 4 for
a sample Academic Vocabulary Chart).
Graphic Organizers
Explain
the word
Graphic organizers are visual representations that show arrangements of
concepts and/or vocabulary words. Such
organizers are effective when coupled
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
26
Teaching Language Learning
with direct instruction. Because graphic
organizers use visual images, they are particularly appropriate for English language
learners. The use of graphic organizers,
such as word trees, concept maps, and
relational charts, help students understand concepts and the related vocabulary.
Graphic organizers also help to link the
definitions to examples (Colorado, 2007).
Teachers can also use a flow chart
to look at a multiple-meaning word. This
graphic organizer helps students break the
word down into syllables, note the parts
of speech, bring into view different definitions, and provide sample sentences. Both
teachers and students can draw pictures
to illustrate the words. See an example in
Figure 5 for the word “difference.”
The Power of Games
Games can also be powerful tools for
reinforcing ELLs’ vocabulary. Commercially published games such as Balderdash
and Scrabble promote general vocabulary
usage, however, other interactive games
and teacher-created games are equally
useful in reinforcing students’ understanding and encouraging enthusiasm for learning new words. Bingo cards are an example
of these.
Sample Strategies
for Secondary Students
Explicit instruction of technical words
is even more critical in content areas at
the secondary level “where students need
a shared set of vocabulary to progress in
their learning” (Biemiller & Boote, 2006,
p. 190). ELLs must not only be able to
define the words but must also be able
to understand these words in context as
well as use the words in discussions and
integrate the words in their writing. Some
of the previously mentioned strategies for
elementary students can be appropriate at
the secondary level, but three strategies
that are particularly effective with secondary students are the PAVE procedure,
Student VOC Strategy, and Quick Writes.
PAVE Procedure
Bannon, Fisher, Pozzi, and Weasel
(1990) developed the PAVE procedure, a
four-step process that encourages students
to compare their guess at the meaning of
a word with its lexical definition. PAVE
stands for Prediction, Association, Verification, and Evaluation. Students first read
the new word as it appears in the textbook
and then based upon the context clues they
predict the meaning of the word.
Students then try to personalize the
word by connecting the word to their own
mental images. To verify the meaning of
the word, they look up the word in the dictionary, read the definition, and compare
this definition to their predicted meaning. Through this process, students learn
a strategy that helps them become more
independent learners.
Student VOC Strategy
The Student VOC Strategy is a Tier 3
strategy that targets content vocabulary. It
helps students acquire a deeper meaning
of the word. To implement this strategy,
teachers provide a list of the key words from
the chapter the students will be reading.
Before reading, the students meet in small
groups and choose one or two words they
don’t know or which may be unclear (West
Virginia Department of Education, 2010).
After reading, students discuss what
they think the word means and consult
an “expert”—their textbook, a web-site,
or a friend for the actual definition. After
learning the definition of the word, they
use the word in a sentence and draw a picture to remember the word. For example,
one group chose the word “proclamation”
and came to a consensus that the word
meant “an announcement.” To verify their
guess, one student sent a text message to
his father who provided this definition:
“Proclamation means ‘announcement or
declaration. It can also be a document
declaring something.’”
This strategy allows teachers to assess their students’ prior knowledge, and
it helps the students realize the possible
sources of information they can tap to
verify the meaning of a new word.
Quick Writes
Quick writing invites students to
write brief responses to questions about a
key word, e.g. What do you think freedom
means? The student writes “to do what you
want.” Then the teacher asks, what other
words do you think of when you hear this
word? For example, students write “the
Statue of Liberty,” “the Bill of Rights,”
“wearing what you want,” and “listening
to the music you like.” Students’ Quick
Writes can be used to start a dialogue that
taps their prior knowledge and allows the
teacher to build upon this knowledge. As
an alternative, English language learners
can work in pairs to generate an answer to
the questions.
Figure 4
Academic Vocabulary Chart
Word
nutrition
Rating
No, never heard it
Description or Example
Picture
Ideas
Foods that make your body work
Not fast food
Vegetables are good for you
Good for you
Makes you healthy
balanced
Yes, have heard it
Eating some of each type of food
Sandwich with tuna, celery,
& mayannaise, wheat bread
Eating things that are good for you
A banana
Not eating too much sugar
Milk
WINTER 2011
27
Use the Food Pyramid
Linguistically Diverse Students & Their Families
Partnering with Parents
to Develop ELLs’ Vocabulary
Teachers can partner with parents in
developing ELLs’ academic vocabulary,
particularly when it comes to content
words that students need to master in
each unit. Teachers can provide word lists
that include the words in English as well
as the home language and the definition
of the word. They can supply parents with
tips on how to build vocabulary and share
examples of strategies they can implement
at home. For example:
Provide synonyms in the students’
home language whenever possible.
u
u Use flash cards with the vocabulary
word and definition.
Create charts with anchor words
that link students’ knowledge with
new words.
u
u Find
simple books that focus on one
topic in the content area and related
content vocabulary, especially books
with illustrations.
Use a dictionary in the child or
teen’s home language.
u
u Keep a vocabulary journal for young-
er students and review the words
periodically to ensure the words have
become part of their vocabulary.
Collect and review words with
their children after reading and
before tests.
u
teachers can promote the importance of
vocabulary development, review some of
the strategies, provide dictionaries, and
respond to parents questions. For parents
who are not proficient in English, it is important to translate or have someone proficient in the home language translate the
tips and participate in the conferences.
Conclusion
English language learners who
struggle with academic vocabulary can
have difficulty comprehending reading
materials and class instruction. By explicitly teaching multiple meaning words
and technical words, teachers can assist
students in developing word wealth and
increase their understanding of content
material. It is important for teachers to
make connections between the learners’
prior knowledge and the new vocabulary.
Direct instruction of academic vocabulary includes the use of a variety of strategies, many of which use visual aids for
students and present the words in context.
There are many effective strategies such
as the use of signal words, talk-through
with read-alouds, vocabulary games, the
Student VOC Strategy, and Quick Writes
that help ELLs learn new words and
provide tools for them to use in class and
independently. By partnering with parents, teachers increase the opportunities
for students to receive the help they need
in learning academic vocabulary.
References
Play games to teach and reinforce
new words with their children.
u
During parent-teacher conferences,
Bannon, E., Fisher, P., Pozzi, L., & Wessel, D.
(1990). Effective definitions for word learning. Journal of Reading, 34(4), 301-302.
Baumann, J. F., Edwards, E. C., Font, G.,
Figure 5
Flow Chart
difference
dif fer ence
noun
1. a contrast between two people or things; unlike
2. the result of subtracting one number from another
3. a disagreement or argument about something
1. There is a great difference between Juanita and her brother.
2. The difference between 10 and 3 is 7.
3. The coaches had a difference of opinion about the game.
picture
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
28
Tereshinski, C. A., Kame’enui, E. J., &
Olejnik, S. (2002). Teaching morphemic
and contextual analysis to fifth-grade students. Reading Research Quarterly, 37(2),
150-176.
Beck, I. L., McKeown, M. G., & Kucan, L. (2002).
Bringing words to life: Robust vocabulary
instruction. New York: Guilford Press.
Biemiller, A., & Boote, C. (2006). An effective
method for building meaning vocabulary in
primary vocabulary. Journal of Educational
Psychology, 98(1), 44-62.
Carlo, M. S., August, D., McLaughlin, B.,
Snow, C. E., Dressler, C., Lippman, D. N.,
et al. (2004). Closing the gap: Addressing
the vocabulary needs of English-language
learners in bilingual and mainstream
classrooms. Reading Research Quarterly,
39(2), 188-215.
Colorado, C. (2007). Vocabulary development
with ELLs. Retrieved January 31, 2010,
from http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/32556
Coxhead, A. (2000). A new academic word list.
TESOL Quarterly, 34(2), 213-238.
Gifford, M., & Gore, S. (March 2008). The effects
of focused academic vocabulary instruction
on underperforming math students. ASCD
Report. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Retrieved January 9, 2010, from http://www.
ascd.org/academicvocabulary
Graves, M. F. (2006). Building a comprehensive
vocabulary program. The NERA Journal,
42(2), 1-7.
Huntley, H. (2006). Essential academic knowledge: Mastering the complete academic word
list. TESL-EJ, 10(2), 1-3.
Marzano, R. J. (2004). Essential knowledge: The
debate over what American students know.
Aurora, CO: Mid-continent Research for
Education and Learning.
Newton, E, Padak, N. D., & Rasinski, T. V.
(Eds.). (2008). Evidence-based instruction in
reading: A professional development guide to
vocabulary. Boston: Pearson Education.
Shults, D. (2006). Vocabulary instruction: The
non-amorphous shape of word knowledge.
Visual Thesaurus. Retrieved January 24,
2010, from http://www.visualthesarus.com
Stahl, S., & Fairbanks, M. (1986). The effects of
vocabulary instruction: A model-based metaanalysis. Review of Educational Research,
56(1), 72-110.
Vacca, R. T., & Vacca, J. L. (2008). Content area
reading. Boston: Pearson Education.
West Virginia Department of Education. (2010).
Student VOC strategy. Retrieved February
4, 2010, from http://www.wvde.state.wv.us/
strategy_bank.html
Wosley, T. (2009). What is academic vocabulary?
Methods and categorizing words used in
schools and universities. Retrieved January
15, 2010, from http://teachertiptraining.
suite101.com
Zwiers, J. (2008). Building academic language:
Essential practices for content classrooms.
Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
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Vocabulary Building
Strategies to use When
Working with ELL
Students
Dr. María Torres
Director of Diversity and ESOL
Ilona Olancin
Secondary ELL Curriculum Facilitator
Academic Development
• We require
q
English
g
learners to learn
enough of a second language to be
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able to function and do high
academic work in a new language.
Academic Development
• H
How can we help
h l ESOL
E L students
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succeed?
• We know they will need supportBut where do we beg
begin?
n?
Academic Development
• E
ESOL
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d
need
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h l with
h
language in the content areas…..
of
f Language
L
Arts, R
Reading,
d
Math,
M h
Science, Social Studies, and
C
Computer
Literacy
Li
How Can You Help
• E
ESOL
L school
h l students
d
need
d to
maximize their time
• They have much to learn in a short
period of time
BICS
• Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Involves using language for social, face-toface and every day situations.
• Highly
Hi hl contextualized
li d and
d provides
id llots of
f
clues for comprehension.
• Takes
T k 0-2
0 2 years tto acquire
i
CALP
• Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
• Involves language skills and functions of an
academic or cognitive nature.
• Language
L
needed
d d to accomplish
li h academic
d i
tasks.
• Takes
T k about
b t 7-10
7 10 years tto acquire.
i
ESOL Students Differ
In Skills Acquired
Students
S
d
with
i h no
English, few skills
Students
S
d
with
i h no
English,
many skills
kill
Students with oral
English, few skills
Students with oral
English, many skills
Acquiring language
• Just because students are learning
ga
new language, doesn’t mean they lose
g g and knowledge.
g
content language
They can do both!
• Students
d
who
h have
h
acquired
d skills
k ll
and knowledge …..
DON’T lose that knowledge
THEY NEED TO BE CHALLENGED!
Who Presents Greatest
Challenge For You
• Students
d
who
h have
h
few
f
skills
k ll in
native language need a great deal
of
f support
• These students need to learn the
language AND build on limited skills
How we teach ESOL students who
are still acquiring Language
• SIOP
P
• Sheltered Instruction Observation
Protocol
• A means for making grade level
academic content more accessible to
ESOL students.
How is Content Made
Comprehensible?
• By
y highlighting
g g
g key
y language
g g features
and incorporating strategies that
enables students to understand the
material being presented
What are the Key
y
Components?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Preparation
Building Background
Comprehensible input
Strategies
Interaction
Practice and Application
Effectiveness of Lesson delivery
L
Lesson
Review/Assessment.
R i /A
t
SIOP Fosters and
Integrated Approach
• Instructionall methods
h d integrate
language and content.
• Materials developed/adapted to
integrate language and content.
Four Language Skills
•
•
•
•
Listening
g
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Preparation
• L
Lesson planning
l
i is
i critical
iti l tto student
t d t
and teacher success.
• Lesson planning must enable students
to make connections between their
own information
i f
ti and
d new k
knowledge
l d
Making Connections
• L
Lesson planning
l
must enable
bl students
d
to make connections between their
own information
f
and
d new k
knowledge
l d
Content Objectives
• Need to be stated
• These objectives may need to be
reduced for ESOL students
• Be on the lookout to fill in the gaps
Language Objectives
• L
Language objectives
b
need
d to b
be just
as important as content objectives
• Bend over backwards to state
g g objectives
j
clearly
y and simply
py
language
– students need to be informed as to
p
of them and be
what is expected
taught the skills in order to do that.
Your g
guides in planning
p
g of
course are:
•
•
•
•
Curriculum
C
l
guides
d
SSS
Benchmarks
TESOL Standards
Building Background
• P
Practice
i It
I
• Students learning English need the
opportunity
t it tto use E
English……
li h
• Hear it, see it, read it, write it, speak it!!!
within
i hi context of
f subject
bj
matter
• Caveat to this – it must be meaningful!
Presentation of
Information
• Information
f
must b
be presented
d in a
way that they understand, bearing in
mind
d llanguage d
development
l
needs
d and
d
gaps in educational experiences
Concepts
p linked to
Students’ Background.
• N
New information
i f
ti mustt be
b tied
ti d tto student’s
t d t’
background
• Teachers/Tutors may make explicit links
to student’s backgrounds by asking
questions that preview a topic such as,
“Have you ever seen ….?
“H
• Relate to the text by saying, “Well today
we are going to read about……
about
L nks Made between Past
Links
ast
Learning and New Concepts
• M
Mustt build
b ild a bridge
b id f
from previous
i
llessons
to new learning.
questions “How
How does that relate to
• Ask questions,
our story?”
graphic
p
organizers
g
or other
• Refer to g
written reminders about the information,
such as word banks, outlines, charts, and
maps
Importance
p
of
Background Experiences
• Wh
When readers
d
lack
l k knowledge
k
l d
necessary to read, 3 major
instructionall interventions need
d to be
b
considered:
3 Major
j Instructional
Interventions
11. T
Teach
h vocabulary
b l
as a prereading
di step
2. Provide experiences
3. Introduce a conceptual framework that
will enable students to build appropriate
background for themselves.
themselves
Ch i t & M
Christen
Murphy
h (1991)
Building
g Vocabulary
y
Creates Links
• Th
There are a myriad
i d of
f meaningful
i f l and
d
useful ways vocabulary can be taught.
• When
Wh used
d regularly,
l l they
th build
b ild
background
• Having
H i students
t d t understand
d
t daf
few
key terms well is more effective than
learning a list of words.
words
How do we do that?
• T
Teachers/tutors
h
/t t
select
l t words
d that
th t that
th t
are critical for understanding the text or
material.
• Provide a variety of ways for students to
learn, remember, and to use those words.
• In that way, students develop core
vocabulary over time. (Blachowicz & Fisher,
2000)
Active Learners
• Students should be active in
developing their understanding
of words and ways to learn them.
them
Word Web
• P
Preteach
t
h Vocabulary
V
b l
• A word web is used to organize
d t il about
details
b t a word.
d
• Write the word in the center
• In each outside circle, write a
meaning/characteristic of the word.
• Vocabulary handout #1
Word Web
Meaning/Characteristic
Word
Meaning/Characteristic
Meaning/Characteristic
Concept Definition Map
• Ag
great way
y to learn and remember
content vocabulary and concepts.
• Can be used to clarify concepts.
• Vocabulary handout #2
Concept Definition Map
Word
What
a is
s it?
What is it like?
Example
Example
4 – Corners Vocabulary
•
1.
2.
3.
4
4.
Enables
E
bl students
d
to contextualize
l
word by
creating a chart with an illustration
A sentence that includes the word
A definition of the word
The actual vocabulary word.
word
How ?
•
1.
2.
3.
4
4.
Fold
F
ld a piece
i
of
f chart
h t paper iin f
fourths
ths sso th
thatt
students can only see one corner at a time.
Start with the illustration
Definition
Contextualized sentence
Vocabulary word
Vocabulary
y handout #3
4-Corners Vocabulary
1 Ill
1.
Illustration
i
2 S
2.
Sentence
3 Definition
3.
4 Vocabulary Word
4.
Word.
Word Sorts
• Teacher/Tutors categorize
g
words or
phrases into groups.
Closed Word Sort
• T
Teacher/Tutor
h /T t provides
id a list
li t of
f
related vocabulary words
• Students
St d t di
discuss and
d create
t
categories.
• Students
St d t th
then place
l
vocabulary
b l
words under the correct category
heading .
Open Word Sort
• Teacher/Tutor
h /
provides
d related
l
d
words on cards.
• Students organize the categories.
• Students then place the correct
word under the appropriate category
head ng.
heading.
Vocabulary
y Match-up
p
Cards.
• Use Index cards.
cards
• The vocabulary word is written on one card
and the meaning
g is written on another.
• The students must find their match by
discussing words and meanings.
• The pair sits/stands together and
presents to the class.
• One student reads the word and the other
the definition.
Vocabulary
y Foldable
• C
Copy th
the blank
bl k foldable
f ld bl and
d duplicate
d li t for
f all
ll
students.
• Students fold the p
page
g in half hot-dog
g style
y and
then cut 5 "flaps" by snipping the 4 dotted lines.
• They should orient the folded page vertically and
write each vocabulary word in the top half of one
flap.
• Vocabulary
V c bul
handout
h nd ut #4
Vocabulary Foldable
• Th
They open the
th flap
fl and
d write
it the
th
definition of the word under it.
• Finally, on the front of the flap below the
word,, they
y draw a picture
p
or symbol
y
that
will help them remember the word. This
format allows them to study their words
by opening and closing the flaps.
flaps
KIM Strategy
•
Provide students with index cards or use
regular writing paper.
1. Students write the key
y word in the 1st
column.
2. Definition in the 2nd column
3 Memory cue or picture in the 3rd column.
3.
column
4. Have students use KIM as students
develop
p their vocabulary.
y
Vocabulary handout # 5
KIM
K
Key Word
I
Information
M
Memory Cue
Mad Three Minutes
• Th
The tutor
t t will
ill write
it all
ll th
the words
ds on th
the b
board
d
that have been the focus of the lesson.
• Have the students look at the words and study
y
them for a few minutes. Erase the words.
• Have the students write as many words as
possible in three minutes.
• They can also provide a picture or definition of
the word.
• The
Th stud
student
nt with
ith th
the most
m st words
ds gets
ts applause.
ppl us
Students should
personalize word learning
• Personal Dictionaries
Personal Dictionaries
• S
Supports
ts student
st d t'ss learning
l
i of
f key
k vocabulary.
b l
• Students create the dictionaries as individual
vocabulary
y and spelling
p
g resources.
• Add unknown words they come across as they
read.
• Tutors works with students to clarify meanings of
new words.
• Vocabulary handout #6
How?
• Th
The words
d in
i th
the dictionaries
di ti
i can be
b
categorized in:
• Alphabetical
Al h b ti l order
d
• Subject
• Sound
• Morphological
p
g
structure (past
p
tense)
• Content or topic
Secondary tutors
• Students
d
can create personall word
d
dictionaries that include content
specific
f vocabulary.
b l
Elementary
y and Beginning
g
g
ELLs
• E
Encouraged
d to use simple
l illustrations
ll
to represent words they are learning.
• K-1.
K 1. words can come from big books
through a shared reading experience.
Vocabulary
y games
g
and
activities
• P
Promote language
l
and
d vocabulary
b l
development.
The Fly Swatter Game
• T
Teacher
h writes
it s target
t
t vocabulary
b l
on board
b
d
• Divide class into teams of 4 or 5
• Teams
eams stand in
n lline
ne beh
behind
nd start
starting
ng lline
ne (5 -8
8 ft.
back)
• When teacher calls out a definition, 1st one to
swat answer gets a point
• After 1st round, swatter is handed to next person
• 1st team to get predetermined amount of points is
the
h winner!!
Blackboard Spin
p the
Bottle
• W
Write
it 5 vocabulary
b l
words
ds on th
the board,
b
d one
student under each word. These students are the
“bottles”
• Students at their seats “spin the bottles” by
calling out a definition
• When a “bottle”
bottle hears his definition, he spins
around once
• If the student fails to spin when his definition is
called he must give someone else his place at the
called,
board
I Have… Who has?
• The whole class can play this after studying
vocabulary of a lesson or chapter
• Vocabulary words and definitions on cards are all
mixed up.
up
• Each student is given 1 word and a different
definition
• The 1st student says “Who
Who has (and reads
definition)?
• The student who has the word says, “I have (and
reads the definition)
• Continue play in this manner. Go around the room.
For more information
contact
• Dr.
D María
M í Torres
T
• Director of Diversity and ESOL
• 377-0111
• Ilona Olancin
• Secondary ELL Curriculum Facilitator
• 377-0129
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