Since we are on the topic of ELL's, I wanted to share a success! I have spent a lot of time modeling, teaching, guiding and releasing my students in the use of the MOT of reading strategies. I also used anchor charts with each strategy. My final writing assignment for my fifth and sixth grade students is a research paper on "How to be an Active Reader."
I gave each student about 12 index cards and the students wrote a strategy at the top of each card, defined how the strategy is used and then on the back of the card they had to cite at least two examples of evidence. I put out all of the read louds we used in shared reading, all of the guided reading books, their anthologies and books we used in literature circles. Listening to their dialogue gave me the reassurance that they have an understanding of the strategies and how to use them! I have students in that class who have only been in the US for less than a year. I heard things such as "Do you remember when Mrs. Kleinert read us "Tomas and the Library Lady" and wouldn't show us the pictures and we all shared the "movie in our minds!" My students had no trouble identifying places in stories that they used strategies for better understanding. They enjoyed revisiting the books and talking about them! The biggest thrill was listening to their understanding of inferencing. I heard one boy say he inferred that Harriet Tubman's father taught her how to escape because in the story it said her father took her out into the woods and the night she went missing, he didn't go out looking for her, but felt assured that she was okay. I just about fell over. I use a lot of the read alouds that Ginger recommended as well as Juli Kendall's list. I try to build background about US history through read alouds and also affirm my student's cultures through read alouds. They can grasp a strategy tied to a book when it relates to their experiences and lives. Time to go.... Thanks for letting me share. Donna Kleinert Hatfield PA ESL _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
