Between the Lions is a website that can be used to teach listening and reading in the target language to English Language Learners. The site is a PBS Kids site for children K-2, however the videos, games, stories, provided can be useful for any English Language Learner no matter what the age. The stories are folktales and fairytales, the videoclips are of letter songs (beginning sounds, vowel blends, letter families etc.). Moreover, games focus on phonics, and sorting objects.
The site has activities for children, and resources for parents and teachers to use. Educators will find literacy activities, lesson plans, handouts, certificates, and other resources
to engage emerging readers and their families. Parents will find activities and games for their children to help them
learn to read and write. Along with recommended books and
tips to get kids excited about reading.
The resources consist of activities and games for kids ages 4 to 7 and activity booklets for
families with children ages 3 to 5. You'll also find great read-aloud books and
books about teaching reading. Educators and parents can also find literacy tips and Leading the Way to
Literacy videos for ideas on how to encourage children to read.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
everythingesl.net
Everythingesl.net is exactly that, everything ESL. It is one of the only sites that I have found that offers effective resources for educators to use in the classroom.
Everythingesl recommends websites to visit that are suitable for English Language Learners. Moreover, everythingESL also offers lesson plans, teacher tips and articles on English Language Learners.
The site is not very intriguing, however the site is simple to navigate,and offers a lot useful background information. What I love most about the site are the list of websites that you can link to directly from the site.
Everythingesl is not for children, but can be directed towards parents who speak English; and educate them on what they need to know about the needs of their child.
Everythingesl recommends websites to visit that are suitable for English Language Learners. Moreover, everythingESL also offers lesson plans, teacher tips and articles on English Language Learners.
The site is not very intriguing, however the site is simple to navigate,and offers a lot useful background information. What I love most about the site are the list of websites that you can link to directly from the site.
Everythingesl is not for children, but can be directed towards parents who speak English; and educate them on what they need to know about the needs of their child.
Storyline Online
Storyline-Online is a website sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild. The website is designed to read stories aloud to children. The stories are read by actors such as Melissa Gilbert and James Earl Jones. As the stories are read aloud, the pictures are displayed.
The site provides activities for students that lend themselves to the readings. Moreover, the read-alouds are played on youtube, but if your school blocks youtube; the site offers an alternate link which will allow you to play the video in school.
English Language Learners benefit from the site in that they are able to listen to a story in the target language, even though they cannot read it themselves. Moreover, as an English Language Learner educator; the site is ideal to display on the smartboard for a read aloud.
The site is very user-friendly and easy to navigate, a child can easily log in and select the book that they would like to listen to. Storyline online is also very colorful and fun to look at; motivating children to read.
The only criticism I have is that there isn't a wide variety of stories to choose from.
The site provides activities for students that lend themselves to the readings. Moreover, the read-alouds are played on youtube, but if your school blocks youtube; the site offers an alternate link which will allow you to play the video in school.
English Language Learners benefit from the site in that they are able to listen to a story in the target language, even though they cannot read it themselves. Moreover, as an English Language Learner educator; the site is ideal to display on the smartboard for a read aloud.
The site is very user-friendly and easy to navigate, a child can easily log in and select the book that they would like to listen to. Storyline online is also very colorful and fun to look at; motivating children to read.
The only criticism I have is that there isn't a wide variety of stories to choose from.
Colorin Colorado
Colorin Colorado is a website for administrators, educators, librarians and parents who are Spanish/English Bilingual. However, the langage resources, and videos found on the site are very useful for non-spanish speakers as well. Colorin Colorado offers resources to teachers who work with English as a Second Language learners and will find ESL/ESOL/ELL/EFL reading/writing skill-building children's books, stories, activities, ideas, strategies to help PreK-3, 4-8, and 9-12 students learn to read.
The departments of the site are: For Educators, Administrators, Librarians, Families, Books & Authors, Glossary, ELL Topics from A-Z, ELLs and Policy, ELL Research & Reports, Free Guides & Toolkits, LearningStore, Webcasts, Multimedia, E-Newsletters and Web Resources.
When I use the site, I have to alott about half an hour to an hour researching webcasts and articles. The webcasts and articles are so informative, in that they educate me on the topic of English Language Learners. The first time I tried it I was relieved to know that such a site existed to assist me in numerous ways when planning for my students.
The site is up to date. It is currently focusing on integrating the new Common Core Standards for English Language Learners, and the policies.
Parents and teachers can use this site to find recommended books, writing activities and reading activities. The site is in English, however a tab is available to access the site in Spanish.
The departments of the site are: For Educators, Administrators, Librarians, Families, Books & Authors, Glossary, ELL Topics from A-Z, ELLs and Policy, ELL Research & Reports, Free Guides & Toolkits, LearningStore, Webcasts, Multimedia, E-Newsletters and Web Resources.
When I use the site, I have to alott about half an hour to an hour researching webcasts and articles. The webcasts and articles are so informative, in that they educate me on the topic of English Language Learners. The first time I tried it I was relieved to know that such a site existed to assist me in numerous ways when planning for my students.
The site is up to date. It is currently focusing on integrating the new Common Core Standards for English Language Learners, and the policies.
Parents and teachers can use this site to find recommended books, writing activities and reading activities. The site is in English, however a tab is available to access the site in Spanish.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning is an educational website that offers teachers various resources depending on the topic in which the instructor is searching for. In literacy for example the website offers various lesson ideas, resources and activities which children can learn from and can be implemented in lesson plans.
The site offers articles in which can be copied and pasted onto lesson-writer to create lesson plans with regards to the article. For example, I just copy pasted an article on the life cycle of the butterfly onto lesson-writer. What I did was combine the literacy activities lesson-writer offers with the arts & crafts activities provided by enchanted learning.
For a social studies geography unit, I recently created paper-mache globes using enchanted learning. My students also created a poster of the 7 continents, using poster-board, and displayed the route Christopher Columbus took when he set out to find spices. This activity was also found on enchanted learning.
The website is free for some resources but must pay for "premier" resources. Until now I have not had to pay, however I will become a member soon to have access to the "premier" resources.
The site offers articles in which can be copied and pasted onto lesson-writer to create lesson plans with regards to the article. For example, I just copy pasted an article on the life cycle of the butterfly onto lesson-writer. What I did was combine the literacy activities lesson-writer offers with the arts & crafts activities provided by enchanted learning.
For a social studies geography unit, I recently created paper-mache globes using enchanted learning. My students also created a poster of the 7 continents, using poster-board, and displayed the route Christopher Columbus took when he set out to find spices. This activity was also found on enchanted learning.
The website is free for some resources but must pay for "premier" resources. Until now I have not had to pay, however I will become a member soon to have access to the "premier" resources.
Webquest
Webquest.Org
I recently began using webquest.org to plan my units. I found that the website is phenomenal. As teacher leader for the 4th grade I am responsible for creating units and integrating task bundles that integrate literacy with content. Between lessonwriter and webquest my units have been key in assigning students tasks that focus on the objective that is given. For ELL's it has also been a great help because webquest has visuals, and information that is easy to read. The website is great when teaching into researching topics, thus are categorized by grade.
The website itself is very user friendly and easy to navigate. The visuals and print are pleasant to look at, which will encourage the students to continue researching. That is how user friendly it is, students can go on themselves and research topics. It is in English, and the tasks provided are aligned to the common core.
What I love the most aside from its interrelated literacy component, at the end of the task the site offers a rubric! Luv that!!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Achieve 3000
Achieve 3000 is another useful tool for literacy (reading and writing). I was just recently trained to use Achieve 3000 and have already started assessing my students reading level to assign them the appropriate reading level.
Achieve 3000 gives the educator the ability search readings of various genres by level. For example if a student in your class reads a level S book, the same article can be found but at an easier reading level such as level M. The levels are determined by a lexile system, the higher the level the higher the lexile count.
Moreover, Achieve 3000 offers units of study that complement the New York City Department's scope and sequence for Science and Social Studies. They also have lessons, rubrics and games that all tie in to the article selected.
Check it out, I guarantee your are going to find the site quite effective.
Achieve 3000 gives the educator the ability search readings of various genres by level. For example if a student in your class reads a level S book, the same article can be found but at an easier reading level such as level M. The levels are determined by a lexile system, the higher the level the higher the lexile count.
Moreover, Achieve 3000 offers units of study that complement the New York City Department's scope and sequence for Science and Social Studies. They also have lessons, rubrics and games that all tie in to the article selected.
Check it out, I guarantee your are going to find the site quite effective.
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