Recent Changes

COLLABORATION
Right off the bat, I have to say I agree with Maria. It is quite shocking to know and learn that ESL teachers and mainstream teachers don't have much collaboration, or that they don't meet on the regular. If this is the case, then obviously there is going to be a serious lack of understanding between child and teacher. If the mainstream teacher isn't aware of the things that the ESL teacher works with the child, than how will the mainstream teacher know when there are specific areas of strength, or specific areas they could improve on. Working together and synchronizing the lesson plans can only make thing easier for everyone in the long run. Teacher's will find it easier to pick up where the other left off, and a student won't feel that they are being taught completely different things as they jump from one class to the other.

Writing
I really enjoyed this chapter as well. I am fascinated by how different cultures teach writing. Also, each student has a different strategy for writing.

Going through the Motion
I agree. By stimulating background knowledge, and making the reading connectable to students, they'll be more inclined to remember what they've read.

Chapter 23
I was really shocked and interested to find out that collaboration between ESL teachers and mainstream teachers is scare. I would have thought that every school had a collaboration between ESL teachers and mainstream teachers, like I have head Special Ed teachers have with mainstream teachers. As a teacher who has ESL students in my class, I've collaborated with different LEAP program teachers and other English teachers to see what I can do to better assist my students. Similarly, when I was a student teacher, I asked the ESL teacher for help. I think that, if we want ESL students to succeed, it is imperative that ESL teachers and mainstream teachers collaborate, so that the ESL teacher can create a lesson plan that will help ESL students with their other classes. At Walquist Jr. High, the English teacher I worked with collaborated with the history teacher, so that they both taught a unit on slavery at the same time, allowing students to better understand slavery in a historical and literary context. If that is possible, I am sure collaboration with other teachers can be possible, regardless of the amount of work.

Learning About The Children
I love these ideas for the first day of class too! I always appreciate my teachers and even professors now who allow us to get to know each other as a class. It makes behavior management a lot easier during the rest of the year/semester, and it helps the teacher get to know the students too.

Getting Results Amidst Professional Development
I like how you mentioned the aspect of trust that should be a part of all educational institutions. I think that as we focus on students' needs and our opportunities for improvement, we will be united as educators moving forward with confidence in our collaborations.

TPR
And you taught using it in such a fun, capable way!

TPR
It's a fun strategy. Check it out, James Asher as developer, on the internet for even more ways it can be used.

Graphic Organizers and Concept Maps
Comparing and contrasting is such a clear and interesting way to help ELLs, and all students, learn how to analyze, rather than simply summarize material.

Connect with families of english language learners
Good comments about working with families.