Here is my VBlog introduction:
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Entry 1: Introduction
Hello everyone!
My name is Megan Proulx and I'm currently a senior here at The University of Houston and also starting my first semester of student teaching with 3rd grade. I hope to learn a lot in this course and look forward to all the experiences this semester has to offer!
Here is my VBlog introduction:
Here is my VBlog introduction:
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Hi Megan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that learning a new language in school with just worksheets and exams does not quite help with speaking the language. I also had a similar experience and I felt like I would be comfortable speaking Spanish if my teachers included activities that required us to speak Spanish. Wright states that, “Spanish Speakers, at over 3.5 million, make up over 80% of the ELL population” (2015, pg. 8) which proves that learning Spanish and being able to communicate in Spanish is beneficial in classrooms. Your ideas for helping ELLs sound beneficial! Just by allowing them to socialize and pairing them up with a student who speaks English well can make the learning process a bit easier for the ELL. I hope you get a chance to interact with ELLs during student teaching!
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Hey Kani, thanks for including that fact that Spanish speakers make up such a majority of the ELL population, because that's so important for future teachers like us that will be working in Houston where there is such a dense population of Spanish speaking ELLs. I also hope I get more of a chance to interact and work with ELLs during student teaching, but I also know that when I get my first class of ELLs in the future that the English learning won't just be through reading and writing activities. I know you also pointed out in your blog how important those conversations and socializing opportunities are for the ELLs and having them work with a partner that is very proficient with English so they can have those interactions. You're experience opened my eyes even more to how I should approach teaching English to my future ELLs, because I want to support that value of being bilingual. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteHey Megan,
DeleteI forgot to mention that read-alouds are extremely important for ELLs, especially when the book is below the reading level. That is because ELLs often need that simple foundation that every child needs while learning a new language, even if it is their first language. I would highly recommend that you try to integrate read-alouds so students can learn how certain words are pronounced which can make reduce their stress and fear of speaking in public.