August 19th Class Overview

To provide some background on why you are taking this class, we will watch this webcast as a class.

ELLs in Middle School and High School

You will then respond the following questions with a partner.  Type up responses and be sure to include names.

Discussion questions

1. Review student demographic information for your school or school district. Does your ELL population reflect the trends described by Dr. Short? Specifically, what percentage of students is ELL this school year as compared to five years ago? What is the primary language spoken by ELLs at home?
2. The term "English language learner" is a broad term. Describe the diverse population that falls into this category.
3. Dr. Short described four challenges facing middle and high school teachers in terms of educating ELL students. Describe the ways your school is addressing those challenges. In addition, describe other challenges that you face as a faculty in educating your ELL students. Then, brainstorm some solutions to those challenges.
4. Consider the objectives for one content area you teach, and consider the key language features for that content. In what ways are you already incorporating some aspects of the SIOP model? Share those strategies with your colleagues. What did you learn from watching the 6th grade social studies lesson that you could incorporate into your classroom?
5. Describe the similarities and differences between the SIOP plan for teaching reading processes and what you know about effective strategy instruction for middle and high school students.

Print out responses to be turned in for classwork credit.

We will  take a MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES TEST , discuss how student results can support instruction,  and then create "yellow pages" in class (a tool to build a bank of experts in any classroom).

After that, we will study Chapter 1 of the text and provide time to find an academic journal article for your article review (due on 4/9/13).  It must be in APA format.  I have provided a link to APA which includes a sample paper link within it.  Remember with APA, you never use "I think."  Instead, it is 3rd person voice.


I need to also check your choice of article before you start writing on it.

Denise