Group Work and ESL Learners (Bethany Bates, 2009-10-22)

Professional Development session SMIC Private School

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Group Work and ESL Learners (Bethany Bates, 2009-10-22) by Mind Map: Group Work and ESL Learners (Bethany Bates, 2009-10-22)

1. Group work

1.1. Groups are good because…

1.1.1. Learners hear more languages in different registers

1.1.2. Learners produce more language output

1.1.3. Take turns clarifying their own meanings

1.1.4. Language takes place in meaningful contexts

1.2. Rules

1.2.1. Clear, simple and explicit instructions need to be provided

1.2.1.1. Hard for ESL learners to understand complex instructions

1.2.1.2. Give instructions in multiple, different ways

1.2.2. Information gaps

1.2.2.1. Designed so that information needs to be created, reached for, or shared

1.2.3. Clear outcomes of the group work

1.2.3.1. Made clear before we start

1.2.3.2. Helps to understand, contextualize importance

1.2.4. Create cognitive tasks appropriate for all learners

1.2.4.1. So many different levels at SMIC, hard to do

1.2.4.2. Grouping, roles

1.2.5. Integrated with broader curricular topics

1.2.5.1. Easier for ES in single classrooms

1.2.5.2. Teachers working with other grade-level teachers, across curricular boundaries

1.2.6. All students involved

1.2.6.1. Grouping strategies (expert home grouping, see later)

1.2.6.2. Assign roles, especially in middle school where students all want to do everything

1.2.6.3. ELD students given less challenging roles to build confidence

1.2.7. Give enough time

1.2.7.1. ESL students take longer to process hearing, reading

1.2.7.2. This can take flexibility on scheduling

1.2.8. Students need to be taught how to work in groups

1.2.8.1. Communicate expectations

1.2.8.2. Even at the high school level

1.2.9. A lot of the rules apply not just to ELD learners

2. New node

3. View of Teaching

3.1. Social Constructivism

3.2. Focus on group work

3.3. Scaffolding

3.3.1. Expert-other guides along until learner can do it on their own

3.3.2. Zone of proximal development: the next level a learner can reach

4. Group work ideas for helping ESL learners

4.1. Picture sequencing

4.2. Hot seat

4.3. Questionnaires

4.4. Problem solving

4.5. Barrier games

4.6. Jigsaw reading

4.7. Writing and reading comprehension tips and activities

4.7.1. Journal word bank

4.7.2. Graphic organizer

4.7.3. Herringbone technique – good for reading stories.

4.7.4. Teacher-guided reporting – ask questions to draw out info, trains students on reporting.

4.7.5. Interview – kids switch roles.

4.7.6. Charades

4.7.7. Word substitution

4.7.8. Word guess

5. Other tips

5.1. Teach students academic language

5.1.1. Students pretend to understand directions, but really didn’t; academic language!

5.1.2. E.g. italicized, bold, passage, paragraph, main idea.

5.2. Use culturally appropriate examples when it’s possible

5.3. Allow kids to use first-language when starting group work

5.3.1. Helps to understand the English language resources, concepts better

5.4. Model the activity whenever possible

6. Books

6.1. Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement (Marzano, Pickering, Pollock) ISBN 0871205041

6.2. Scaffolding Language Scaffolding Learning: Teaching Second Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom (Gibbons) ISBN 0325003661