Hump Day Happenings
Reflect on and describe one of the ideas/suggestions from Tasha Laman's book that resonates with you concerning ELLs and literacy. Think specifically about how she incorporates students' cultures and families into her literacy classroom.
I really like the idea of bringing conferences to students. I tend to walk around the room and informally conference with students during writing time. I also do this during reading at the beginning of the year. As the year goes on and students become stronger readers and writers, I tend to move these conferences to my desk. I always thought that by doing this I was helping my class get ready for first grade. However, I had never about students benefitting from comments provided to other students in the classroom. I may need to keep roving conferences going on all year-long...
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 2, Laman (2013) suggests that recognizing students for "who they are is the most important work we can do when creating a meaningful curriculum" and that "the foundation of our curriculum is children's lives" (p. 10). This idea helps to narrow my focus and keep the teaching of students at the forefront, not what has to be covered according to a book or manual. It does not matter what new program or educational guru a school system chooses to embrace; if we do not consider who our students are and what they bring to the learning process as individuals, it won't matter what curriculum we use. We will likely find little success.
ReplyDelete"Not Everyone Writes in English and All Languages Have Value"
ReplyDeleteIt is of vital importance that ELL's realize that their language holds value for us (the Educators)
It confirms to the ELL families that we hear their voice and value their perspectives. ELL's success depends on their ability to thrive, to thrive they need an environment that respects and values them. ELL's are easily overlooked because they do not want to be noticed. To help these students, it is imperative that we focus on their total well being. Part of that is valuing their culture. That will help in building a bridge of understanding between home and school.
In Chapter 3, page 53, Laman reiterates that if we think a student can't do something we should teach it. Often kids will have a hard time with a particular concept. Teachers (meaning me sometimes) will say "I told them to do add details" and Laman says we have to teach the concepts not tell. We are teachers not tellers. We can't blame their language proficiency or lack there of for their inability to, for example, add details. In writing mini-lessons we have the opportunity to quickly teach those skills that the students lack and build on the skills that they already have.
ReplyDeleteI think that allowing students to write in their L1 language whenever possible is one way that we can incorporate student’s cultures and families into our classrooms. This lets our students and parents know that we care about them. It gives us a picture of just how much they already know. I think it’s a great idea, before this class I had never thought about it. I work with younger students, so either writing or speaking would be great. This was in chapter 4.
ReplyDeleteTeachers need to build a multicultural and multilingual classroom. We can do this through affirming their diversity, build learning communities that value their home language, and by reminding all students the value of examination and reflection. We need to build a classroom community that accepts who our students are and where they have come from. If we create a learning environment that embraces who the student is culturally, linguistically, and make them feel welcomed in our classrooms, learning will happen .
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 2 - Knowing and Being Known, I agree with Laman, "Supporting our students by first recognizing who they are is the most important work we can do when creating a meaningful curriculum." Building relationships with our students is of utmost importance. All children want to be noticed. It seems our ELL students are often overlooked or pushed to the side because teachers aren't quite sure what to do or how to teach them. I can't imagine anything worse than feeling invisible especially at school. By acknowledging them and making them feel welcomed we all succeed!
ReplyDeleteThe chapter on feedback really stood out to me! Whenever I do conferences I end up having the students come to me at my small group table! Also, allowing students to write in their first language as much as possible because it shows that we are trying to build that connection between us and the students!
ReplyDelete