U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online
Preparing Students to Naturalize
CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANNING TOOLS
Adult Education Interest Section (AEIS), Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Targets adults learning English, as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors and administrators. Brings together adult education and ESL knowledge, principles, and skills. Has five major purposes: increase awareness of the needs and roles of adult education; address priority areas through workshops, demonstrations, open forums, and discussion sessions; advocate on behalf of the organization's members; cooperate with members to address the needs of ESL students and their families; and expand visibility of ESL and adult education through research and communication. To access this information, you will need to login to the TESOL website.
http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?TRACKID=&CID=260&DID=527
Adult Learning Resource Center
Provides citizenship technical assistance to educators throughout the U.S. including: staff development workshops; educator interest groups; onsite, electronic, and phone consultation; customized training, and materials development. Offers practitioner resources such as staff development video and accompanying teacher guide, English Literacy (EL)/Civics bibliography, links to other online materials, and publications.
http://www.thecenterweb.org/alrc/index.html
The Adult Reading Toolkit (The ART)
M. Frank, V. Weinberg, Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) Minnesota, 2004, revised 2005
Presents current research on teaching reading to adults and approaches to assessment and instruction. Offers guidance on selecting curricula, using authentic materials, and locating appropriate software. Covers phonemic awareness, beginning phonics instruction, intermediate decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Available for purchase at:
http://www.ldaminnesota.org/programs/educational_products.html#art
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO)
Provides learning tools that address U.S. history and government, including citizenship, for K-12 students. Website is designed for children, but resources also can be used in adult ESL classrooms. Includes links to curriculum on other U.S. government websites, such as the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Mint, NASA, and the National Park Service.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Civic Participation and Citizenship Collection
New England Literacy Resource Center
One of several online collections offered by the New England Literacy Resource Center. Provides annotated list of websites and original resources that address civics for ESL and adult basic education learners, citizenship preparation, professional development, research, and legislation. Includes citizenship teachers’ reflections on classroom activities, resources for students, and materials for teachers.
http://www.nelrc.org/cpcc/prep.htm
Civics Education for Adult English Language Learners
Center for Adult Education Language Acquisition (CAELA), Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)
Comprehensive compilation of curricular and instructional resources for citizenship, EL/Civics, and ESL instructors and tutors. Includes articles, reports, teacher reference books, learner textbooks, newsletters, links to national and regional organizations, policy information, listservs, and other resources.
http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/collections/civics.html
Civics Flash Cards
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Citizenship
Designed as a study tool for immigrants applying for naturalization and for teachers and volunteers to use in the classroom. These flash cards reinforce learners’ understanding of U.S. history and government. Flash cards can be easily downloaded from this website.
USCIS Website
Constitutional Rights Foundation, Online Lessons
Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF)
Part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation website, offers free, online civics and citizenship lessons covering a range of topics, such as Foundations of Our Constitution. Each subject has several lesson plans, as well as links to other resources. Also includes access to current and archived editions of Bill of Rights in Action newsletter, with an option to sign up for a free subscription.
http://www.crf-usa.org/lessons.html
EDSITEment "We the People" Lessons
The “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities aims to strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. As part of this initiative, EDSITEment offers a full range of lesson plans for K-12 teachers on the important ideas, events and figures of American history, civics and government.
http://edsitement.neh.gov/special_features_view.asp?id=1
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Citizenship section of this website contains information about the naturalization process, including RAPID Answers, a quarterly publication providing information updates for practitioners who work with immigrants.
http://www.hias.org/immigration.php
Hogar Hispano Citizenship/ESL Class Center
Developed to support ESL and citizenship instructors at Hogar Hispano, a Virginia Catholic Charities program for immigrants. The Class Center offers lesson plans for citizenship and ESL instructors. Lesson plans are organized by beginning and Intermediate levels and English and citizenship. Examples of beginning English topics include: introduction and greetings, first name/last name, alphabet, months and days of the week, time of day, computers, job vocabulary, and others. Examples of intermediate English topics include verbs and verb tenses, pronouns, reading comprehension, counting, and using the Internet. Citizenship lesson plans focus on U.S. history, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and branches of the government. The Teacher Toolbox offers additional useful instructional resources and activities.
http://www.subbookkeeper.com/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=Citizenship-ESL+home
Immigration, Stories of Yesterday and Today
Scholastic, Inc., 2005
Although designed for students in grades K-12, can be adapted for use with adult English language learners. Includes immigrants’ stories, interactive tour of Ellis Island, research projects, online teacher’s guide, activities, lesson plans, and links to useful resources.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/index.htm
Integrating Civic Participation and Adult ESOL
A. Nash, New England Literacy Resource Center, 2005
This article proposes a process for building ESL students’ capacity for engaged and active citizenship through an examination of policies and systems affecting their lives. Based on content drawn from experience working with providers, the Equipped for the Future (EFF) citizen/community member role map, and a theoretical framework describing three kinds of citizens: personally responsible, participatory, and justice-oriented citizens. Presents a series of steps with specific suggestions for classroom activities and examples from teachers.
http://www.nelrc.org/publications/cpandesol.html
Issues in Teaching Speaking Skills to Adult ESOL Learners
National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL), Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 6, 2006
Provides an overview of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instructional methods and reviews various ways of assessing speaking skills. Offers a list of research questions focused on effective classroom activities, the role of technology in teaching speaking, and the ability of assessments to predict learners’ success in using English at work and in other contexts.
Download/view PDF (263KB): http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/ann_rev/comings_ch5.pdf
Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Citizenship
Provides short lessons on U.S. history and government based on the civics questions on the U.S. naturalization test. Intended to help naturalization applicants gain a deeper understanding of U.S. history and government as they prepare to become citizens. Includes a glossary of terms.
USCIS Website
Literacy Assistance Center
Founded in 1983, the Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) provides referrals, training, information, and technical assistance to literacy programs in New York. Offers professional development materials, lesson plans, and curricula designed for youth and adult literacy instructors. Contains links to civics education and citizenship preparation instructional tools and resources on government and voting.
http://www.lacnyc.org/resources/links/civics.htm
Little Book Online
Designed to prepare students for Ohio's Ninth-Grade Citizenship Proficiency Test, includes information appropriate for adults in citizenship classes. Provides fact sheets on the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, key amendments to the Constitution, the branches of the federal government, division of power between the federal government and the states, voting, passing a bill, and other aspects of the U.S. government and political and economic systems. Provides hot-linked definitions of civics terms.
http://members.tripod.com/%7Etutor_me/book/little.htm
Minnesota Literacy Council
Provides direct and indirect literacy services to adults, children, volunteers, and community programs in Minnesota. Features links to information on the U.S. government, U.S. history, the citizenship interview, and other resources to assist in preparing students for the naturalization exam.
http://www.themlc.org/citizenshipresources.html
Nationalization Immigration At A Glance
The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Brochure in English and Russian outlines requirements and procedures for becoming a U.S. citizen. Includes details on preparing to meet the English language and civics requirements and how to order the free HIAS publication, U.S. History and Government Study Guide.
Download/view PDF (1.4MB): http://www.hias.org/Immigration/Imm_Brochures/naturalization.pdf
New Citizens Vote! An Educational Curriculum About Voting and Civic Engagement
Northern California Citizenship Project, Partnership for Immigrant Leadership and Action, 1998
Highly interactive exercises feature mock election and provide new and prospective citizens with tools and information about voting and other civic activities. Includes a detailed overview of each exercise and instructor tips for preparing and conducting each lesson. Flexible modular format can be integrated into a variety of ESL and citizenship education courses. Presents basic problem solving techniques and opportunities for learners to tackle authentic community problems. Complete package includes guidance on how to use the curriculum, participant handouts, and other helpful resources.
http://www.pilaweb.org/
New Readers Press
ProLiteracy Worldwide
Offers a weekly newspaper and teaching tools for readers at level four and above and a variety of resources for ESL and citizenship classes. For example, Citizenship: Passing the Test is a low literacy test preparation package that includes a student workbook and teacher’s guide. Other multimedia, print, and video resources address preparing for the citizenship interview, U.S. geography, history, culture, and basic facts about American life. Download of Becoming a Citizen: Get Prepared workshop presentation available at no cost. Other video and print resources available for purchase at:
http://www.newreaderspress.com
New York State Citizenship Preparation
The University of the State of New York and the New York State Education Department
Includes information on the naturalization process and highlights English Language Arts and Social Studies Standards particularly applicable to learners preparing for citizenship. Describes typical citizenship learner skill levels and correlates these to the National Reporting System ESL functional levels, and ESL standards from the Adult Education Resource Guide and Learning Standards.
Download/view PDF (530KB): http://www.hudrivctr.org/documents/cit.pdf
On Common Ground
INTELECOM Intelligent Telecommunications, 2002
Multimedia curriculum for civics and citizenship education, focuses on key issues in citizenship, civics, and government. Includes video lessons, workbooks, teacher’s resource book, video transcripts, and vocabulary lists. Offers free online training modules, lesson plans, study guide template, and other resources. Provides correlations to the GED and CASAS examinations, Equipped for the Future (EFF) Standards, and the National History and Civics Content Standards. Available for purchase.
http://www.intelecom.org/course_info.asp?id=20
Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
Offers citizenship and EL/Civics lesson plans, classroom activities, Internet sites for use with students, and articles on teaching and learning. Also provides a group of over 40 EL/Civics instructional materials that are available for a modest fee. Topics include: parent guidelines to navigating the school system; sample job interviews; financial literacy lessons; and mock citizenship interviews. Links to organizations and other resources on citizenship, EL/Civics, vocational ESL, adult basic education, and lesson plan building tools. Free registration for users required.
http://www.otan.us
Practitioner Toolkit: Working with Adult English Language Learners
National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and the National Center for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE), Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), 2004
Designed to support adult education and family literacy instructors serving adult English language learners and their families in rural, urban, and faith- and community-based programs. Toolkit provides guidance on lesson planning and instructional strategies and offers sample lesson plans, activities, and learner needs assessments. Features materials designed to help learners prepare for permanent residency and citizenship.
http://www.cal.org/caela/tools/instructional/prac_toolkit.html
Preparing Students for a USCIS Interview
L. Weintraub
Succinctly summarizes how teachers can help adults get ready for the citizenship interview. Provides a comprehensive list of links to additional citizenship, civics, ESL and adult basic education (ABE) resources and includes a link to Field Notes, Massachusetts Sytem for Adult Basic Education Support’s (SABES) quarterly newsletter.
http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/fieldnotes/vol10/f01ins.htm
Project Shine Field Book 1: ESL for Citizenship
C. Weisburd, Center for Intergenerational Learning, Temple University, 2002
Designed for tutors of elder immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens. Includes descriptions of appropriate lesson content for pre-literate through intermediate ESL learners, a lesson plan guide, strategies for helping learners develop speaking, reading, and writing skills, and sample activities.
http://www.projectshine.org/philly/fieldbooksforcitizenship
Project Voice
City College of San Francisco
Offers curriculum and lesson plans that link ESL, adult basic education, and citizenship programs with civics education. Materials cover wide range of topics, such as, civic rights and responsibilities, civic engagement, government, U.S. history, social issues, health, and communication skills. Includes lesson plan template structured around Equipped for the Future (EFF) Standards.
http://www.ccsf.edu/Resources/VOICE/lessonplans/lessonplans.html
Q & A - Civics Education for Adult English Language Learners
L. Terrill, Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), 2000
Aimed at the new EL/Civics teacher, this digest outlines the events that shape EL/Civics education, defines civics education and citizenship education, and provides activities and approaches to integrating civics education with language learning at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Also provides links to additional resources.
http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/civics.html
Taking Action: A Resource Guide for Instructors Serving ESL Adults with Learning Difficulties or Learning Disabilities
M. Frank, Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) Minnesota, 2003
Provides information on ESL and learning-disabled adults and language acquisition principles. Describes external and internal factors influencing learning and performance. Also offers promising practices and recommendations for ESL instruction, sample lesson plans, a preview of LDA's pre-referral, referral, and assessment tools, and models for determining significant learning difficulties or learning disabilities. Available for purchase from:
http://www.ldaminnesota.org/programs/educational_products.html#action
Tennessee Adult ESOL Curriculum Resource Book
P. Sawyer, Editor, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Office of Adult Education, and University of Tennessee, Center for Literacy Studies, 2001
Includes EL/Civics competencies organized by the National Reporting System levels of ESL achievement. Provides English language instruction emphasizing the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, naturalization procedures, civic participation, and U.S. history and government. Contains learning plans for various achievement levels that identify activities, assessment strategies, and relevant Equipped for the Future (EFF) Standards.
Download/view PDF (1.7MB): http://aeonline.coe.utk.edu/esolcrg.pdf
Using Alternative Assessment with English Language Learners: References and Resources
K. Carl and M. Rosen, Evaluation Assistance Center East, George Washington University, 1994
Discusses the need for nontraditional assessments in adult ESL programs. Provides an annotated list of references on issues, policies, and organizations relevant to alternative assessments.
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/lists/altern.htm
Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants
USCIS Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2005
Contains practical information to help immigrants settle into everyday life in the United States, as well as basic civics information to introduce immigrants to the U.S. system of government. Also gives new immigrants tips on how to get involved in their new community, and how to meet their responsibilities and exercise their rights as permanent residents.
USCIS Website
Verizon Literacy Campus
Offers an array of free online courses on ESL, adult education, family literacy, volunteering, and program management topics. Citizenship: What Volunteers Need to Know (ProLiteracy Worldwide and the National Center for Family Literacy, 2004) is a course offering a step-by-step introduction to the naturalization process. Other relevant courses include Citizenship: Preparing Students for the Interview, and Citizenship: Teaching US Civics for the Exam. Also includes a library of online and print resources on related topics, including adult literacy, English language instruction, and family literacy.
http://www.literacycampus.org/Free-Online-Courses.28.0.html?&no_cache=1
