Hi, Jackie and all

I’ve long been interested in the use of scenarios, and “evocative prompts” to get students thinking and talking about critical issues in their lives. We’ve developed a few of these scenarios for El Civics but the problem is always how to make even simple case studies accessible to students who are very much new to English and who don’t have strong literacy skills.  While students can “get” a picture and describe what they see as a problem, articulating thoughts and ideas around these issues often requires a bit more language – using a bilingual approach helps of course but that’s not always an option.

Yet, thousands of people with no or little English have jobs and families and get things done and certainly there is lots of critical thinking going on – and I’m looking for ways of bringing these experiences into the classroom to help teachers see that engaged learning does not have to wait till Englsh proficiency is achieved.

Here is my question, what strategies and approaches have others used that engage beginning level ESL learners in critical thinking?

I’m very much looking forward to this discussion

Heide Spruck Wrigley
Literacywork International
Mesilla, New Mexico

From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Taylor, Jackie
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:11 AM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2172] Introductions and Questions: Student Involvement and Critical Thinking

Dear Colleagues,
Wow – in the last two days approximately 40 individuals have subscribed to the PD List for the upcoming discussion of Student Involvement and Critical Thinking. Welcome to the list! :) I’m happy you’re here and I look forward to learning from your experiences.

I’d like to open the floor for questions so that our guests can prepare. Please post an introduction and your questions about student involvement and critical thinking to the list. If you wish to raise your questions anonymously, feel free to email me direct: jataylor at utk.edu<mailto:jataylor at utk.edu> and I will share your questions without attribution.

For background about the discussion and our guests, visit:

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/08student.html

Critical thinking and the intersection with student involvement is an area that we’ve not really articulated in-depth on this list. I’m excited about the opportunity to explore issues, strategies, and resources with you.

Happy 4th!

Best, Jackie

Jackie Taylor, Adult Literacy Professional Development List Moderator, jataylor at utk.edu<mailto:jataylor at utk.edu>


Discussion Announcement

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/08student.html

Beginning July 7 – 14, 2008 the Adult Literacy Professional Development List will host a guest discussion of Student Involvement and Critical Thinking in Adult Literacy. Join our guests Cynthia Peters, Editor of The Change Agent, and Marty Finsterbusch, Executive Director of VALUE, to share issues, strategies, and resources for instruction and staff development.

This discussion is the first in a mini-series of guest discussions this summer and fall on Literacy for Social Change. Join us now to plan instruction and staff development for fall.


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