[NIFL-ESL:10847] Re: help with mixed level class

From: A. Gubin (gubinorama@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Apr 28 2005 - 12:13:55 EDT


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From: "A. Gubin" <gubinorama@yahoo.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10847] Re: help with mixed level class
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Hi all,

Thanks so much for the responses this far.  I am happy people are thinking of
ideas for me.  

Just a few qualifiers about my situation:

1) I am looking for activites that work well for both people who speak NO
English (as in they do not understand when you say "What's your name") and
advanced beginners.  The folks who speak NO English often have very low
literacy in their home languages.

2) I have NO fancy resources in the classroom.  No tape recorders, no tvs, no
computers, no electronic equipment of any kind.  Just me, a white board and the
students.

Thanks, 

Sandi




--- "Melvin Dr. Clark" <drclark@southtexascollege.edu> wrote:
> A really wonderful resource I've used is Dr. Clark's Multilevel ESL
> Handbook, 1990. Lots of activities and the "why" of multi-level grouping,
> etc. Of course, Dr. Clark is me! I've sold more than 500 through DELTA
> SYSTEMS, Chicago, but am now selling them out of my office. Let me know.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Debra
> Clouston
> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 10:22 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10845] Re: help with mixed level class
> 
> 
> If you have the resources, I would put them in groups and change out with
> activities.   Also, if you have a volunteer from a local literacy council, a
> church, or a higher level student in the class.   I'd bring that person into
> the picture as well.  
> 
> As far as resources, computers.    Rosetta Stone is a great software package
> that services students beginning to advanced.     Or, you could use cassette
> recorders with books on tape.  Hooked on Phonics.    OR, just make up your
> own games like concentration.   That's good for many topics.   Match
> numbers to numerals.   Match pictures to words.  
> 
> Reading aloud to the students using larger big books is good for all lower
> level students to see the written word.  They can follow while you read.
> 
> Also, there is a way of teaching with pictures that allows you to have
> communication from the basic level to a higher level at one time.   You have
> the lower students discuss who is in the picture, what kind of clothing they
> are wearing, make up jobs they might have, the advanced students would have
> a a higher level of response.  Your questions would be more detailed.  
> 
> Also, you could set up groups whereby when the higher students come in they
> work on a reading comprehension story and answer the questions together
> while you work with a lower group.   Then switch out so that you are working
> with the higher while the lower works together.   A volunteer could help
> with this in case the lower group gets stuck.
> 
> Watch Crossroads Cafe' video tapes together.   The workbooks are leveled to
> high, medium, low so that when they are working the follow-up, each would be
> working on their level.
> 
> I hope some of this helps.
> 
> Debra 
> 
> Debra Clouston, M.Ed.
> Director of Literacy/Basic Skills
> Craven Community College
> 800 College Court
> New Bern, NC 28562
> (252) 638-7246
> Fax: (252) 638-3538
> cloustod@cravencc.edu
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >>> gubinorama@yahoo.com 04/28/05 10:49AM >>>
> Hello all,
> 
> I need help figuring out some activities for a very mixed-level class.  
> 
> I teach an Advanced Beginner-Intermediate ESL class.  Last week, I taught a
> class with three new students  two of whom spoke hardly any English (They
> didn't understand "What's your name" and "Where are you from.")  and one of
> who
> spoke just a bit more.  The other three of my students were at the advanced
> beginner level; I was working on the simple past tense with them and prosody
> issues.  I had a hard time improvising activities for the class and that is
> why
> I am writing this list.  
> 
> Do you have ideas about activities that would work for such a mixed-level
> class
> as the one I describe above?  
> 
> I would appreciate both ideas for activities/teaching points the entire
> class
> can participate in at the same time AND ideas for activities that can occur
> side-by-side, e.g. half the class does a worksheet and the other half works
> with me.
> 
> Some background: I teach in a rolling admissions ESL program with very mixed
> level classes (mixed both in terms of language ability and literacy).  I am
> used to teaching in this environment, but earlier this week, I got thrown
> for a
> loop.  
> 
> Thanks!  
> 
> Sandi
> Gubinorama at yahoo  
> 
> 
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