[NIFL-ESL:10848] Re: help with mixed level class

From: Melvin Dr. Clark (drclark@southtexascollege.edu)
Date: Thu Apr 28 2005 - 13:11:01 EDT


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From: "Melvin Dr. Clark" <drclark@southtexascollege.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10848] Re: help with mixed level class
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 Sandi: You might want to consider allowing time to upgrade skills in Native
Language (provide you are trained in it), upon which to build a bridge, etc.
However, if more than one native language is represented, this would not be
feasible I understand. Also, a multi-level approach is possible by "laying"
the same lesson and giving it multiple times, starting with the most
advanced group up to the lowest group. This way, the lower groups are able
to "rehearse" the lesson before it actually arrives at their tables, etc.
Think about it. I have written quite extensively on this topic. Dr.
Clark/Texas

-----Original Message-----
From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov
To: Multiple recipients of list
Sent: 4/28/2005 11:13 AM
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10847] Re: help with mixed level class

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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