CSLP Microteach Reflection

Last Tuesday in class I presented a lesson on Langston Hughes' short story entitled "Thank You M'am. The lesson began with a free write asking "Have you ever been caught doing something you knew was wrong? How did the other person react? How did you feel? Did it cause you to change the way you acted or felt?" Students were given three minutes to respond to the question, and then shared some of their experiences. As students shared, I wrote some of their responses on the board, specifically those words that would related to the plot of the short story.

Due to the limited time, I had to "fast foward" and present the comprehension strategy before the class had read the story. The strategy I showed was a graphic organizer called PAST intended to group information about a character or person. PAST stands for Physical Characteristic, Actions, Sayings, and Thoughts/Feelings. Students are supposed to find examples in the text that describe the character and organize these examples into the four categories.

In preparing for this lesson, I wanted to find a text that was short and focused on character development, rather than action. "Thank You M'am" has only two characters, is often used in Common Core, and the reading difficultly seemed appropriate for this level 3 English Learners. I think the strategy worked well with this story, and students can see the various ways in which an author may describe a character.

If I was to present this lesson again in a condensed format, I would choose a somewhat shorter text so there would be time for the class to read before using the graphic organizer. I would also spend less time with the free write and more time explaining and modeling the use of PAST. However, these critiques would probably not apply if I had a normal class time to present this lesson.

Overall, I think the lesson went well, since the strategy is easy to use, and it can be adapted to different contexts. Previously, I have used this organizer to generate information about a person in the students' lives, and it could also be used about an important person in a given field, like science or history. In the end, I hope my classmates understand more about the needs of English Learners in class and simple strategies they can use to support these students in their classes.

Chapter 2: New Literacies for English Learners

The reading this week dealt with the concept of new literacies in the classroom. New literacies are described as texts that incorporate print, audio, video, and graphic design and are often found on the internet or in other media sources. The authors explain how these texts require a different interaction from students. While print-based texts are read linearly and experienced in the nearly same way by every student, reading of digital texts is "individualized and proceeds in a nonlinear fashion, based on the immediate interests and characteristics of the reader" (p. 33). Students can move between elements in digital text with just the click of a link, personalizing the experience for each reader.

 While the book notes how children today are considered "digital natives," it is important to remember that many students, especially those who have recently immigrated to this country, may not be comfortable using technology. For these students, it is important to be explicit with our expectations in the use of digital text. Internet or computer workshops are a great way to familiarize students with technology and support its use in developing language and literacy. Teachers can walk students through their interaction with a text, using a "think-aloud" process to model what information is important and what can be ignored.

Despite this initial challenge, the use of digital texts can greatly support struggling readers and writers. The authors note how digital texts often incorporate multiple modes of representation, such as audio, video or picture, to support information in print. Many websites also include hypertext that may link to "pronunciations, definitions, and explanations of keywords and terms" (p. 37). Teaching students to use these resources effectively allows them to access individual support, which can be in short supply in a crowded classroom. Advanced students would enjoy creating their own hypertexts, while they are required to think more holistically and extend their learning into multiple formats.

Chapter 5 & 10: Public Writing: Process and Product

The reading for this week focused on the concept of "public writing" in secondary classrooms. Private writing, or writing to learn, is writing that is intended for the individual. It is used to explore ideas, and the focus is on content, not on grammar, vocabulary, spelling or punctuation. For this reason, private writing can be extremely useful in a language classroom, as it lowers students' affective filters and allows them to develop their thoughts. In an earlier post, I presented a lesson that could be used in an ESL classroom. Public writing, on the other hand, is writing that is intended to be viewed by others. As Daniels, Zemelman & Steineke explain, public writing is "intentional, highly polished pieces that can go out into the world, connect with real readers, get some work done, and stand up to scrutiny" (p. 112).

Often, language teachers are afraid to incorporate substantial writing projects into the classroom for fear that students do not have the skills to write extended pieces and they will be overwhelmed. However, students who are supported through the writing process will be motivated to write and through writing, students can develop their language. The Spanish teacher at my school uses a technique called TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling). She has taught with various methods over her 50 year career, and she swears by the effectiveness of learning language through writing stories.

In Chapter 5, the authors list a number of strategies to make the writing process for manageable for teachers and enjoyable for students. The first is choice; when students can explore a topic that is relevant to their lives, they are more motivated to create. Second, students should be given time to write in class. This is part of providing support during the writing process; students can do much better in class with teacher and peer support than they can at home by themselves. The third is feedback: all writers, even professionals, need feedback during the writing process before they present a finished product. Feedback doesn't have to only come from the teacher, but students can work together to help develop each others pieces.

Chapter 8: Vocabulary Building in the Language Classroom

This chapter underlines the importance of vocabulary instruction for developing readers. Oftentimes in language classes, vocabulary is taught by categories: greetings, days of the week, vocabulary used in the home or school. Words become something that are memorized, divorced from context and quickly forgotten by students. In my own language learning experience, I have a hard time recalling the words for "armchair" or "blouse," yet I can easily remember the words I have used and interacted with in a meaningful way.

When it comes to reading texts, language teachers frequently rely on dictionaries to supply unknown definitions for students. Many teachers view this as a self-efficacy strategy, where students are in charge of their own learning and should know how to help themselves. Yet, the books expertly notes that being told to look in a dictionary is often seen as a dismissal by students, indicating that the teacher has no desire to help. Dictionaries are daunting to students, especially struggling readers. Consulting a dictionary breaks the "flow" of reading a text and can cause students to become distracted. In addition, with students who are unfamiliar with the nuances of a language, dictionaries can be used incorrectly. A French professor I had in college related a story of a beginner student who wrote the sentence, "La porte est un pot," meaning "The door is a jar." What he had meant to say is "The door is ajar," in the sense of being open, but the dictionary (or Google Translate) lead him to the incorrect word. (She ended up having to ask the student exactly what he had meant to say.)

This chapter has excellent strategies that students can use to find meaning in words without consulting a dictionary. The first approach is to use context clues to help define a word. The authors note how syntax and semantics often give an indication as to the meaning. Language learners would benefit from being explicitly told that "is" and "are called" are often followed by a definition of a term. Students can also use surrounding words or sentences to approximate an understanding of a word. Page 269 has a wonderful list of contextual clues that could be taught as reading strategies.

Another beneficial approach for language learners is the use of word structure to define unknown words. The teaching of common prefixes and suffixes will help students get a general idea of a term, which, along with context clues, could give an adequate definition. Bilingual students can build on their strengths through the use of cognates. Especially for speakers of Romance languages, many specialized terms are similar in English due to their Latin root. It should be noted, however, that this strategy only works if the bilingual speakers are familiar with the terms in their native language.

Chapter 3: Cultural Response in Classrooms

This week's reading touched on a lot of important aspects of developing literacy for English learners. While teachers of ESL are familiar with all of these approaches, it is important for content-area teachers to learn strategies that will benefit English learners. In fact, these methods will benefit all students, struggling and proficient learners alike.

One of the most important aspects of developing literacy for English learners is integrating multicultural texts into the curriculum. For immigrants or students who speak a language other than English at home, this serves to draw on background knowledge and show students their cultural perspective is valued at school. The text offers a good list of questions on page 56 to see whether a certain text should be included in the classroom. It is important that multicultural perspectives are included in a meaningful way, using the transformative approach, as the authors describe it. Other approaches, especially in content-area classrooms, reflect "the surface level of a culture but does not make provision for in-depth study of its deeper elements" (p. 55).

An excellent way to include different cultural perspectives in a classroom is through the use of Funds of Knowledge (Moll, L, 1994). Funds of Knowledge seeks to incorporate knowledge that is valued in the community into the classroom curriculum. For instance, seeing that a student's parent is a builder in the community, a math unit could be developed around building a house or a social studies unit focused on different building materials in different cultures. This information is gathered through home interviews with students' families using an ethnographic approach that is non-judgmental. Next week, for another class at St. Thomas, I will be conducting a Funds of Knowledge interview with a Hmong woman and learning more about the values and strengths of that community. My professor explained that even a mediocre school using a Funds of Knowledge approach would be wildly successful, and it is especially important for recent immigrants and long-term English learners.

Inherent in this approach is the importance of valuing students' native languages and including them in the classroom. Often, schools think that English-only education benefits students by immersing them in a language that is necessary for their future success. However, the authors note that "when immigrant students maintain a strong identification with their culture and native language, they are more likely to succeed academically, and they have more positive self-concepts about their ability to learn" (p. 66). It is also important to note that any knowledge students have of their L1 will transfer to their L2, so it is in everyone's best interest for students to maintain proficiency in their native language.

Another important point that the chapter touches on is the difficulty students face when their background differs from the school culture and the assumptions that lie there within. Particularly for newly arrived students or those with interrupted or limited formal schooling, they may be unfamiliar with the expectations of teachers and the school in general. For these students, it is crucial that teachers are explicit with their expectations. The introduction of a classroom routine can also help students acclimate and understand school culture.

Chatper 10: Graphic Organizers for Organized Reading

The chapter this week focused on the importance of noticing text structure when approaching a reading task. The authors explain that "perceiving structure in text material improves learning and retention" (Vacca, Vacca & Mraz, 2011, p. 319). When students see the relationship between different ideas, they organize their knowledge in a similar fashion, allowing deeper comprehension and better recall.

The authors point to two different kinds of text structure, external and internal. The external structure refers to the features built into a text to facilitate reading. For instance, a textbook will generally have information organized into chapters, with different subject categorized by headings and sub-headings. Additional text guides are found in the table of contents or appendices.

The internal structure indicates the manner in which the author organizes his/her ideas. The authors note that good readers search out the internal text structure which helps them to "differentiate the important ideas from less important ideas in the material" (Vacca, Vacca & Mraz, 2011, p. 320). For language learners, identifying the text structure can help to anticipate certain vocabulary or grammatical structures. The book has a list of signal words associated with each type of text structure on page 323.

Graphic organizers are a great way for students to see how texts are structured and distinguish main ideas from supporting details. Education Place features a fantastic list of graphic organizers at their website, and they are also available in Spanish. Of course, the structure of the graphic organizer should follow the structure of the text or what you want students to get out of the text. As Vacca, Vacca & Mraz note, "Authors do not write in neat, perfectly identifiable patterns," and they often use several different structures within one text. The teacher's job is to identify the text structure that best serves their instructional purpose.

As Frye & Frager (2010) mention in Focus on the Essentials of Reading Instruction, "good reading instruction is grounded in the gradual release of responsibility from the teacher to the students" (p. 57). Graphic organizers are a great scaffolding method for beginning or struggling readers, but as students progress, the responsibility should shift to them to identify text structure and organize it in a way that makes sense. With plenty of practice, students will understand how to identify important information and how that information is structured. Eventually, students can make their own graphic organizers to organize their reading.

Poetry Content Area Resource Collection

Poetry for English Language Learners

Grade 5-12, English as a Second Language

Brenner, Barbara. (Ed.). (2000). Voices: Poetry and Art from Around the World. Washington D.C.: National Geographic.

What? Voices is a collection of poems from different authors from around the world. The poetry is organized by continent, and each section contains poems from several different countries spanning from ancient times to modern day. There are typically 2-3 poems per page, and they have been translated into English, if written in another language originally. The books also features artistic works from the various regions interspersed with the writing.

So What? Voices would be a great introduction to distinct styles and forms of poetry from around the world. Students can find poems and poets from their region of the world, and this diverse collection has works that will appeal to all different kinds of people. This book will show students that poetry is something that all people share, regardless of culture or language.

Now What? I would use this book to find different poems to which my students can relate, based on their country of origin or their particular interests or experiences. Seeing people from their own culture write about their experiences will be inspirational when my students begin to write their own poetry. For a specific lesson, I could use this book to find poetry exhibiting a particular form, a particular topic, or that uses a particular stylistic device. This could also be a reference for me to seek out poems in the native languages of my students.

Janeczko, Paul B. (Ed.). (2009). A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms.  

What? A Kick in the Head is a children’s book that compiles poems in various styles along with colorful illustrations by Chris Raschka. This book uses well-known English poetry to catalog 29 different poetic forms, such as the aubade, elegy, couplet, pantoum, and sonnet. A definition of each form is provided underneath with poem, with more information available in the endnotes. The illustrations also help to bring interest to each poem.

So What? Familiarity with different genres of poetry is required of students under the MN English Language Arts Standards. This books presents the different poems in any interesting way, and the visuals images scaffold comprehension for English learners. Each poetic genre is cleary defined, and the poem itself provides a model for students to use when writing their own works.

Now What? I would use this book throughout a poetry unit to showcase different genres. Learning the different forms of poetry is very helpful for ELLs, because they can easily follow the “formula” to write their own poems. Throughout the unit, students would learn about the different forms before trying to write their own.

Morice, Dave. (2002). Poetry Comics: An Animated Anthology. New York: T&W Books.

What? Dave Morice is a visual artist who illustrates well-known poems in a comic book style. Poetry Comics is a collection of many of his previous works, including Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” Emily Dickinson’s “Poem 303,” and Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” a panel of which can be seen at the right. The book also contains step-by-step guide to creating your own poetry comics. Much of Morice’s other work can be accessed through his website: http://www.poetrycomicsonline.com/ 

So What? Morice’s artwork is great at showing the narrative nature of poetry by illustrating the story it tells. This is incredibly beneficial for English learners who can draw on the visual imagery to support unknown vocabulary or grammatical structures. Morice’s work also includes canonical poems that are used in many English literature classes, such as Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” so I could even use this book to provide support to ELLs in a general education English class.

Now What? I would use this book to introduce and analyze different poems throughout the unit. Students would also get the chance to create their own comic from an existing poem, with help from the instructions provided in the book. This would be a great form of assessment, for students must show their comprehension through illustrations that make sense to the content of the poem.

Creech, Sharon. (2001). Love That Dog. New York: Harper Collins.

What? Love That Dog is a novel written in free verse from the perspective of a boy named Jack who is studying poetry with his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry. Jack’s book begins with the words: “I don’t want to / because boys / don’t write poetry. / Girls do.” (p. 1), indicating his resistance to studying poetry. Jack’s perspective beings to change as he studies a variety of poems (which are all included at the back of the book). He comes to find a favorite in Dean Myer’s “Love That Boy,” which reminds him of his father and his old yellow dog, Sky.

So What? The book is written in the form of a response journal, with each passage in free verse. Students will see that reading poetry is a constructive process and ideas will change over time. Students can get inside the mind of Jack as a reader (who is responding to poetry he has read) and as a writer (who is creating the words on the page). They will also learn that poetry can take a variety and deal with a variety of subjects, even the very mundane.

Now What? I would use this book at the end of the unit, when students can draw on their own study of poetry and will be familiar with some of the same works that Jack studies. I plan to use response journals in class, so students will already be familiar with the format. This book will also help students to see the wide range of what can be considered “poetry” and help them to reassess their previous conceptions. Free verse is a great option for beginning writers because there are no “rules,” unlike the previous genres studied in class.

Poets & Writers. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.pw.org

What? Poets & Writers is a non-profit organization that supports creative writers. Their website features interesting news items, writing prompts, suggestions for new writers and links to writing contents across the country. Poets & Writers also publishes a bimonthly magazine in print and online.

So What? Poets & Writers is a great resource for someone like me who has little to no experience in writing poetry, let alone in guiding others to do it! The website features weekly poetry writing prompts which I could modify to suit my curriculum and the students’ levels of proficiency. The “Daily News” tab also offers interesting information that I could connect to lessons about poetry or other literature.

Now What? Due to its complexity and challenging language, I would not expect my students to access the Poets & Writers website. However, for a student who is very interested in continuing with writing and would like to pursue more information, I would offer this as a great resource. I would love to see my students compete in a writing contest or to receive a grant from writing, but that would depend on the group of students and their interest. I can keep this website in “my back pocket” for occassions that I would need information about this.

Watt Pad. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.wattpad.com

What? Watt Pad is a social network where users can share their writing and respond to what others have written. The website features a wide range of genres, from poetry and adventure to fan-fiction and vampire. Users can connect with other writers and get feedback on their writing or just browse through topics that interest them. Watt Pad is currently available in 25 languages other than English.

So What? Watt Pad is a great way for students to publish their writing and get feedback from others (not just me and their classmates). This forum also gives students a purpose to their writing, so they will be more motivated to create meaningful writing. Since Watt Pad is available in several different languages, students could also share writing done in their native language.  In addition, students can read poetry written by other people their age who share similar experiences that are not typically addressed in class curriculums.

Now What?  I would introduce this website at the end of our study so that students could share poetry they have written during the unit. Throughout the class, students would hear of the importance of feedback and editing in the creation of good writing. Watt Pad is another avenue for students to hear other people’s reactions. If students are reluctant to share individually, we could create a class page. In general, I think students will be excited to show others what they have created.

Fleischman, Paul. (2004). Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. New York: Harper Collins.

What? Joyful Noise is a collection of poetry that is written in two “voices.” Each poem features two columns, indicating the words spoken by each person. At points the speakers alternate, other times speaking in unison, and sometimes speaking complementary phrases. These poems can be enjoyed silently or read aloud by one or more people.

So What? The poetry in this book is a great representation of the concept of “voice,” and it shows students how that can be used in a playful way. Joyful Noise also serves as an introduction to the aural nature of poetry that could extend itself to a study of music and song lyrics.

Now What? The language in this book is fairly simple, and the poems could easily be read aloud, as a way to build fluency. With practice, the poems could also be presented as a form of reader’s theater. In writing poems like this, students would practice taking different perspectives and expressing those through different voices. Students would also enjoy writing together with a partner or in a small group.

Devlin, Paul (Director). (1998). Slam Nation: The Sport of Spoken Word [Motion Picture]. United

States: Devlin Pix.

What? Slam Nation is a documentary film that follows the 1996 National Poetry Slam in Portland, Oregon. The story focuses on the Nuyorican Poetry Slam team which features Saul Williams, Beau Sia, muMs da Schemer and Jessica Care Moore. The film was one of the first to document a poetry slam, where randomly chosen members of the audience score the poets on a scale of one to ten, with the highest scoring team winning.

So What? Slam poetry is a genre of poetry to which students may not be exposed in a typical classroom. The rhythm inherent in spoken poetry and the physicality of the performers helps to scaffold comprehension for English learners. The performances by these artists are so engaging that I hope my students will be inspired in writing their own works.

Now What? Since much of the film features inappropriate language, I would need to only show clips or purchase the educational version. After watching this film, I would have students create poems in this style or perform poems that they have already written. In addition, I would love to have a local slam poet visit the class to talk about their experiences and help students to create their own works.