KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

Using the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics data, the Texas Education Agency reported vital methods for educators to employ for successfully teaching ELLs academic vocabulary in the "Academic Vocabulary for Fifth-to Seventh-Grade English Language Learners in Texas" article. Many of the things mentioned were included in chapter 9 of Kylene Beers' text When Kids Can't Read: What Teachers Can Do ; however there were some new techniques which I found useful enough to highlight. Students need to learn how words work; therefore, teach root words, prefixes and suffixes. Actively engage students in vocabulary building so they will take ownership of scaffolding their word knowledge -- include an array of visuals. Spend time developing common academic content terms for ELLs. Make time for students to read and to read a variety of texts. Capitalize students' knowledge of their first langua...

Urie Bronfenbrenner, a co-founder of the Headstart Program, developed the Human Ecology Theory (also known as the Ecological Systems theory). The Human Ecology Theory states that human development is influenced by the different environmental systems. This theory helps us understand why we may behave differently when we compare our behavior in the presence of our family and our behavior when we are in school or at work, etc. The Five Environmental Systems The ecological systems theory holds that we encounter different environments throughout our lifespan that may influence our behavior in varying degrees. These systems include the micro system , the mesosystem , the exosystem , the macro system , and the chronosystem . The micro system 's setting is the direct environment we have in our lives. Your family, friends, classmates, teachers, neighbors and other people who have a direct contact with you are included in your micro system. The micro system is the setting in whic...

As I prepare for my English teaching abroad experience, it is useful for me to read a collection of material I can use in helping English Language Learners (ELLs) establish a solid foundation for reading and communicate competence, in their writing. David and Yvonne Freeman’s (2004) book Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar describes useful theories, techniques, and practices to aid instructors in effectively educating ELLs. As the title suggests, there is a focus on phonics, spelling and reading, within developing a student’s phonetic schema. Throughout the text there is a consistent comparison of two theories, which concentrate on developing ELLs’ linguistic skills, for academic reading and writing.            World and Sociopsycholinguistic Recognition theories believe in two distinctive, opposing methods all students use to cultivate their language skills....

In investing the relationship between essential components of instruction in constructing students into good readers, Susan C Cantrell and Janis C. Carter found, the critical elements of reading success were comprehension instruction that provide students explicit comprehension strategies. Good readers do more than just read a text. They actively engage with the reading, including comprehending its purpose, developing questions about it, as well as the ability to discuss and analyze the text. Much like the articles Reading Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities and Developing Academic Literacy in Adolescent English Language , the research of Cantrell and Carter emphasizes students’ characteristics as key in developing connections to literary texts and assignments. Considering students’ ages, cultures, and interests and incorporating relevant associations is a motivator for learners. All these factors play a part in student learning and achievement. Once students are t...

"All students have different abilities, types of knowledge, and literacies; all students can benefit from engaging with texts in different ways and in different contexts." Allison Hitt When I think of Universal Design (UD) the rainbow comes to mind. To me, a rainbow symbolizes a group of individual colors bound together to make one overarching bridge. It is as simple as everyone identifying as one of the colors, connecting themselves to another person/color for a common interest. Resistan ce only makes things harder for of all us ; working toge ther welcomes harmony.   Allison Hitt, author of "Access for All: The Role of Dis/Ability in Multiliteracy Centers" believes writing pedagogy should support multi l iteracies that are accessible to a diverse range of students . As a future educator, I am inclined to agree with her and apply this to all forms of pedagogy. I f teachers spend more time thinking about all learning styles instead of student diagnoses t...

"Black English (BE) -- a linguistic variety of English that is socially stigmatized and is spoken by many, though certainly not all, African Americans" - Denise Troutman So here we go again with the labeling, stigma, and race attached to a style of discourse. Why do the labels African American Vernacular English and BE exist? And why do many people believe these labeled languages are specific to a single race or urban population? (Believe me, they are people in every racial group that use such language.) Since the term "Ebonics" jumped on the scene, I cannot tell you how many conversations I have engaged in regarding users of slang, who they are, and why they disgust prescriptivists. I absolutely loathe all the terms that are meant to describe the slang used by a single ethnic group -- especially when used as a tool of separation to highlight ignorance. They are written loosely in articles and discussions about spoken and written language. I find the terms of...

"We can't afford to make assumptions about our students' "intuitive" grasp of language and rhetorical effectiveness." - Bonnie Lisle and Sandra Mano Globalization continues to make the world seem smaller. When I read the articles in  The Times of India application on my cell phone much of the nation's news is includes major news in the US and in other countries.  As quickly as my CNN and GoogleNews apps update their national and international news, so do the foreign news sources. As a digital immigrant I find myself still amazed at how instant media can go viral. The intermingling of American news in India reminds me of the tossed salad of culture and languages that exist in the US. Educators are continuing to, voluntarily or under requirements, prepare themselves through literature, workshops, and observations for the growing number of students who they will successfully teach that have different language and ethnic backgrounds from their own. The ...