Resources and Inspiration
Along my learning journey, I have been introduced to many useful and insightful ideas, techniques and inspiration that I will influence my future teaching. I believe teaching is a cyclical learning process in which we can always reflect or refresh with other professional research and information. As I embark into this profession, I aspire to use these sources to guide me during my practice and help each one of my students reach their individual potential and successes. As a second language teacher, I know there is a multitude of scholarly articles, books and presentations that can help me facilitate learning in my classroom. I plan to use these resources to help me discover who I am as a second language teacher and what my philosophies will be. I have provided a list of resources that I have been impacted by and want to include in my educational practice.
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” ― William Arthur Ward
1. Methods os Second Language Instruction
Different learning moments require different instruction. This information was taken from Adding English by Elizabeth Coelho and
Mastering ESL and Bilingual Methods by Socorro G. Herrera and Kevin G. Murray. This presentation will be useful for my students because I will know which appropriate learning moments require certain teaching methods. Furthermore, I will be able to tailor my instruction to the needs and the strengths of the learners in my classroom. As a beginning teacher I believe in a communicative and content-based instruction, so I will aim to be very project based in my assignments, have many visuals for students to refer to and to create authentic lesson plans that students can take beyond the walls of the school.
Methods of Second Language Instruction | |
File Size: | 238 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
2. Building Academic Vocabulary
Presentation created by Christine McCuaig
This PowerPoint presentation outlines six important steps to take when teaching vocabulary in the classroom. It gives clear instructions in how to meaningful implement new vocabulary, which is simple and beneficial to students as they will acquire new knowledge through these steps. As a new teacher, there are many opportunities for me to use this method in the classroom such as creating a word wall that we can develop throughout the school year together.
Building Academic Vocabulary | |
File Size: | 321 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
3. Academic Language Development
Presentation created by Christine McCuaig
This presentation explores the three components of language and how to implement them in learning. This will allow students to understand the reason as to why they are learning and language and what it can help them accomplish. It can also help the students get to know each other and discover how they can communicate to meet their needs. I think this is a great way to build relationships between the students as well as the teacher, and could be a great way for students to understand why they are learning the language. As a first year teacher I will aim to implement this presentation around the beginning of the year to start building connections.
Academic Language Development | |
File Size: | 3427 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
4. Words are Wonderful: Interactive, Time-Efficient Strategies to Teach Meaning Vocabulary
By Margaret Ann Richek
Richek, M. A. (2005). Words Are Wonderful: Interactive, Time-Efficient Strategies To Teach Meaning Vocabulary.The Reading Teacher, 58(5), 414-423.
This article from The Reading Teacher presents ideas and strategies to introduce and practice meaning vocabulary. This will be very useful to the students as they will begin to connect semantics to words that will develop deeper comprehension and expression in Spanish. As a new teacher, I believe it is important for students to have this knowledge and will strive to implement these strategies to ensure students are understanding the basic and complex concepts of each lesson/unit.
Words are Wonderful | |
File Size: | 2302 kb |
File Type: |
5. Vocabulary Instruction: Advice to New Teachers
By Elaine M. Bukowiecki
Bukowiecki, E. M. (2006). Vocabulary instruction: Advice to new teachers. The NERAJournal, 42(2), 29-40.
This is a wonderful article about helping new teachers find optimal and valuable instructional strategies and material for teaching vocabulary. This is valuable for students as it allows their vocabulary to grow using unique ideas. As I will be a new teacher I will follow this advice to assist my students in building their vocabulary.
Vocabulary Instruction: Advice to New Teachers | |
File Size: | 1058 kb |
File Type: |
6. Comprehension Instruction in Content Area Classes
By Paul Neufeld
Neufeld, P. (2005). Comprehension Instruction In Content Area Classes. The Reading Teacher, 59(4), 302-312.
This article explains intervention strategies to help students with comprehension while reading a text. The author's ideas will allow students to gain deeper understanding of what they are reading, which will also facilitate enjoyment. As a new teacher, I will incorporate intervention strategies such as "question, asking, answering", "overviewing the text" and "activating prior knowledge relevant to the text" in my teaching practice.
Comprehension Instruction | |
File Size: | 1085 kb |
File Type: |
7. Components of a Balanced Literacy Program
This chart will allow me to facilitate a balanced literacy program in my classroom. Ideas to encourage student comprehension and expression include read alouds, shared readings, guided readings, independent readings, modelled/shared readings, interactive writing and independent writing. I will incorporate these ideas during individual, buddy and at-home reading times.
Components of a Balanced Literacy Program | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: |
8. 20 Ways to Influence Vocabulary Acquisition for ELLs
By Robin H. Lock, Elizabeth A. Swanson & Dauna Howerton
Lock, R. H., Swanson, E. A., & Howerton, D. (2007). Influence Vocabulary Acquisition For English Language Learners. Intervention in School and Clinic, 42(5), 290-294.
This article provides 20 ideas how to help your ELLs learn a new language and increase their vocabulary banks. This will be very useful in student comprehension of everyday classroom life as well as course content. I will implement strategies such as using word maps, using keywords and pictures to help students make connections and provide opportunities for students to new words.
20 Ways to Influence Vocab Acquisition for ELLs | |
File Size: | 667 kb |
File Type: |
9. A Vygotskian Sociocultural Perspective on Immersion Education: The L1/L2 Debate
By Merrill Swain & Sharon Lapkin
Swain, M., & Lapkin, S. (2013). A Vygotskian sociocultural perspective on immersion education: The L1/L2 debate.Journal of Immersion and Content-Based Language, 1(1), 101-129.
This interesting article demonstrates different language teacher perspectives on the appropriate use of L1 & L2 in the classroom. It will be useful to students as the article considers different approaches to teaching different students and I will develop my own pedagogy to maximize student learning and success. As a new teacher, I will take these perspectives into mind and develop my own philosophy using their experiences as guidelines and expectations. Ultimatly, I will have to find what will work for me and my students to achieve optimal success.
A Vygotskian Sociocultural Perspective | |
File Size: | 210 kb |
File Type: |
10. What do we know about bilingual education for majority language students?
By Fred Genesee
Genesee, F. (2004). What do we know about bilingual education for majority language students. In T.K. Bhatia & W. Ritchie (Eds.), Handbook of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (pp. 547-576). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
This article puts forth interesting perspectives regarding issues in Bilingual Education for majority-language students. This will be useful to students as I can help them overcome the challenges that these students encounter while learning a new language. As a new teacher I can pay attention to these further research questions and look to find further understanding.
What do we Know about Bilingual Education | |
File Size: | 124 kb |
File Type: | what do we know about bilingual education |
11. Improving The Instructional Core
By Richard F. Elmore
Elmore, R. F. (2008). Improving The Instructional Core. Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from http://www.acsa.org/MainMenuCategories/ProfessionalLearning/CoachingMentoring/LeadershipCoaching/Coach-Resources/Imp-Instr-Core.aspx
Dr. Richard Elmore from Harvard University has written extensively about improving teaching practice through the Instructional Core. This will benefit students as I will be able to improve student learning by raising the level of content that is taught, increase the skill and knowledge, and help increase the level of students' active learning of the content.
12. What did you do in School Today?
By Sharon Friesen, J. Douglas Willms & Penny Milton
Friesen, S. (2009). What did you do in school today? Toronto, Canada: Canadian Education Association.
This initiative was designed to capture, assess and inspire new ideas for enhancing the learning experiences of adolescents in classrooms and schools. Students will gain new experiences in their education. As a teacher I will look to implement these new educational ideas into the classroom and steer away from the classic factory model.
What did you do in School Today? | |
File Size: | 972 kb |
File Type: | what did you do in school today |
13. Reading A-Z
http://www.readinga-z.com/translations/spanish/leveled-books/
This website contains Spanish Leveled books to ensure reading success in your classroom. Readers are engaging, developmentally appropriate and have 27 reading levels. Graduated levels of difficulty build students' confidence while increasing comprehension and fluency.
14. Reading Evaluation System
http://www.heinemann.com/fountasandpinnell/sel_Overview.aspx
Sistema de evaluación de la lectura is a one-on-one, comprehensive assessment to determine instructional and independent reading levels (A–N) for Spanish speaking students.
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway