Using Poetry to develop ELL's language skills

     In Guiding Readers and Writers, Fountas and state, “When you immerse your students in rich, lively poetry, you introduce them to intense, concise, skillfully crafted language.”

     After reading this quote, I was convinced that POETRY was the genre I needed to use with my 4th graders. At first I thought that it was going to be hard for them especially because of the similes, metaphors, and the intense language. However, they were fascinated!!! After learning a few elements and "how-to-read a poem" rule, they were immersed!!  

     Since my PD is on implementing the Reader's Workshop model in my Pull-out group, I thought I would share how this genre has helped me develop the workshop model. I start my providing a mini-lesson (lot's of modeling), next we work as a group, then individual reading (conferences), we finalized with a moment to share! I'm also having my students make the anchor charts for this unit....not too neat...but they're excited about their work!

     We had a great week reading a variety of poems. Next week we will be learning about Jorge's life through poems. I can't wait!! 

Enjoying Poetry! 

Poetry is a type of literature in which the sound and meaning of language are compiled to create ideas and feeling. "

------Arbuthnot

Literacy Night,

     I was super excited to be part of WM Irvin's first LITERACY night!!! Sarah and I had the opportunity to provide a session for our Latino parents.....in Español!!!
     Our session was based on guided reading levels. We explained parents how students are placed at each reading level, and informed them of the level that correspond to each grade level. We also displayed textbooks ranging from A to Z to give parents an idea of the text their students should be bringing home and reading. We emphasized the importance of reading every night for at least 20 minutes using the picture below!
     We had a good turn-out at our session....however, I was blown away when I went to the cafeteria and saw all the parents and students that attended the literacy night. Overall I thought it was a great success, and I have no doubt that our parents and students had a great time! Events like this would definitely bring our community and school closer together.

8 Ways to Foster Reading Growth in Multilingual Learners

     I chose to apply the Readers' Workshop Model in my pull-out ESL classes as my professional development this year.
     I have learned, through workshop trainings, the procedures to implement the Readers' Workshop Model, but I have not found enough strategies for teaching reading to ELLs' WHILE supporting LANGUAGE acquisition. This is why I found this information very useful.
     If you follow the link below, you can read with more details the 8 strategies that the author of Reading Problems: Assessment and Teaching Strategies recommends. These strategies not only provide a number of things to do to engage bilingual learners in reading, but also provide ways to teaching reading to ELLs' while supporting their language acquisition. This is an outline of the strategies provided in the book:

1. Use English Books.
2. Use Bilingual Books. 
3. Provide Many Opportunities to Use English.
4. Use Conversation About Books to Foster Natural Language Use. 
5. Use Language-Based Approach. 
6. Use Cooperative Learning.
7. Foster Home-School Collaboration.
8. Collaboration in the School.

     I think these strategies a great and will definitely help me while applying the Workshop model, and supporting my students' language acquisition.   

8 Ways to Foster Reading Growth in Multilingual Leaners