A teacher’s contribution to literacy and mLearning

Email: [email protected] Twitter: @KeywordsEnglish Facebook.com/keywordsenglish

Academic language for school

An Irish Teacher’s Contribution to

Literacy and mLearning

Joanna NortonEducator

Teacher-EducatorMobile Content Entrepreneur

My journey from educator, teacher-educator to mobile content entrepreneur started in classrooms in north London. I grew extremely frustrated by the numbers of young people with low levels of literacy and the lack of appropriate content to support diverse learning needs in multilingual classrooms.



I started using mobile phones for teaching and learning in 1996, which allowed me engage with young people through a medium they related to. At the same time I started to travel to the villages, towns and cities that many of our students are from, in an attempt to present learning from an non ethno-European perspective.

I believe that mobile devices have the capacity to both democratise education and provide a highly personalised learning experience. I started to develop Keywords English, a research-based app, in an attempt to support young people with the academic language of school. I also developed supplementary worksheets for whole class instruction, support classes, and for content teachers in the area of language and literacy. .

I hope you and your students enjoy using these worksheets and app, which are free to use, and that they help progress all learning to the next level.



Keywords English Worksheets Keywords English App

VocabularyAcademic language for school


A simple activity to pre-teach vocabulary to ensure students understand the core meaning of the reading task.

Reading taskAcademic language for school


Here students are required to infer meaning from context. The students are also reminded about the importance of good writing.

Multi-choiceAcademic language for school


This multi-choice activity tests comprehension of the keywords in context.

Matching activityAcademic language for school


Can be used to test prior knowledge, test comprehension, or be used for revision and consolidation purposes.

Parts of speechAcademic language for school


An activity that helps students identify the form of each of the keywords.

Word stressAcademic language for school


Breaking words into syllables and then identifying the syllable with the main stress, supports clear communication.

Spell the keywordAcademic language for school


Students can work alone or in pairs to identify the correct spelling of the keywords.

Spelling (in pairs)Academic language for school


An additional spelling activity that can also develop oral skills. Students can work in pairs to support each other.

SnapAcademic language for school


Can be used as a pre-teaching exercise, to check comprehension, consolidate learning or for revision purposes.

SnapAcademic language for school


Can be used as a pre-teaching exercise that checks comprehension, consolidate learning or supports revision.

Classroom-based evidenceAcademic language for school

Usefulness 100%

Usefulness 100% Relevant 100%

Relevant 100%

Student feedback on worksheetsStudent feedback on worksheets

Support with keywords 100%

Support with keywords 100% Understand the topic 100%

Understand the topic 100%

“I would like to do more work on pronunciation. Science words are difficult to say.”“I would like to do more work on pronunciation. Science words are difficult to say.”


Can be used as a pre-teaching exercise, to check comprehension, consolidate learning or for revision purposes.

Students were asked to rate their experience of using the worksheets and how well the worksheets supported their learning.

Preparation for user-generated content



The next stage is to get students to create their own content. These photos, which are models, were taken in Co. Cork, Ireland and shared with teachers.

User-generated content



ESOL students at the College of Haringey Enfield and North East London used the worksheets and went on to create their own content.




Students were shown the models and then asked to create images of the keywords they learnt and showcase them in their community.




These photos of the keywords for photosynthesis, were taken by students on Arranmore island, Co. Donegal, Ireland.




Students in Adıyaman, eastern Turkey, are about to start developing their own content on the topic of photosynthesis.

More information



Link to worksheets: http://www.keywordsenglish.com/?p=565

Download the Keywords English app to learn about photosynthesis at your own pace.

Download the Keywords English app to learn about photosynthesis at your own pace.

I really want to understand science.

I really want to understand science.

http://www.keywordsenglish.com/?p=565

A teacher’s contribution to literacy and mLearning

Education

Transcript of A teacher’s contribution to literacy and mLearning