USING THINKING MAPS TO SUPPORT LEARNING FOR ELLSGHS Faculty Meeting

November 4, 2009

GHS ESL PROGRAM GOALS

Provide focused instruction in English according to the Tennessee State Standards for ESL.

Provide support for learning in other subject areas. Communication with classroom teachers.

Emails, Progress Reports, Conferences. Help students to fill in gaps in background

knowledge. Help teachers to provide students with necessary

modifications for success. Read tests aloud. Simplify test language.

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH ELLS

Focus on main ideas Use lots of visuals

Pictures Thinking Maps Colors to organize notes

Provide word banks / word choices Don’t assume…

ELLs might not ask questions if they don’t understand

ELLs might not have the same background knowledge as other students

Re-explain using simple English or synonyms

MODIFICATIONS

Presentation of Content Simplify language Use visuals: pictures, Thinking Maps Pre-teach vocabulary Demonstrate concepts

Testing Shorten tests to focus on main ideas Simplify test language Read test aloud Assign alternate assessment (project instead of

test) Grading

Assign grades based on improvement

WHAT DO ELLS NEED TO LEARN?

Social English (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) Daily interactions

Academic English (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency)

More abstract, precise, higher-order thinking skills

Necessary to express the content knowledge they already have & to process new content

Content Culture

MOTIVATION

“I don’t understand.” Lack language, content area or cultural

knowledge. “I don’t want to be here.”

Did not choose to come here, left friends and family behind, don’t fit in.

Graduation from GHS does not necessarily open doors to further opportunities.

USE A BUBBLE MAP TO DESCRIBE A CHARACTER IN ENGLISH CLASS

Mary Malone

y

observant

impulsive

Kills her husband without premeditation

clever

1. Listens for the sounds of her husband coming home

2. Knows that something is wrong

3. Knows about police procedures

theatrical

1. Creates an alibi2. Invites police

officers to stay for dinner to eat the murder weapon

1. Able to convince Sam that everything is ok

2. Puts on a show of grief, but laughs as the men eat the murder weapon

USE A CIRCLE MAP TO DEFINE THE GREAT DEPRESSION

Great Depression

Stock market crash

Dust bowl High unemployment

Migrant workersNew Deal

Textbook

Primary Sources

John Steinbeck

Make comparisons by creating a 2nd circle map.

Finally, transfer to a double bubble map.

USE A TREE MAP TO TAKE NOTES IN MATH CLASS

Types of Angles

Acute Angles Right Angles Obtuse Angles

Less than 90° Exactly 90°

More than 90°