Read, Technology, and Learning Theories!

Please follow this link to learn about Reading and Technology with a little Learning Theory sprinkled on top for flavor.

Learning to Read

Reading... how to get it right!

If you or someone you know is learning to read - regardless of your/their age - here is the perfect place for you!

Check out this video that is an introduction to how to learn (and teach) to read and the importance of a process using familiar text (books you have seen or read before), every day items, and technology in this process. Below you will find some links on the pictures and on the text. Don't miss out!

This first part explains the reasoning and is mainly for those who can read, i.e. teachers, parents, coaches, etc. (Go to #3 if you just want to start playing... I mean, reading!):

1. Environmental print is very important in learning to read. Here are some great examples, lessons, and more!

 

2. Create a print-rich environment at home or at school by labeling everything! Yes, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

 

3. (Click on any of the links and start learning!) Since most people have access to the internet and computers/ipads/smartphones, here are some great sites, videos, and games to help you learn to read or teach others to read!

 

Click HERE to hear this four-step process that will help you teach someone to read. It is simple to follow and very effective. This should take from 30-45 minutes.

1. Read four familiar items - could be a book, a game, a website, anything that the person has seen before and knows without much help from you.

2. Write a "story" using the person's knowledge (even if it is just one letter or sound) which contains high frequency words. This story can be a book or a 1-3 sentence thought which is easy for the person to remember. In the earlier stages of learning to read, the story must be represented by a drawing or image to trigger the memory for unknown words.

3. Introduce a new item - book, game, website, etc. by making sure to give enough information for the person to be successful when reading it (give the main idea, tricky words, unusual structures, etc.).

4. The learner takes the new item and, with your assistance, reads it. Go over words they did not understand and practice them using a dry erase board or magnetic letters in order to help them learn it.

IMPORTANT: anything you (or the person you're helping) learned new today must be revisited tomorrow. The goal of these four steps is to learn and teach new vocabulary. Make sure you are presenting and looking at the vocabulary in various ways.

Now, enjoy your success! 

Please follow this link to another great presentation on how technology helps with reading.

Need more ideas for ESL development? Yay!

You've come to the right place!

Have an idiom of the week! You could use a bunch of different resources to find idioms, including websites such as this. And of course BrainPOP!

Try tongue twisters. We love them and they're fun and can help with fluency! Here are some ideas.

Write! Every day! Use cool pictures instead of prompts to get the brain juices flowing! National Geographic Kids is always a great place to find some awesome pictures to write about!

Interview someone! First you must have some questions for them (or just one question they can expand on). What are you curious about learning about them? Some basic questions: Where were you born? What time were you born? What is your favorite... song, color, movie, saying? What is your happiest memory? One word to describe you would be _____? What advice would you give your parents? If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? What do you like to do for fun? What was the nicest thing you did for someone? What is the grossest thing you can think of? (Remember you can always ask 'why?' after their answer!) etc...

Explain a cultural rule, custom, or word to somebody else. For example, ¡me encanta! means I love it! Encantar can be translated to enchant... so, basically it means "I am enchanted by _____!"

These are probably enough for now! Leave ideas and come back often!

Welcome to open house!

Today we are so excited because parents and students will come visit the school! There are awesome things going on at E A Jones! One thing all of us Second Language Learners can always improve on is our vocabulary! Here are some great ideas to help you learn and use new vocabulary. First here you can find the Fort Bend ISD word wall words for some grades (the rest will be up soon): K 1st 2nd
Now, what can I do with all these words?
Make flash cards so you can quiz yourself or make it a game with someone else.
Use as many words as you can daily.
Write the words whenever you are writing (list, letter, story, book report, etc.)
Use magnetic letters to make your words on the fridge or washing machine.
Make a crossword using several words and their definitions (make one using pencil/pen and paper or make one on one of the many crossworld puzzle maker programs on the internet).
Write a personal narrative (story about you) using as many new vocabulary words you can think of.
Read! Read! Read! Reading is the best way to develop a great vocabulary!

That's all for now! Come back soon!

¡Feliz mes de la hispanidad!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

We celebrate Hispanic/Latino heritage from September 15-October 15. This is the month when a lot of Spanish-speaking countries celebrate their independence.

There are many great sites about this great month! You can start here. And you can also find some great information on brainPOP (you know you love it!)

Why these dates?? Well... The following Latin American countries celebrate their independence today, September 15: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates their independence tomorrow and maybe you can catch a celebration of "El grito" somewhere (find out what that is all about here) & Chile (the country, not the spice that makes you grab water or ask got milk?) celebrates theirs September18. Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period (so does my birthday... hmmm wonder if that had anything to do with it??).

Here are some quick ideas so you can have fun during this month:

• Make a timeline about the countries mentioned above and their independence
• Learn a few Spanish songs... start here with Tengo una vaca lechera (it's a nursery rhyme)
• Research famous Latinos/Hispanics. I bet you know several!
• Learn some Spanish words and practice them with your friends. You can start with some animal words here!
• Make some maracas and play for all your friends (you know... those colorful egg shaped instruments that have a handle and ... well, below is a picture of one), Just get a toilet paper roll, cover one end with duct tape, put some beans or rice in it and cover the other end with duct tape and ¡olé! you have a maraca!

More ideas coming soon!

¡Adiós!

Please watch the video and tell me all you have learned! Enjoy!
Here's looking at an amazing new school year!

Carnage