The Teaching English as a Second Language Program has been an unbelievable journey of personal geographic expedition and find. Get downing with Jimenez ( 2010 ) constructing the foundation of how a 2nd linguistic communication is acquired through the features of linguistic communication like pragmatics, semantics, sentence structure, morphology, and phonemics Jimenez discussed the acquisition of a 2nd linguistic communication. In ulterior classs legion experts in the field of instruction explored abundant schemes that further the apprehension and the academic promotion of English Language Learners ( ELL ) . From constructing background, vocabulary development, aid with written look to assistance in reading and composing development, to cooperative acquisition and other schemes to back up the academic and linguistic communication growing in English Language Learners. One of the frequent attacks discussed involves incorporating engineering in the schoolroom. Noyes ( 2010 ) and Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) mentioned the advantage of using engineering to profit 2nd linguistic communication pupils. Technology can be used to heighten pupil larning in many ways. This paper will foreground utilizing engineering to better reading, math, societal surveies and scientific discipline course of study, vocabulary, and composing.
Using Technology in the Classroom
There are legion resources available online at no cost to instructors, pupils, or to households. This makes the cyberspace a valuable web of thoughts for instructors, a great beginning of aid for pupils and their households, and a topographic point that provides many chances for pupils to pattern constructs and farther academic advancement. Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) and Noyes ( 2010 ) had many thoughts of how to utilize the cyberspace to help 2nd linguistic communication pupils. In fact, about every subject from “ A to Z ” that Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) covered incorporated the cyberspace, computing machines, or other engineering in some manner. Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) shared that it is critical that pedagogues stay informed about new promotions in engineering, because today ‘s pupils are the leaders of tomorrow. Many illustrations of incorporating engineering in the schoolroom exist. The reminder of the paper will discourse some ways to integrate engineering to foster the linguistic communication and academic abilities of English Language Learners.
Audio Books and Books Online
Decoding text and reading comprehension is frequently a job for English Language Learners ( Jimenez, 2010 ; Noyes, 2010 ) . A figure of synergistic resources exist for pupils to listen to both the work of good known writers ‘ and other narratives utilizing audio books and the cyberspace. Noyes ( 2010 ) believes that when pupils can see a deeper degree of apprehension, through the usage of audio books and images, they can develop a deeper significance of the content. Echevarria, Vogt, and Short ( 2004 ) agree that pupils non merely necessitate chances to pattern their new linguistic communication ( English ) , but they besides need ample chances to hear it. Listening and following along with audio books and books online provides pupils with this really of import opportunity.
Storyline Online ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.storylineonline.net/ ) Students can take from many good known books at this site. The books are read by famous persons like Betty White, James Earl Jones, and Al Gore. As the talker reads the narrative the pupil can follow along with the words at the underside of the page. The images from the book are besides displayed.
Book Hive ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.plcmc.org/bookhive/ ) Book Hive is another resource for instructors and pupils that provides links to listen to narratives. The kids may non hold heard of these narrative Tellers, but they are surprisingly animated. The narratives include many childhood favourites like Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Technology Teaching Concepts, Ltd. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.techteachconcepts.com/online_stories.htm ) This site was developed by a instructor and includes many synergistic chances for pupils get downing to read. The website Begins with alive images and sounds to assist kids larn to read. Some narratives have complete audio aid ; others have fill in the spaces and pupils can take which word they want to utilize. Popular narratives include Clifford, Berenstein Bears, faery narratives, and even goodnight narratives. This would even be a great resource for parents to utilize at place.
Childs Corner ( hypertext transfer protocol: //wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm ) Beatrix Potter is a good known kids ‘s writer who has written books like The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Two Bad Mice. Her books can be heard on this site in a assortment of linguistic communications including English, French, German, and Nipponese. Other classics like Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz can besides be listened to here.
Between the Lions ( hypertext transfer protocol: //pbskids.org/lions/stories/ ) This is another great site that reads narratives to kids. Although, the narratives at this site are non popular kids ‘s narratives, kids can follow along with the text while the narratives are read aloud.
Online Math Games
Many English Language Learners would profit from extra aid in mathematics ( Noyes, 2010 ) . The cyberspace offers many chances for pupils to reexamine, pattern, reinforce, and heighten their math accomplishments. Below are a few educational and entertaining web sites for pupils at a assortment of class degrees. These web sites are besides a great resource for parents who may necessitate a refresher in some mathematical theories.
Cool Math Games for Kids ( hypertext transfer protocol: //coolmath4kids.com/ ) This site offers math games for pupils of all ages. Skills include add-on and minus, generation and division, fractions, decimals, and other merriment games for pupils. It besides provides easy to follow illustrations that explain with images and text the construct being reviewed.
Funbrain ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.funbrain.com/ ) Funbrain is a web site that offers math, grammar, and other educational games for pupils. Tailored to run into the demands of simple elderly pupils, Funbrain provides games to assist pupils larn basic add-on and minus accomplishments, measuring, margin and country, geometry, and many other mathematical constructs.
Math Playground ( hypertext transfer protocol: //mathplayground.com/games.html ) This math game site offers an abundant sum of chances for pupils to pattern higher degree accomplishments. Concepts include trigonometry, algebra, generation, and per centums among many others. This is a great site for older pupils.
Math Games For Kids ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.learninggamesforkids.com/math_games.html ) Math Games for Kids has many math games covering constructs from add-on and minus to generation and division. There are many math brassy card activities and other constructs covered. There are even some non-educational games like Super Mario, SpongeBob, and Hanah Montana that pupils would bask.
AAA Math ( hypertext transfer protocol: //aaamath.com/ ) Because the math constructs covered here can be played at varying degrees, pupils from many class degrees can profit from this web site. Each activity begins with measure by measure aid of the construct. Later pupils press “ get down ” and are timed as they solve a huge mixture of activities. There are excessively many constructs available for pattern to reference.
Virtual Fieldtrips
Noyes ( 2010 ) and Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) both discussed the importance of fieldtrips. As edifice background is cardinal for English Language Learners, fieldtrips offer a perfect chance ( Noyes, 2010 ; Echevarria et al. , 2004 ) . However, with budget cuts many schools and school territories are limited in the figure of fieldtrips they can take. A fabulous option is taking a category on a practical fieldtrip ( Noyes, 2010 ) . There are excessively many astonishing thoughts to advert, but a few singular chances are included below.
Virtual Science Fieldtrips
San Diego Zoo ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/index.html ) So many households are unable to see local exhibits, much less take trips to nearby Sand Diego. This site offers lesson program thoughts for instructors, undertakings, and tonss of alone thoughts. For pupils the San Diego Zoo web site offers interact games, information on animate beings found at the menagerie, humanistic disciplines and trades undertakings, occupations at the menagerie to call a few of the legion links found here.
Smithsonian ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.smithsonianeducation.org/students/ ) In 13 old ages of learning I have ne’er had a pupil who has visited this fantastic museum. The chances available at this web site for incorporating scientific discipline course of study for pupils of all ages are abundant. They include researching the existence, prehistoric times, innovations, every bit good as games and other on-line synergistic activities for childs.
Virtual National Park Fieldtrips
Grand Canyon ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nps.gov/grca/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm ) The Grand Canyon is another illustration of topographic points that many pupils have heard about, possibly even seen images of, but I have found that really few of my pupils have been to the Grand Canyon. Practically located right in our backyard, the Grand Canyon is an astonishing natural landmark. The Grand Canyon ‘s web site offers a practical circuit, many Podcasts, and tonss of exposure. It besides has links for instructors and some activities for pupils.
Mt. Rushmore ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nps.gov/moru/photosmultimedia/index.htm ) Photos and a slideshow are accessible on this web site. This would be a great resource to see when larning about presidents and national landmarks. The history of this landmark, links and resources for instructors, and activities for pupils can be accessed here.
Virtual American History Fieldtrips
Land Zero ( hypertext transfer protocol: //gunstuff.com/america-attacked.html ) Far from New York City, but non far from our heads, this picture testimonial helps kids understand, at some degree, the deepness of this tragic event. ( Actually, this twelvemonth my 3rd grade category will be full of kids born after this calamity. ) This short picture testimonial offers pupils and grownups alike a position of the events following the onslaught on 9/11. This is a great resource for a societal surveies lesson about the event, how people work together for good, and how peace huntsman’s horns over immorality.
White House ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/july-2010-photo-day ) Another plus to a societal surveies lesson is this White House web site. It offers exposures, podcasts, pictures, and unrecorded steams. There are links for older pupils on legion concerns confronting American people today. There is information on the history of the White House, the people who work at that place, the subdivisions of our authorities, and much more.
Vocabulary Development Ideas
Vocabulary development is of import for pupils in all capable countries. The work of Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) , Jimenez ( 2010 ) , and Echevarria et Al. ( 2004 ) supports the importance of edifice vocabulary for 2nd linguistic communication pupils. Many pupils have been taught schemes for decrypting new words. However, even though pupils are frequently able to decrypt words, they have no contextual apprehension of them, therefore they have no thought what they have read. There is a strong nexus between vocabulary development and academic accomplishment for English Language Learners ( Saville-Troike, 1984 as sited in Echevarria et al. , 2004 ) . Echevarria et Al. ( 2004 ) believe that vocabulary direction demands to be done in a meaningful manner to help pupils who are fighting to larn a new linguistic communication. Technology offers a enormous supply of vocabulary development options.
PowerPoints Many computing machines, particularly in schools, come equipped with package to make PowerPoints. This engineering can be an plus in edifice vocabulary. Teachers can bring forth PowerPoints to present new words. Pictures, definitions, and sentences can be included on the slides, including fill in the clean synergistic slideshows. Students can besides bring forth their ain slideshows to show that they know and understand the new vocabulary words.
Inspirations Another package add-on to many schools ‘ computing machines is the Inspirations plan. Using this plan, pupils can form their vocabulary words in many ways. They can add images, definitions, and sentences ( Blecher-Sass & A ; Russell-Fowler, 2010 ) .
Vocabulary Can Be Fun ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vocabulary.co.il/ ) This website offers games and activities for pupils of all ages. Although, the vocabulary words at this site are non needfully the same words that are being focused on in category, this site offers games and activities on syllables, parts of address, compound words, homophones, root words, opposite word, equivalent word, prefixes, and postfixs, and much more.
Vocabulary Games ( hypertext transfer protocol: //eslbears.homestead.com/Contact_Info.html ) Vocabulary Games is website that is really intended to be used by 2nd linguistic communication pupils. It has many games and activities on topics like antonyms, past tense words, homonyms, and male vs. female words.
English Vocabulary Games with Pictures ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.manythings.org/lulu/ ) This is another web site that was developed for English as a Second Language pupils. Although, it is non every bit colourful as many other web sites, the activities are tailored to the demands to ELL. Students can finish a scope of activities fiting the words to the images of assorted animate beings, insects, nutrients, veggies, athleticss, things in a house, things people wear, verbs, tools, adjectives, edifices, and forms.
Writing Development
Written response is frequently disputing for English Language Learners ( Jimenez, 2010 ; Noyes, 2010 ) . Even after successful vocabulary edifice, pupils frequently lack the written voice to show their ideas. Technology offers many advantages for pupils fighting with written look ( Noyes, 2010 ) .
Yokel! Kids Online Dictionary ( hypertext transfer protocol: //kids.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/english ) Students can type in a word, or portion of a word utilizing the best spelling they can. A nexus to the word is provided and the definitions are kid friendly. Unfortunately, if a pupil is truly holding a difficult clip spelling a word, this site will merely offer one word as a possibility of what they are looking for. The site besides does non offer images, therefore it would be better suited for older pupils.
Small Explorers Picture Dictionary ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html ) This is a great site for pupils to happen common words they may be holding a difficult clip spelling or to happen the definitions for common words. Pictures are available and words are organized by missive, so if a pupil is stuck on a word, but have an thought as to the first missive they can merely snap on it.
Word Central ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.wordcentral.com/ ) Word Central is another on-line lexicon. If a pupil misspells a word a figure of possible word options appear. It besides offers a synonym finder and riming word hunt. This web site will really read the word, although particular free package has to be downloaded foremost.
Guide to Grammar and Writing ( hypertext transfer protocol: //grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ ) This is a alone web site that offers older pupils instructions on likely close to every facet of composing they may necessitate to make. Because the direction are in English, and every bit frequently drawn-out, younger pupils and pupils new to English hold non profit from this site. This would besides be a great resource for pupils working on a paper at place to measure. It discusses sentence development, paragraphs, assorted types of authorship, debuts, passages, and decisions to call merely a little figure of the aid available here.
Time for Kids ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/writeideas ) The Time for Kids web site is for younger pupils and helps to help them with the composing procedure. It offers aid with planning, composing a bill of exchange, debuts, decisions, and revising. This site is a great resource for pupils, although, pupils will necessitate to be able to read to profit from utilizing this site.
Narrative Maker ( hypertext transfer protocol: //learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/make-your-own/story-maker ) Narrative Maker is a merriment web site for pupils to develop their narratives. Students are offered three types of narratives to take from, for illustration a fairy narrative, horror narrative, or scientific discipline fiction. Pictures are seeable at each measure as kids choose the scene, characters, and other of import information. Then a narrative is developed for the pupil.
Final Ideas
As a womb-to-tomb pupil, I enjoy larning new techniques and schemes for educating my pupils. The Teaching English as a Second Language Program has been full of incredible inspiration for me to help my pupils who are larning English, every bit good as the remainder of my category. One attack that has been found to be successful among many pedagogues is incorporating engineering in the schoolroom. Blecher-Sass and Russell-Fowler ( 2010 ) and Noyes ( 2010 ) mentioned the advantage of using engineering to profit 2nd linguistic communication pupils. However, it appears that what all of the presenters genuinely have in common is a passion for educating English linguistic communication scholars. I look frontward to get downing the new school twelvemonth with many new and exciting schemes that will profit my pupils for old ages to come.
