accommodation ideas for middle and high school teachers

Accommodation Ideas

For Middle and High school teachers

Prioritize Objectives Language objectives

Know their level of English proficiency. Address the content being learned. Emphasize key vocabulary.

Content objectives Choose a few for in-depth focus. Reduce non-essential details. Focus on the concrete first, then the abstract.

Be a Cultural Observer Consider their perspective Consider their background and upbringing

due to their culture Accept where they are at, period. Seek to move them to a place of success in

our “academic culture” Broaden their worldview!

Watch your Language! Consider the words, slang and idioms you

are using as you speak to your student Ask questions that are not YES / NO Take adequate care, when writing test

questions and other such written prompts, not to become verbose beyond reason for this tends to stumble many

Don’t use cursive

Academic Word List For you English Teachers:

Most common words in academic texts in college that are not technical terms specific to subjects

Arranged into subgroups by prevalence These words usually never taught in school, just

have to be known and used

(See the email I will send for the words in order)

modify instruction Interactions with

You as teacher Other students as learning community The course material (vocabulary and content) The skills

Teach Skills and Strategies Organizing Summarizing Analyzing and Evaluating Inferring Taking notes Previewing Skimming and scanning

Scaffolding Tap background knowledge & experience Use visuals, videos, diagrams, etc. Use gestures and hand signals Find patterns and schema to stick it to Take away as language builds

Let’s try an example in Spanish!

Quality Questioning Serve as a hook to the lesson intro Can make all the difference Promotes higher order thinking skills Engaging and personalizing Make use of Socratic Seminar method and

step back as the “expert” or “moderator”

Ancillary Material from your Textbook Series

Check with your department or district rep for samples and ideas about what is out there…

…here are a few samples.

Reconsider text book usage Written above most students’ reading levels Too busy, bulky and full to be clear Focus mostly on visuals, diagrams, etc. English teachers: Build content and

vocabulary through alternate sources since ELA standards do not specify particular works

Texts and Readers Written for English Language Learners (& Low Readers)

Check out some samples: Longman Science Gateway to Science Land, People, Nation America’s Story (Vol 1 & 2) Longman Basic Mathematics Graded readers (biographies and novels) All American Stories (short stories) Graphic Novels

Make it Physical Muscle memory is a strong factor in

learning and retaining knowledge Many kids are kinesthetic learners… or at

least just really antsy!

Let’s try it out on a couple passages…

Model and Demonstrate Let’s make a vocabulary Graphic organizer:

First try- words only Second try- words and actions

Manipulatives Cards with synonyms and antonyms to

position around cards of key vocab terms Cut ups of steps of a math problem to re-

arrange into the proper order Flashcards for element symbols and

polyatomic ions Pictures to match with key names, places

from history unit

Kagan Strategies and Improv Games for Interaction

Great for building classroom culture, respect, teamwork, participation

Can be used for introductions, practice, review and when you have a few extra minutes left in class

Also great when you’re in a rut… just try one out!

(See the email I will send for the activities listed)

Visuals and Pictures

Graphic Organizers and Mind Maps

Audio and Video www.youtube.com www.oneplacesc.org (ETV Streamline) iTunes Podcasts and iTunes U

www.OnePlaceSC.org ETVStreamline KnowItAll Discus Discovery Thinkfinity ITV PBS Teacher

Google Activity Searches Type in what you’re looking for and add

words like “game” or “practice” or “quiz”

Ex: “irregular past tense verbs game”

Wikipedia… simplified!

www.simple.wikipedia.org

Collaborative Tools on Web 2.0 Wikis- www.wetpaint.com Nings Blogs- www.blogger.com Vlogs Podcasts- using Window Movie Maker

Many can be done on Blackboard or on a variety of sites free for educators

Peer Tutoring and Group Work Student with similar language/culture

background can be helpful Student willing to help (don’t over-use!)

Groups with mixed ability levels Groups with clear roles for each member Groups lower affective filter

i- TPSi Groupings i= Individual engagement at lesson start T = Total Class presentation P = Partners work together on activity S = Small team for more collaboration i= Individual activity to show

comprehension

Tailor assessments Assess what you taught Be creative and think outside the paper and

pencil box (since there won’t be any copies next year anyways!)

Problem-Based Learning Engaging Real-world issues & relevance Collaborative Uses higher order thinking skills (creating,

evaluating, analyzing)

Foldables Creativity Kinesthetic & tactile Great for review

Portfolios Show development over time in vocabulary,

content and skills Individualized and specific to need Allows you to see where needs are Demonstrate accomodations easily!

Do you have an examples you have used?

Lingo Bingo Fold paper 4 times in half to

make 16 boxes Students write vocab word

in each box Begin definition with highest

difficulty then scaffold until all find out the right word

Great for “review”