Teaching and Supporting ELLs in

ABE Classes

Laurie Martin

Adult Learning Resource Center

www.thecenterweb.org/alrc

COABE Conference

Dallas, TX

April 13, 2016, 11:00 – 12:15

True or False?

1. Teachers can support ELLs by using universal design practices.

2. Culture affects ELLs more than native English speakers in ABE classes.

3. I will see Elvis during this session.

4. Translation is really the best way to assist ELLs in ABE classes.

Classroom

scenarios

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Culture

Visible

Values, attitudes, beliefs

Build rapport among students

Pairs

Groups

Mix it up

Universal Design for Learning

(UDL)

Differentiated instruction

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The newly discovered bacteria has been named Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6. The research team suspects it may have evolved enzymes specifically capable of breaking down PET in response to the accumulation of the plastic in the environment in the past 70 years. Such rapid change in a bacteria's structure is possible, said Enzo Palombo, a professor of microbiology. Bacteria have an extraordinary ability to adapt to their surroundings, he said. “If you put a bacteria in a situation where they’ve only got one food source to consume, over time they will adapt to do that.”

The Japanese scientists say the newly found bacteria may have changed over time. They think it may not always have been able to eat plastic. It may have changed just because there is so much plastic garbage around. The scientists think the bacteria might have developed enzymes that can break down PET. Enzymes are produced by the bodies of all living things, including bacteria. In humans, they help to break down the food we eat. Professor Enzo Palombo is an expert on bacteria. He says bacteria can develop new enzymes.

New plastic-eating bacteria has potential to ease world's trash glut https://newsela.com/articles/plasticeating-bacteria/id/15687/ Lexile 1130, GLE 8 and Lexile 690, GLE 4

Jigsaws Newsela and Breaking News English have articles ready to use in several levels

High – Part 1

High – Part 2

High – Part 3

Int– Part 1

Int– Part 2

Int– Part 3

Low– Part 1

Low– Part 2

Low– Part 3

Same-ability groups read assigned parts at their level and become “experts” by close reading, taking notes, answering questions, investigating vocabulary.

Low– Part 1

High – Part 2

Int– Part 3

Mixed-ability teams have at least one student from each level group. Each student contributes the information they learned so that each student knows the important points from the whole article.

A young woman was having trouble getting a credit card. She was rejected many times. Then she applied for a new job. She was turned down again. Then the reason became clear. She had become the victim of identity theft. She found out that three different people were using her Social Security number. She discovered this when she applied for a job at a new Target store.

Stolen Identity Blocks New Job

California Distance Learning Project, www.cdlponline.org

http://www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=activity2&topicID=1&storyID=220

Project-Based Learning • Research a career area and present to the class

• Plan and hold a school or community event (health fair, mock job fair)

• Create a website, blog, or other digital resource

• Create a directory of school or community resources for newcomers

?

Direct and Explicit Instruction

• Explanation

• Presentation

• Guided practice with feedback

• Independent application

• Monitoring and adjustment

Contextualized instruction

ESL ABE • Life skills content (health,

transportation, work, shopping, etc.)

• Direct and explicit English language instruction (listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, etc.)

• Academic subject and career content (science, social studies, literature, math, employability skills)

• Direct and explicit reading skill instruction (alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension strategies)

What the teacher says

Photos by Adult Learning Resource Center. All rights reserved.

You would create a bar chart like this.

What the ELL

understands

Photo by L. Mrowicki. Used with permission.

A bar? I love bars.

K.I.S.S.

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Keep it simple and

slow

Stay in sight

Read my lips.

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Everyone understand? Any

questions?

I have no clue what he wants

us to do.

If I look like I’m writing, he’ll think

I get it.

What questions do you have?

I don’t understand … What does ___

mean?

If I don’t look at him, he won’t

call on me.

Repeat

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Photo by Lord Mariser. Creative Commons License. https://flic.kr/p/8y8rpG

Photo by Lord Mariser. Creative Commons License. https://flic.kr/p/8y8rpG

Reword 3peat

Pause, summarize and clarify

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These are academic and employability

skills, too!

Check comprehension frequently

Allow use of other languages

Puedo explicar…

Gracias!

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Informal or

Academic?

The filming of action movies in the streets of Paris has been halted. This is following the recent terror attacks in the city, which left 20 people dead. Security has increased around synagogues, newspaper and television company offices and shopping malls. Armed police and soldiers are clearly visible on the streets. Security measures now also apply to the movie industry. From Breaking News English, Paris halts filming of action movies after terror attacks, Feb 9, 2015, http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1502/150209-action-movies-5.html#ixzz3SE63d6Kz

Context Clues vs. Clueless

Teach academic words

One meaning at a time

Simple language for definitions

positive

reveal challenge

era

Examples of use in context

Ample oral and written practice

The 4n language of math

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Cone? Did someone say ice

cream?

Common words with special math meanings

tree

plane

cone

positive

negative

The 4n language of math

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So from means minus, which means take

away, which means subtract…

Prepositions that signal a math operation

by

with

into

of

from

Share processes

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I love to monkey around with math!

Provide models

• Academic discourse, oral and written

• Resumes • Applications and forms • Oral presentations

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