Writing starts on day 1! Whether it is simply learning to print or use script, writing your name, or beginning to use pattern sentences, ESL and ELD students learn to write concurrently with ORAL and READING instruction.
Pattern Sentences: the most common patterns can be found here
SIGHT WORD Sentences: learn sight words,vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation simultaneously! This Reading Mama.com requires a subscription, but it is free and will introduce you to more of the author's resources which are available on Teachers Pay Teachers which are quite good. Some Advice from me:
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SPEECH TO TEXT: immersed students in Content areas need a way to communicate in writing right away. In the beginning, provide them with access to programs that allow them to speak their language and translate it to English' In Content areas using speech to text apps will also allow ELLs to use their oral strengths to communicate and support busy teachers who can read student's observations when they have time. FREE speech to text include: GOOGLE ED - GOOGLE READ/WRITE IN GOOGLE DOCS (also provides translation to many languages) SPEECHLOGGER: also translates several languages, can transcribe video and audio, with automatic save. |
Writing With 3D Graphic Organizers:
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Graphic Organizers:Education Oasis offers a wide varity of tools to help students follow step by step processes and learn to organize information effectively.
READWRITETHINK: this site is completely free, but I would pay for it! If you want research on best practices, innovative ideas and practical resources this is a wonderful place to go. |
Get Creative! Make Text Come Alive!Wordle.net is a free site kids can use to make word posters/pictures from their brainstorming notes, poetry or short writing pieces. The site takes the most frequently occuring words and makes them larger so the outcome highlights their important thoughts and creats a beautiful, eye catching expression!
Try some of these tools online for free:• http://www.wordle.net/ |
Comics:Don't have Comic Life? That is OK! There are several great sites you can use to create comic strips online that are free!
*Marvel offers a chance to create strips based on some of their super heroes *Pixton is site where you can manipulate basic drawings so make some really neat characters and storyliines: you have to subscribe by giving an email address, but no fees! *NFB of Canada has a cool site where kids can create a full story board with illustrations and music |
*Have students create their own graffiti tags at http://www.graffiticreator.net/![]() Graffiti Boards are a neat way to help kids jot down ideas on a related topic. They are nice for ELLs because they can write any way they want, free of structures and can write in their L1 too. First, a graffiti board is an area to jot down any ideas, thoughts, feelings, or responses that a student may have. It is a place for students to write without having to be limited by form. They can write sideways, on angles, or anywhere on the board. You can create your own graffiti board with a specific focus or questions you would like thier thoughts on. You can make it a group activity, with chart paper and markers. You can divide the graffiti into different sections with different focuses.
*If you have a white board or want to do this project online, Groupboard has free online boards for up to 5 users so you could set up small group graffiti projects, or for a small fee you can have one the whole class can use - inlcudes capabilities for many languages. |