We discussed the SEI Strategies and why they are important for all of your students, not just your ELLs.
Please reflect on your own current classroom practices and assess which of these strategies you feel you are already doing a good job of using with your students.
Then think about the strategies that you may want to make a conscious effort to increase the use of in your classroom and how you will make sure that you are reminded to do that.
Please share your thoughts with us.
Again, Thank you for a great class last night!
I believe I definitely use the 50/50 strategy. My students have to talk and repeat ALOT! I have them chorally repeat answers and we read and re-read poems and songs daily.
ReplyDeleteThe one strategy I can definitely work on is having students answer in complete sentences. This has not been something I have done in the past but I definitely see how important it is (for all my students). When they have to answer in complete sentences it will make it easier for them to think of and write complete sentences (rather than just words or phrases).
Victoria that is a very good observation! You are right in that your students' writing will definitely improve with more exposure to complete sentences. Try using a hand signal to remind your students when they don't use a complete sentence. I use a "C" shaped hand and Linda uses a "stretch it out" signal, feel free to borrow one of ours or make up your own.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to get caught up in the lesson and forget things like making sure every answer is in a complete sentence, especially if it is a new strategy. How are you going to help yourself remember to do this every time? Maybe a sign or poster on your wall in the rug or lesson area that will serve as a reminder to you and your students? I used to have a hard time with stating the language objective during my lessons. I now have a big sign up in my room that asks the simple question "What is your job?" It reminds me to let my students know what the objective is and it reminds them that they are responsible for being able to answer that question.
Please let us know how it goes and what ideas you come up with.
It's hard to remember to be a good example and speak in complete sentences myself. It's not something I do in my every day life. It is very important for studnets to learn the language structure and I will try harder to be a good example.
ReplyDeleteAfter our first class I realized that I do not have any permanent grammar posters in my classroom. I think that is a resource that is beneficial to ELD and non-ELD students. I want to duplicate what I saw in Jennifer's classroom: small 8 1/2 x 11 posters defining nouns, verbs, etc. along with examples. I think my students could add examples throughout the year.- G. Klees
ReplyDeleteI loved the Give Me 5! idea. I think this is a great way for students to self monitor their work. I also think it works well because they can use their hand as a reminder. I have already introduced this in my class and plan to continue to reinforce it throughout the year. One of the things I do currently is make sure that students read the end punctuation correctly. ALl of my students know what a period, question mark, and exclamation mark are. We discuss what each symbol tells us to do when we are reading. They also know that this helps them read with good expression.
ReplyDelete~Kristi
I think some things that I currently use in my classroom are the 50/50 rule and the "give me five" concept. My students speak a lot and I make sure they have all five writing components to receive full points daily in their writing. I would like to put more permanent grammar posters up around the room and try more strategies that we have learned about though!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I currently do is follow the 50/50 rule. My kids are also partner sharing and discussing their thinking with their classmates. I would like to work on displaying more posters around the room to give kids a visual example of information we are learning. This past week I have also been making my kids talk in complete sentences. I want to try syntax surgery but I haven't been able to fit it into my schedule this week...maybe next week :)
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot during our first class! One thing that I have already started doing with my whole class is the Syntax Surgery. I was surprised that it was tricky for even some of my highest students the first time. I had not previously explicitly taught past, present and future. I will continue to use this in my classroom. I have also started to have students speak in complete sentences at all times! Horray!
ReplyDeleteThis year, I have been working on having my students use complete sentences. ("I am having the burrito today.") I've found that by encouraging my students to use a complete sentence, I have become more aware of my own fragments! I am excited to use the syntax surgery with my students. I plan on using some 'rebus' sentences for my low readers, and having the sentences on a sentence strip. I want to begin the lesson in a small group, then try some whole group.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the new understandings and fabulous ideas!
-Monae Jensen
I think I already do a pretty good job with the 50/50 rule. I try to have the students speaking to each other, discussing things, and most importantly - replying to me in the classroom when I ask questions. I do this by having them chorally repeat, or read in unison.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think I'm successful having the students speak to in full sentences. When I was taking my SEI classes, they introduced this to me and ever since I've been making a conscience effort to apply this. It's most easily applied during Calendar/Weather (morning routine stuff) and Saxon (math), for me. I think that having them speak in complete sentences really aides them in their writing, because they're used to speaking that way and so when they plan out their sentence, they're more apt to use a full sentence (noun, verb, etc) when they have to write it down.
I'm excited to teach the 5-Finger strategy. This really goes along with the Spalding Writing Road to Reading that my campus uses. I'm still teaching them nouns and verbs. :)
I have been having my students repeat what their classmates share. I think this helps with their engagement and helps my students with participation. I have been watching to make sure that our communication is 50/50 because I know that this is something that I do struggle with in class.
ReplyDeleteDuring my after school tutoring, I have been giving my students the complete sentence sign and making sure that they always answer their questions with a complete sentence. These two strategies are really benefiting the students.
Kristen Anderson
My students do a lot of turning and discussing with a partner so I feel like I am doing the 50/50. I am going to have my students repeat what other students say or repeat what I say to keep them engaged at all times. A couple of months ago I started having my students answer in a complete sentence and write in a complete sentence when answering a question. I look forward to using these strategies in my class.
ReplyDelete