A1 We use a Q & A format. Please type A1 when answering Q1 so followers will be able to follow threads of conversation. And don’t forget to type #ELLCHAT !
A1) Hello All! Carol Salva here from Houston, Texas. I teach HS Newcomers and also Reading II for Intermediate ELs. I'm also a consultant for @Seidlitz_Ed#ELLchat
A2 Projects are more open ended and allow Ss to be more creative and expressive with language. Some can give them opportunities to learn about their interests. #ELLchat
A2 I agree and I’d add that projects take place over a span of time beyond a “lesson” that gives our ELLs’ brains time to process and construct knowledge #ELLCHAT
A2 Projects are more open ended and allow Ss to be more creative and expressive with language. Some can give them opportunities to learn about their interests. #ELLchat
A2) "I care about some things. If you give us a choice on what to present, we will do it with a smile on our face." https://t.co/LBkyIy8bAS Short video with #EL student explaining why choice projects are meaningful to him. This is a slide from one of his. #ellchat
A2 we’re currently developing our secondary (dedicated) ELD units. Having projects is key to making learning engaging. By setting meaningful contexts, students can build metalinguistic awareness #ELLCHAT
A2 Also, projects generally involve multiple learning modalities. If you don’t understand the printed word, you get reinforcement by the hands on exploration and the interactions and support from peers #ELLCHAT
A2 Also, projects generally involve multiple learning modalities. If you don’t understand the printed word, you get reinforcement by the hands on exploration and the interactions and support from peers #ELLCHAT
A2 I often say about young children that following their interests reveals their prior knowledge that we need to build upon. It’s not just a favor we do for kids! #ELLCHAT
A2) I agree with Karen. Many of our projects are built outside the blocks of time that we usually think of in terms of school days/class periods. This site by @noasbobs has great ideas for "building outside the blocks." https://t.co/oQnjVy3bLt#ellchat
A2 Also, projects generally involve multiple learning modalities. If you don’t understand the printed word, you get reinforcement by the hands on exploration and the interactions and support from peers #ELLCHAT
a2 The great thing about projects is they are open for individuals to explore their unique interests while also working toward common learning goals. #ELLCHAT
A2) When I used projects with my #ELs as a classroom teacher, I found an increased level of engagement & excitement with their learning, especially with vocab #ellchat
A3) Making sure the rubric is clearly understood by all. Offering models of completed projects. Building enthusiasm. Offering choice. Setting norms for when they are shared. #ellchat
Q3 having clear outcomes - to be able to say in plain language what the purpose is and why it matters. Then, rubrics to help students stay on track #ELLchat
A2) A project can impact others. #EL guest blogger 4 @Larryferlazzo: "... I reflected, I learned, and I admired all the young people who, in front of me, spent a few minutes explaining a little of their lives... it was a source of inspiration." https://t.co/Kou7JxrRdk#ellchat
A3 Projects are so helpful to support both content learning and social interaction skills, but it is really important to assign groups with the right mix of students! #ELLCHAT
Q3 also, teachers have to provide appropriate language supports (sentence construction charts, word banks, graphic organizers, etc) for students so that as they work with others and the content, they can express their thinking. #ELLchat
A3) Making sure the rubric is clearly understood by all. Offering models of completed projects. Building enthusiasm. Offering choice. Setting norms for when they are shared. #ellchat
A3 also, teachers have to provide appropriate language supports (sentence construction charts, word banks, graphic organizers, etc) for students so that as they work with others and the content, they can express their thinking. #ELLchat
Newsela is great for that: my sister @HoppingReads intro'd it to me and now we are using it for #esl. They choose pieces and level, take quiz in English. If they want to go higher, they can read Spanish version, then English one. #ellchat
A3) Always comes down to the learner. I find that I need to get to know my Ss so I can determine if it is a good idea to mix them up or allow them to chose. Or even work alone at times. Every child is different. #ellchat
A3 Projects are so helpful to support both content learning and social interaction skills, but it is really important to assign groups with the right mix of students! #ELLCHAT
So true! Pairing more/less proficient students is the default but often too simplistic. Sometimes ELs do better with a student at the same level. #ELLchat
A4 Photo project: Students take home camera & take pis of family/home. T develops or prints pics for student to create book using target lang of family and home. Ss can write as much as their level allows. Can write in HL if necessary then translate #ELLchat
A3 This book about hacking project based learning is not about ELLs, but even the description makes the same points you all have made so far tonight https://t.co/qUjq3isgSt#ELLCHAT
A4 "Art Talk Game" how to describe a painting/photo to a blind person. Teens come up w/strategies, vital vocab, test & iterate w each other (one draws, one describes). Twitter has this feature under "accessibility" setting. #ellchat
A4 I worked with some young children on planning an imaginary vacation trip to another country. It gave us lots of opportunities to talk about how and why some of the children make extended trips to their home countries and what to expect #ELLCHAT Packed suitcases, etc.
A3: Clear expectations for projects are important for ELLs. Also making sure ELLs know enough surface info on topic before expecting deep dive. #ELLChat
A4 I am big on Ss publishing writing & making books with pictures of something. I use many quality pic books to jump start the writing and allow Ss to use cameras to take own pics. #ELLchat
A4) This google doc is a project they can choose. It is done alone to get used to presenting. Research, interview and tell about their own name. Also analysis. Credit to @noasbobs! Modified from her work for #ELs. https://t.co/INw4Hsm3W6#ellchat
In our first Sec ELD unit: Pathways to Success ELs studied success by looking at people’s habits and actions so that by the end of the unit they could define success for themselves. #ELLCHAT
A4 In our first Sec ELD unit: Pathways to Success ELs studied success by looking at people’s habits and actions so that by the end of the unit they could define success for themselves. There are mini projects each week that lead up to a unit project. #ELLCHAT
A4 there are several apps that support the creativity, exploration, and persistence involved in making books - with digital advantage of voice-recording to include any language. such as @MyStoryApp or Draw and Tell #ELLCHAT
A4 When I started years ago, digital photos were difficult, I invested in scrap booking stuff and find Ss enjoy the act of cutting and gluing as well as creating digital books. #ELLchat
Q5 Do you plan a project first, then pick a topic? or do you have a content learning goal in mind, then decide to pursue it using a project for ELLs? #ELLCHAT
A4 One challenge we sometimes face though when planning projects is staying standards based to make sure that the skills we are building are high leverage and portable. #ELLCHAT
A5 I usually think of the content learning objective and then create the project around that. Sometimes if I find a good project, I do it backwards, but not often. #ellchat
A5: Before, I would have started with the project. In recent years, I'm much more focused on standards so would begin with content learning goal 1st #ELLChat
Q5 it’s a bit of an iterative process. We usually start with some learning goals but then explore topics and then come back to language demands and tighten up our goals/objective. Sometimes if you’re married to a topic it can take you off track. #ELLCHAT
A6: Projects are a great way to capitalize on multiple standards simultaneously. Often involve making meaning from text & communicating ideas in multiple formats. #ELLChat
A6 When teaching Geography, projects helped me teach the lang as well as content obj. Creating a presentation about research always helps with lang and the content. #ELLchat
A6 I wish teachers, administrators, AND policymakers would be aware of the multiple domains supported through one project over time. Not the least of which is the social/emotional domain! #ELLCHAT
A6 to do a project well, we have to really know how the reading, writing, and listening/speaking standards work together. For ELs we have the additional consideration of thinking through how it will sound for sts at diff prof levels to do the same task #ELLCHAT
A6) All 4 domains. Students working together are listening to each other. We can offer frames to support speaking & writing. Research incorporates reading. Projects rock. #ellchat
A6 I disagree! Geography is never just “geography” :) When you teach it in the context of project or exploration - map-reading, measuring, social studies, science, transportation, climate, music, art, architecture… etc. etc. etc. right? such a wealth of options #ELLCHAT
A6 When teaching Geography, projects helped me teach the lang as well as content obj. Creating a presentation about research always helps with lang and the content. #ELLchat
A6 When teaching Geography, projects helped me teach the lang as well as content obj. Creating a presentation about research always helps with lang and the content. #ELLchat
A6) I read this differently. I understood that @CBTennyson WAS teaching geography in the context of a project and so language and content were both advancing. Am I wrong? completely agree with you both. #ELLchat
A7 What help or resource would facilitate your use of projects and explorations to teach ELLs? What do you wish for to do more with this approach? #ELLCHAT
Love the idea of student choice in taking their own photos! Newcomer ELs can decide “what’s important to know in my new school” and take photos to caption worthy vocabulary and simple sentences.
A6 - I know - Geography is one of those topics, like snack time -, that I think an entire comprehensive curriculum could be built on. And it doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves! #ELLCHAT
A6) I read this differently. I understood that @CBTennyson WAS teaching geography in the context of a project and so language and content were both advancing. Am I wrong? completely agree with you both. #ELLchat
