Post on 30-May-2018
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 1/31
CaryCary
CritiqueCritiqueJanet GriffithJanet Griffith
EESL 620EESL 620
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 2/31
Chapter 1: Assessment
Reflection:I completely agree that multiple forms ofassessment will help teachers better servetheir students. Talking to students is agreat form of assessment. I found that anadded benefit of talking with students isthe relationship that results. Students
have commented that they know I careabout them because I ask their opinionsand want to know what is happening intheir lives.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 3/31
Chapter 1
Best Practices:
Talking, in addition to just testing, can
help teachers gain importantinformation about students
Students typically perform better when
they are highly engaged in the activity
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 4/31
Chapter 1Applications for my classroom:1. Use multiple forms of assessment for
students (informal teacher made
assessments can be very helpful)2. Observe language when being used in
the classroom, as well as when beingtested
3. Attempt to engage students in anactivity they will enjoy while informallyassessing them
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 5/31
Chapter 2: Cultural Backgrounds
Reflection:The concrete culture trap is an obstaclewe all should be wary of. It can be
dangerous to just assume that studentsbelieve a certain idea or participate inspecific celebrations. Especially forstudents in upper grades, open dialogue is agood way to combat this. Most of thestudents I have encountered relish theidea that I want them to teach mesomething, especially something asimportant to them as their cultural beliefs.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 6/31
Chapter 2
Best Practices:
Teachers who are actively interested in
students will typically yield greaterresults in student achievement
There is a need to search out practical
information and use dependable sourcesDo not assume that every student will
have the cultural traits that youresearched
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 7/31
Chapter 2
Applications for my classroom:1. Developing a running folder with
reliable resources and information willbe helpful and can be accessed byothers
2. Constant checks to ensure I treat all
students as individuals and notmembers of a certain cultural group3. Everyone in the classroom can benefit
from sharing cultural experiences
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 8/31
Chapter 3: Spoken Language
Reflection:Making spoken language morecomprehensible is something that manyteachers struggle with. When teaching aclass with various learners at multiplelinguistic and cognitive stages of
development this can be even moredifficult. This is definitely one areawere persistence and creativity pay off.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 9/31
Chapter 3
Best Practices:
Creating relevant and size-appropriate
images can help students better graspthe content
Scaffolding can provide all students anopportunity to be successful
Getting students physically involved insome way can increase their motivationand participation
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 10/31
Chapter 3
Applications for my classroom:
1. Use more visuals, like United
Streaming, when appropriate2. Work with other teachers to develop
ideas, visuals, and manipulatives
3. Get students more involved incollecting and making objects to use inclass
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 11/31
Chapter 4: Increasing Spoken
EnglishReflection:It is crucial for educators to keep inmind that all students are individuals
and will move at their own pace. Asteachers, we have the responsibility toencourage and push students. However,if a student is pushed too hard or too
much they could in turn stopprogressing at all.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 12/31
Chapter 4
Best Practices:
Vary strategies used thus engaging as
many students as possibleSeek out opportunities to integrate
student interests into the classactivities
Be patient ² sometimes the influence ofa teacher will not be seen until muchlater
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 13/31
Chapter 4
Applications for my classroom:
1. Everyday attempt to let students
TWIRL: talk, write, investigate, read,and listen
2. Include more cooperative and grouplearning to encourage students to talkmore
3. Make talk times as meaningful tostudents as possible
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 14/31
Chapter 5: Textbook Difficulties
Reflection:In my history class many students struggle withusing the textbook. Our book is written at a
10th
grade level and many 8th
graders cannotfollow the difficult vocabulary in the textespecially when it is combined with the newhistory based vocabulary they are learning.Modeling and helping students develop new
reading strategies seem to be the best ways tohelp students overcome or minimize theirdifficulties with the textbook.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 15/31
Chapter 5
Best Practices:
Modeling reading strategies will help
students in their comprehension oftexts
Teachers can create the environment inthe classroom ² students feel more freeto make mistakes and grow in a classthat is relaxed and comfortable to them
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 16/31
Chapter 5
Applications for my classroom:
1. Textbooks are a support to curriculum
but will not drive it ² I need toincrease the outside materials I use
2. Making my students feel comfortable(through personal stories and humor)will help them be more successful
3. Reemphasize or teach readingstrategies to all of my students
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 17/31
Chapter 6: Improving English
WritingReflection:Writing seems to be one of the mostdreaded and feared activities for manystudents. I agree that making writingpurposeful can engage students andresult in better writing skills. Teachers
should keep in mind that if an activitybores them it also probably bores theirstudents.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 18/31
Chapter 6
Best Practices:
Have students write for a purpose
Use your mistakes to model forstudents. It is important they know thateveryone makes mistakes and it is okay
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 19/31
Chapter 6
Applications for my classroom:
1. Integration of more writing for social
change ² this could easily fit into mycurriculum and would marry well with anawareness project
2. More peer revisions and editing
3. Institute a student portfolio for themto store and evaluate their work
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 20/31
Chapter 7: Teaching Grade-LevelC
ontentReflection:I believe it is crucial to teach languagethrough grade-level content. If you onlyfocus on language development,students will be at a huge disadvantageacademically. I was envious of the
freedom the teacher was given by herprincipal in the Classroom Story toaccomplish her objectives the best wayshe saw fit.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 21/31
Chapter 7
Best Practices:Artifacts and hands-on activities can
make school more interesting
Show-and-tell modeling can be moreeffective than only talking about what isgoing to occurC
ontent can drive ELL instruction ²think about what students need to dowith the language in relation to thecontent standard
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 22/31
Chapter 7
Applications for my classroom:
1. Integrate more inquiry-based history
into my lessons2. Use more artifacts to provide visual,
concrete examples of the differenttopics we cover
3. Incorporate more show-and-tellmodeling for my students
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 23/31
Chapter 8: Learning Strategies
Reflection:
It is so important for teachers tointegrate skills with content. Reading skillsand strategies will benefit students in allareas of life whereas some content will not
benefit them in their future professions.By engaging students in activities and usingexplicit instruction, teachers can aidstudents in developing needed skills.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 24/31
Chapter 8
Best Practices:
Make strategies explicit - do not
assume students will just pick them upMake strategies relevant to the content
the students are learning
Do not use strategies to the point thatthey get in the way of content
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 25/31
Chapter 8
Applications for my classroom:
1. Naming strategies and revisiting them
throughout the year2. Teaching strategies like jump-reading
3. Comparing and contrasting strategies
with students to determine the bestone for each particular piece ofcontent
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 26/31
Chapter 9: Supporting L1
Reflection:Involving the community in the classroomcan provide many benefits for all involved.
Students can learn about their communityfrom multiple viewpoints and parents andcommunity members can learn about theschool and the education their children are
receiving. Allowing ELLs to hear theirlanguage used in classroom instruction canalso help build their self-esteem.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 27/31
Chapter 9
Best Practices:Student-initiated activities can increase
participationParents can be an invaluable resource in
the classroomUsing the L1 of students in the class
can help them gain confidence andexpose English native speakers to whatit feels like to be an ELL
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 28/31
Chapter 9
Applications for my classroom:
1. Incorporate more of the experiences
and talents of my parents into myclassroom
2. Encourage parents and students tocontinue L1 usage at home
3. Look for voluntary help from localcolleges and programs
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 29/31
Chapter 10: Communication Conflicts
Reflection:Students respond better to examplesset for them and challenges presentedto them instead of being told what todo. For many students when a teacherstarts ´preachingµ they automatically
tune out. Giving students a common goalis great way to foster communicationand cooperation.
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 30/31
Chapter 10
Best Practices:
Giving students a genuine reason to
collaborate can help communicationA good instructional model can help
students build language skills while theyare also learning content
Students need the opportunity toexamine similarities amongst themselvesnot just their differences
8/9/2019 Griffith 620 Cary Critique
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/griffith-620-cary-critique 31/31
Chapter 10
Applications for my classroom:
1. Develop activities that allow students
to remain in cooperative groups forfour to six weeks
2. Incorporate language development withacquisition of content
3. Use activities that give studentsgenuine reasons to cooperate