keys to creating a learner-centered interactive setting that inspires early language learners

Amanda M.G. Seewald, M.Ed - 2010

Keys to creating a learner-centered interactive setting that inspires early language learners

Interactive

Mirrors classroom content

MI

Based

Literacy

enhanced

Family Buy-In

MUSIC!!


Standards and Modes

ACTFL 5C’s NCATE State guidelines

Three modes of communication:*Interpretive *Interpersonal

*Presentational


What does the elementary classroom generally look like?

It is very important to know about the types of learning areas and somewhat standard ideas that are incorporated into the set-up of most early learning classrooms.

Room Arrangement


Learning CentersTaking your teaching to a more student directed model.

a learning center is a small area within the classroom where students work alone or interact with others, using instructional materials to explore one or more subject areas. It is a place where a variety of activities introduce, reinforce, and/or extend learning, often without the assistance of the classroom teacher.

Excerpted from Michael Opitz' book Learning Centers: Getting Them Started, Keeping them Going.


Heterogeneous Grouping and Diverse Learners

Culturally and Linguistically English Langauge Learners Autism Spectrum ADD or ADHD Issues of fine motor skills Physical or emotional disabilities Economic challenges

There are many more…

scenarios


http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=2113


Read it, W

rite it,

Speak

it! Categorize it,

Think about

it!Color i

t, Dra

w it, S

ee

it!Act it,

Touch it,

Dance

it, Sing

it!


Human beings possess at least eight types of mental functioning or intelligences.

Intelligences work together in concert depending on the problem to be solved.

Each intelligence has its own set of abilities and can guide an individual toward a learning style related to their abilities. http://www.ed.gov/dabase/ERIC_Digests/ed410226.html

Gardner’s Theory


Applying MI to an Early Language Learning Classroom

Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence is of great importance in any language classroom and most commonly used in instruction with stories and verbal discourse.



Logical /Mathematical

Intelligence can be very used in a language classroom with timelines, patterns and sequencing. Providing manipulative activities that require students to put ideas or even times of day in order.


Applying MI to an Early Language Learning Classroom Visual/Spatial

Intelligence is extremely important in a language classroom as it presents ideas with non-verbal cues and allows students to express their own understanding and construct their own meanings.



Musical/rhythmic intelligence is one of the two most essential intelligences to tap into when teaching young learners. Music and rhythm provide a developmentally appropriate base for building language skills.


Applying MI to an Early Language Learning Classroom Bodily/Kinesthetic

intelligence is the other essential intelligence that can be employed in language instruction. Movement and tactile interaction help students construct more thorough understanding.



Interpersonal intelligence

plays a vital role in creating language learning that is conversational and meaningful for learners. Activities that require students to interact with each other will bolster their learning and allow for more linguistic risk-taking.



Intrapersonal intelligence

is one that is unspoken. Often a student’s silent period is actually a time when the child is reflecting and constructing individualized meaning. Metacognition grows learning potential and affords students the chance to build their own learning patterns.


Naturalist intelligenceIs a great way to

incorporate science into the language classroom. By creating naturalist based activities, students will build interest in the natural world around us while learning in the target language.


Content Based Instruction

Is the learning and expansion of language skills through the medium of content and standards from the “core” educational subjects . In CBI, content is the instrument for language acquisition and language is a means of bolstering content knowledge.


What is the best way to preserve and grow the future of elementary language education?

Content Based Instruction Linked to core objectives Focused on essential skills

development Functional linguistic goals Exploratory, hands-on

learning


GREAT NEWS!!!CONTENT IS FUN!!!

LANGUAGE ARTS

SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES

MATHEMATICS


What to include????

You can’t teach all aspects of each content area in the short amount of time you have

You can’t expect students to learn all of the vocabulary

YOU CAN help students learn some basic aspects of each!

YOU CAN collaborate with classroom teachers to choose topics and objectives from each content area that work well with your language objectives!


I am a language teacher…

Content standards are easily attainable in an elementary environment.

The same as linguistic goal of communication that requires students to ask questions and construct answers with a great twist…all hands-on and inspirational to many different

kinds of learners.


How do I fit this into a 20 or 30 minute class?

Simple activities Readily available materials Resource sharing Doesn’t all have to happen in one

class How can you not make the learning

tied to what students are invested in for the rest of their day? BE VITAL!!!


KEYS FOR FOCUS…

IMMERSION – Teach in the target language no matter what…limit English instruction

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES – hands-on, interactive learning leads to success

INQUIRY - all activities and lessons should help students develop the skills necessary to ask questions and answer them

COLLABORATION – Mirroring regular classroom instruction and working with your colleagues empowers teachers and learners


EXAMPLE

Parts of the face and body

Science

Exploring the 5 Senses

Exploring the 5 Senses

Vocabulary

Able to ask answer questions about where each part is

Able to put parts in order

INQUIRY

PREDICTION

CONSTRUCTIVIST

INTERACTIVEExperiment

s

Response Journals or

pages

Song

Culminating Activity

http://nclrc.org/arabick12/haya/


STEPS FOR CONTENT BASED CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

1. Start with a brainstorm

2. Look for target language

resources

3. Collaborate!!!!

4. Build activities, lessons, and

assessment tools**Get yourself out of the 2-3 month unit mindset. Imagine snapshots of meaningful

learning.


Collaboration

Collaboration with colleagues is at the heart of successful content based

instruction and is extremely important to build program support.


Early Literacy

First Language

Listening skills

Phonemic awareness

Concepts of print

Oral/expressive language

Second Language

Hear the rhythm of the language

Recognize sounds of the target language

Directional cues

Phrases and ideas that depict stories

http://video.ecb.org/ecb/worldlanguageassessment/Assessing_Communication_768K_Stream.wmv


Balanced experience

Pathways to true literacy should include a balance of experiences for children:

READING READING READING To With By

Excerpted from Primary Purposes –Reading, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1995.


Emergent Readers (pre-kindergarten through first grade):

http://www.bankstreet.edu/literacyguide/early4.html Feb. 16http://www.bankstreet.edu/literacyguide/early4.html Feb. 16

Children at this stage benefit from:

seeing reading and writing modeled through listening to good stories and seeing others write meaningful messages

supported practice while reading engaging, predictable books with pictures that clearly relate to and illustrate the story line

encouragement to experiment with writing experience with sorting words and pictures to build

letter and sound recognition experience with rhyming and other word play activities that engage students in using oral and

written language


Early Readers (first grade through second grade):

know that reading needs to make sense

are more attentive to print and know more print conventions

use pictures, story patterns, context and memory of some words as well as some phonics to make sense of print



Children in this phase benefit from:

continued exposure to shared and guided reading of pattern stories and other predictable books, with clear print and pictures

games, activities to consolidate voice/print match and build sight word recognition

games and activities to build phonemic awareness

language experience activities

hearing, discussing, retelling a variety of stories read aloud



Identifying and Using Authentic Resources

Art Music Realia Videos

Web sitesLiterature

The 5 minute resource hunt! Research, review, and share…


Family and Community Buy-inStrategies and tools: Electronic newsletter Classroom webpage Invite parents and others into classroom to

share expertise or just visit Do a special event or show to demonstrate

learning Conduct a special project Participate in school wide or community

wide events


MusicEssential to inspiring learners

George JellinekThe history of a people is found in its songs.

Billy JoelI think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.

Agnes de Mile (1905-93)The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music.

PlatoI would teach the children music, physics and philosophy, but the most important is music, for in the patterns of the arts are the keys to all learning.


Brain function and the affects of music on language

The information being studied activates the left brain while the music activates the right brain. Also, activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time, such as playing an instrument or singing, causes the brain to be more capable of processing information.

Rhythm has been found to positively influence brain activity during learning; scientists have reported that after a rhythm sequence is stopped, brain activity occurs in anticipation.


Questions???

What were your favorite children’s songs and rhymes?

What English children’s songs do you know?

Do you know any rhythm or hand games?


Music: Music can lower stress, boost learning when used 3

different ways:

as a carrier - using melody or beat to encode content

as arousal - to calm down or energize, as a primer - to prepare specific pathways

for learning content) impacts the immune system, and is an energy source for the brain. (Wilson, 2005)

http://www.uwsp.edu/Education/lwilson/newstuff/brain/overview%20on%20bb.htm


Create your own

song!


Reflection What is the benefit of thematic and

content based learning for your students? What is the benefit for you as a teacher?

How can you best plan to incorporate different learning preferences and meet the needs of diverse learners?

Describe one new idea, strategy, or activity presented or developed today that you will use in your classroom.

keys to creating a learner-centered interactive setting that inspires early language learners

Documents

language classroom

early learning classrooms

learning centerstaking

learning style

types of learning areas

building language skills

classroom teacher

elementary classroom