Welcome to this Work in Progress. This is designed to be a page of great usefulness to K-12 ESL teachers. We intend to post lesson plans, curriculum units and resources for helping ELLs, their families, and their communities. Please see the links below for what we currently have and check back often for more!
If you’ve lesson plans or curriculum units that you know would be helpful, how about sharing them? You can send material by e-mail to rmacdonald@smcvt.edu
Lesson Plans/Curriculum Units (K-12)
Human Body Systems (G 5-6) by Lisa Lavoie
Making Maple Syrup by Sue Roediger
People in Our School Community (G 4-5) by Beth Hartmann
Report Writing (G 4) by Pat Krauss
Stranger in Your Own Land (G 7-8) by Ruth M. Murphy
Teaching Students to Read Nonfiction (G 8) by Alexandra Houston
The River by Gary Paulsen (G 7-8)
Westward Expansion: Positive or Negative? (G 5) by Kari Roberts
Resources
School and Community-based Information
Celebrating Differences by Pat Hughes (a program held at an elementary school in Vermont to celebrate their growing cultural diversity. Inquiries may be directed to Pat Hughes at pmirishug@gmail.com)
Child Care Handbook by Sarah Forbes (Important information to basic-literacy parents on general health safety and medical service for their children. Includes useful phone numbers and nutritional tips).
Citizenship Information Flyer (an attractively-produced flyer summarizing important information about the immigration and naturalization process, including changes as of summer 2007).
Computers, Community and Collaboration: A Community Based Guide for Teaching Technology to Minority Language Families by Paulette Fiorentino-Robinson
Discussion of Issues in Literary Instruction for ELLs
Educating Our ELLs by Mary Westenfeld
ELL Community Library by Jennifer Borch and Janet Hayden (3 Files - Introduction and promotion of Community Library for ELLs based in South Burlington High School, including a description of the library, an article written about it for a local newspaper, and a flyer to advertise it). Description, Article, and Announcement.
Elementary School Information for Parents by Suzy Diner (An adaptation of the elementary school Student Handbook at Milton. Attractive pictures simplify information about classroom expectations, student evaluations, bringing medicine to school, absence policies, playground rules, etc).
IES Practice Guide: Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades (the most recent research on K-5 literacy development for ELLs. This guide offers five specific recommendations for district administrators and reviews the evidence in support of these recommendations).
Native Language Profile by Susan McDonald
Our Story (a series of five autobiographical narratives from refugees who have settled in Vermont, detailing their challenges and successes) by Matthew Hallas. Afghan Dari Story. Albanian Story. Bosnian Story. Puerto Rico Story. Somali Story.
Parents Are the Secret Ingredient: Suggestions for Helping Your Child Do Well in School (a PowerPoint introducing the ELL-oriented resources available at South Burlington Community Library, including tips for parents on how to support their children's literacy development) by Yvonne Sonoda.
Pictorial Newsletter for Families by Lisa Burton (2 Files - description and demonstration of a picture-based newsletter created in a Burlington North End school for families who cannot read English). Description and Newsletter.
Summer Activities Brochure by Erika Albinson
Teaching ELLs: A Handbook for Content Teachers by Lisa Lavoie and Kari Roberts
Welcome to Stowe Elementary (a nine-page graphic and photographic brochure welcoming new ELL students and their families to the school, with introductions to personnel, school policies, and sport and recreational facilities;as well as basic tips on how to assist with a child's English language learning and special information for adoptive parents of English language learners) by Graeme Saphier.
Welcome to Wheeler by Maiko Shimizu (a lively photo/clipart guide for parents to H.O. Wheeler Elementary School in Burlington).
What Families May Need (a community outreach advising educators and others involved with newcomer families as to what services they may need and which organizations can help) by Rebecca Baker
Vacation Day Camp (a PowerPoint for Girl Scout or other youth leaders interested in organizing a day camp for English language learners, containing many embedded resources for camp activities, background information on local ELL cultures, and tips for English language building) by Josephine "Dau" Mayo and Johanna Snedeker. Introductory Rationale. Camp Schedule. Description of Activities. ELL Scout Day Camp. Bosnian Culture Background.
Vermont Testing Information by Christine Howley and Susanna Mason
Adult Education/Community Volunteering
Helping Newcomers in Barre by Ani Lutz and Sky Norton
Lesson Plans for Adult Literacy by Heather Odell and Suzy King
Outreach in Central Vermont by Judith Augsberg
Spanish-English Guide for Migrant Farm Workers by Zonia Desranleau and Emily Erwin (a sample page from an ongoing project. Inquiries may be directed to Emily Erwin at erwinemily@hotmail.com).
Translations for Parents
Family Literacy Fact Sheet by Amanda Gustafson (3 Files - An informational flyer for parents to help them support their children's literacy at home, its translation into Vietnamese, and an abstract explaining the project). Family Reading, Translation, & Abstract.
Welcome Literacy Kit by Kirsten Mannion (11 Files - welcome packet for pre-literate newcomers to Winooski School District). Community Activities, Dear Parent, Fasalka, flashcards 1, flashcards 2, flashcards 3, flashcards 4, Good Readers, Summary, School Days, and Welcome Info Packet.