• ESOLers Main Site

• Newsletters Main Page
• The Process Overview
• Process Outlined
• Sample Unit Plan
• Class Starter
• Research Phase Explained
• Intermediate Products
• Final Products
• Example Newsletter
• Setting up a Blog
• MS Publisher Setup
• Our Blog
• Website Setup
• Theoretical Background

click images to enlarge

The above is an example of the initially way I teach students to organize their notes + images. Notice - students often can use English or Native Language sources - Depending on the student + desired skill set exercised.

 

When possible, students us MS Word on all drafts to catch spelling and grammar problems.

 

I place either final or rough draft texts beside the posters along with my own highlighted notes pointing out strong + weak points + my sentence edits - to illustrate the revision process + encourage effort.

 

 

 

Screen capture of the ESOL classes blog. Texts, images, and video can be placed on the blog. I also try to connect classes to ESL students in South Korea (where I used to work).
The website and blog distribute student work globally. It also connects the students to the rest of the school as members of the student body can surf onto the site 24/7.

Click to advance

 

 

Students or Teacher Choose - (Example: Native Country's Music)...

Individual Interests - Students Pick a Narrow Sub-Topic- (Singer, Group, Song, Genre)...

Individual Effort - Solo Research - Collect Quotes + Images - Internet - MS Word - Technology - Must Collect Source Links Too...Bibliography

Flexibility - Lower Level Students Can Use Native Language Sources - Higher Level Can Mix English and Native Sources- Highest Level Only English Sources -- or -- Only Native Language Sources with Lengthy Quotes to Translate

Having to Use Native Language Sources and Translate/Paraphrase is a Great Way to Hem in the Plagiarists and Lazy Too...

Individual Responsibility - Grade of Notes Taken - Quantify + Quality

 

 

Select + Organize Quotes - Wheat From Chaff - Writing Process

Layout Textual Quotes + Visual Images - Keep in Mind Your Audience - Present Useful + Interesting Information - Peer Review

Posters Are Displayed in Hallway Student body Peer Review - Pride in Work - Showcasing Culture - Connecting ESOLers to Students, Teachers, and Staff...

Individual Responsibility - Grade on Poster - Quality

 

 

From Poster + Notes - Use Previously Culled Items

From Poster - Extend Short Items/Topic Sentences into Full Paragraphs - Poster is a Rough Outline

Flexibility - Essay, Poem, Portion of a Short Story, Etc.

Write on Paper or Computer

Individual Responsibility - Rough Draft Grade

 

 

Peer Review - Pairs or Small Group - Circle Spelling + Grammar Mistakes - What's Good + What's Not Good Notes

Group + Individual Responsibility - Students Give Grades - Student Grade Compared to Teacher's Grade: If drastically different, must be justified

 

 

Computer - MS Word - Use Spell Check + Grammar Check - Technology - No Visuals

Individual Responsibility - Typical Writing Grade

 

 

MS Frontpage Newsletter - Small Group - Transfer All Final Papers to the Newsletter Style+ Add Visuals Taken in Research Phase - Some Renewed Editing Required

Distribution - Completed Newsletter With Each Students' Text is Distributed Like a School Newspaper - Pride in Product - Mass Peer Review - Share Culture + Self - Connect to Student body, Teachers, and Staff

Copies Also Sent Home + Possible to Immigrant and Other Community Leaders

Internet - Image of Each Page is Uploaded to the Class Website - Massive Distribution - Pride in Product

Small Group Product Grade

Blog Upload - Small Group - Puts Each Phase V Final Paper Onto Class Blog as Individual Blog Entries + Adds Visuals

Internet + Technology Skills - Massive Distribution - Lasts Forever - Pride in Work

Small Group Product Grade

Alternative Small Group Addition - Newscast Script - Video Tape "Newscast" - Upload to Class Website - TeacherTube - Embed in Class Blog

Small Group Product Grade