Post on 22-Dec-2015
Tools for ESL Lesson Plans
By Terry Skiles
11/02/06
Introduction
This presentation reviews tools and resources available to assist the teacher of middle school ESL classrooms with lesson planning. In 2000 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 28.4 million U.S. residents were foreign born. That number has expanded to over 30 million at this time creating a growing need for effective ESL classrooms and teachers in today’s school system.
Overview
A brief introduction and explanation of the SIOP Model
An introduction and explanation of an alternate model, the CALLA Model
A summary of useful websites for teachers with tools and resources for ESL lesson planning
The SIOP Model
Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP)
Developed to make content area instruction more comprehensible in the ELL classroom
Resulting from the work of Jana Echevarria, Mary Ellen Vogt and Deborah J. Short
Elements of the SIOP Model
Preparation– Clearly defined content objectives– Clearly defined language objectives– Supplementary materials used– Adaptation of content according to student
proficiency– Meaningful activities that integrate concepts
Elements of the SIOP Model
Instruction– Building Background
Linking concepts to student’s background Linking past learning to new concepts Key vocabulary emphasized
– Comprehensible Speech appropriate for proficiency level Explanation of academic tasks A variety of techniques (modeling, hands on, etc.)
Elements of the SIOP Model
– Strategies Opportunities for use of different strategies Scaffolding techniques used throughout the lesson A variety of question types (literal, analytical, etc.)
– Interaction Frequent interaction between teacher and student Grouping configurations to support language and
content objectives Consistent wait time for student response Opportunities to clarify key points in the student’s native
language
Elements of the SIOP Model
– Practice/Application Hands-on materials or manipulatives for practicing new
content Activities to apply content and language knowledge Activities using all language skills (writing, listening,
speaking, reading, etc.)
– Lesson Delivery Content and language objectives must be supported by
lesson delivery Students must be engaged almost 100% of the time Pacing appropriate to student’s ability
Elements of the SIOP Model
Review and Assessment– Comprehensive review of key vocabulary– Comprehensive review of key content concepts– Regular feedback to students on their output– Conducting assessment of student
comprehension and learning of all lesson objectives (spot checking, group response, etc.)
The CALLA Model
Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA)
Involves integrating learning strategies into a lesson
An alternative, less detailed lesson planning approach than SIOP
Developed by Anna Uhl Chamot and J. Michael O’Malley
Elements of the CALLA Model
Subject ESL Level Topic Grade(s)
Content Objectives Language Objectives Learning Strategies Materials
ITEMS TO BE DEFINED PRIOR TO PLANNING
Elements of the CALLA Model
Preparation– Reviewing what students already know about
learning strategies– Review and assess what is a student’s normal
approach or strategy for a given task
Elements of the CALLA Model
Presentation– Choose strategies appropriate for the task
Present the language task Discuss strategies mentioning them by name
– Model Strategies Model strategies through thinking aloud during tasks Discuss the value of strategies used
Elements of the CALLA Model
Practice– Provide opportunities to practice the strategies
already modeled– Use groups, pairs, and individual activities to think
aloud and practice strategies– Re-emphasize the value of strategies as students
use them– Coach the students by prompts focusing on the
student’s thought processes
Elements of the CALLA Model
Evaluation– Students must assess their own learning– Evaluate if strategies were successful– Emphasize which strategies worked well in
certain contexts– Practice language skills by discussing which
strategies the students find effective
Elements of the CALLA Model
Expansion– Create tasks to encourage students to apply what
they have learned to new situations– Encourage students to consciously re-use
strategies with language tasks and content area learning
Useful Websites
EverythingESL.Net http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/using_siop_
model_08621.php.php Provides an overview and outline of the SIOP Model Includes related links to many articles and tools for
content area instruction Helpful for teachers who are not familiar with the
SIOP Model or need tools for content area instruction
Useful Websites
CAL Center for Applied Linguistics http://www.cal.org/siop/ Provides a historical perspective of the SIOP model
and current news related to the topic Provides shopping links for professional
development resources Includes sample lesson plans for content area
teaching including science and social studies This website is useful for teachers attempting to
improve their own professional development using the SIOP Model
Useful Websites
CALLA Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach
http://jillrobbins.com/catesol/calla.html Provides only an outline of the CALLA Model Expands on the preparation, presentation,
practice, evaluation, and expansion in the CALLA model
Useful only to anyone wishing to familiarize themselves with the CALLA Model
Useful Websites
Education World http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/classroom/e
sl.shtml
Provides links to articles and reviews of websites and tools for ESL lesson planning
Excellent search tool for teacher helps such as classroom activities including online activities
The website is a great tool for teachers in the ESL classroom for both professional development and classroom tools for teaching
Useful Websites
EnglishClub.com http://www.englishclub.com/teacher-guide.htm Provides both an explanation of and the actual guides for
warm ups, theme-based lessons and skill-based lessons Also provides both a historical perspective of the ESL
classroom and a monthly newsletter for the ESL teacher The website does the work for the teacher. Lesson plans
are already created for a plethora of content objectives and are categorized so teachers can complete a series of lessons
Print Resources
Sheltered Content Instruction Teaching English Language Learners with Diverse Abilities
By Jana Echevarria and Anne Graves A college level class textbook
covering ESL classroom instruction based on the SIOP Model
Useful for professors and students in the post-high school classroom
Print Resources
The CALLA Handbook
By Anna Uhl Chamot and J. Michael O’Malley
Introduces and explains the CALLA Model, and provides direction for both establishing and implementing the model
This text is useful in conjunction with other texts on teaching strategies for the college level classroom
Conclusion
There is an abundance of web-tools, print resources, and online articles to assist the ESL teacher with effective lesson planning. Many lesson plans are already prepared for the teacher to use with little time and effort. The ESL teacher needs effective training, but the tools seem already in place to produce outstanding lesson plans for teaching content to the English Language Learner.
References
Haynes, J. (2006). SIOP: Making Content Comprehensible for ELLs. Retrieved October 18, 2006, from Everything ESL
Web site: http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/ using_siop_model_08621.php.php
The SIOP Model of Sheltered Instruction. Retrieved October 18, 2006, from CAL Center for Applied Linguistics
Web site: http://www.cal.org/siop/
References
CALLA Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach – Integrating Learning Strategies into a Lesson. Retrieved October 18, 2006, from Jill RobbinsWeb site: http://jillrobbins.com/catesol/calla.html
Lesson Planning for the ESL Classroom. Retrieved October 18, 2006, from Education WorldWeb site: http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/classroom/esl.shtml
Using English Club for Teaching in the ESL Classroom. Retrieved October 18, 2006 from English ClubWeb site: http://www.englishclub.com/teacher-guide.htm
References
Chamot, Anna Uhl and J. Michael O’Malley. The CALLA Handbook, United States of America: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1994.
Echevarria, Jana and Anne Graves. Sheltered Content Instruction Teaching English Language Learners with Diverse Abilities, United States of America: Pearson Education, Inc., 2003.