Adult Literacy Council Coastal Bend Community Foundation Accelerating Your ESL Students’ Learning Through Brain Compatible Strategies Facilitator: Donna Hernandez Mathis Adult Literacy Program Sponsored by: San Patricio County Adult Literacy Council Coastal Bend Community Foundation

Language Acquisition Myths Children “catch” a language easily Speaking slowly and loudly to students increases their understanding The more time students spend in a second language context, the quicker they learn the language. Students who are fluent in “playground” English are fluent in the classroom.

Workshop Goals Deepen our understanding of how the brain creates meaning and memory to craft instruction to insure the creation of meaning and memory to develop valid & useful brain compatible strategies for English language learners

WHY? Neural Network Engineers Meaning Patterns Connections

SPARSE WEAK DENSE STRONG CONNECTIONS DENSE STRONG CONNECTIONS (M. Diamond; W. Greenough)

meaning out of its perceptions! Your mind seeks to make meaning out of its perceptions!

The point is . . . Brain, KIDS Discovery

Create the Experience

Your mind seeks to find patterns!

Black Blue Green Red Orange Blue

what it pays attention to! Your mind chooses what it pays attention to!

No way! Maybe, let’s see. Bring it on!

Motivation Attention Connections Create the Experience Hook to previous learning Engagement

Language Acquisition or Language Learning? Krashen’s 5 Hypotheses Acquisition vs. Learning Monitor (errors) Natural Order Input +1 Affective Filter

What if students don’t “learn”? Where do you look? Student ability? Language Skills Cognitive Ability Student academic experience? State Academic standards? Student motivation? Assessment instrument? Instructional strategies?

How do we work this to our advantage?

Brain Compatible Modifications Effective Teaching Brain Compatible Modifications

Instructional Strategies Use graphic organizers

Instructional Strategies Teach academic content concretely Realia Models Role Playing Simulation

Instructional Strategies Use cooperative learning groups Check for understanding frequently Pre-teach academic vocabulary Intentionally teach learning/study strategies

Instructional Strategies Why should we use Group Work? Increases language practice opportunities Improves the quality of student talk Helps individualize instruction Promotes a positive social climate Motivates learners

Helpful Websites www.eslkidstuff.com – Children’s resources w/links to websites for ESL kids’ teachers as well as songs, games, flashcards, etc. www.sitesforteachers.com & http://alri.org/litlist/esolwebsites.html - both contain lists of sites for teacher resources from worksheets to songs to clipart pictures. www.manythings.org/tesl - Tips, useful techniques and tools for ESL teachers Google: websites for ESL

Additional Resources www.spcalc.org - San Patricio Co. Adult Literacy Council Mathis GED Classes – Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. at Primera Iglesia Bautista Adult Computer Literacy Classes – Wednesdays: 12:15 to 1:45, Mathis HS; 6:45 to 8:15, Primera Iglesia Bautista www.PIBMathis.com for up-to-date information or contact Daniel G. Garcia, 210-519-7083 donna.i.hernandez@gmail.com www.eslstrategies.yolasite.com