1. Beginning Vocabulary & Literacy Instruction in the ESL Classroom
Elisabeth Bowman
ESL Program Coordinator & Teacher
Pontiac Middle School

2. Your Presenter Elisabeth Bowman
BS Elementary Education (K-12 ESL), 2000
Ma Ed TESOL, 2008
Ma Curriculum & Instruction, 2013
Visited/taught in 17 different countries
Currently:
ESL Program Coordinator
& Teacher at
Pontiac Middle School

3. The Problem
Large number of beginning and low intermediate English language learners
Lack of phonics instruction in upper elementary and middle school
Need to produce grade-level ability readers in very short time
Students also struggling with new grapheme system

4. The Question
Will intensive and direct phonics instruction help English language learners become better readers more quickly than the general English language development that has been provided to them in the past?

5. The Results Pre-intervention average growth: 82%
Post-intervention average growth:
year 1: 245%
year 2: 336%
year 3: to be added after June testing

6. The Intervention Self-developed word family based phonics instruction
Review vowel sounds: short and long
Read aloud books with target phonemic element signal (snap fingers)
Decodable books
Word work

7. The Word Families at Vce aw/au an/ad SH Kn ap/ag CH -tion og/op/ot TH
eg/en/et WH
ug/un/ut ST
ig/ill/ip QU
R-controlled
oi/oy

8. The Books Reading A-Z Scholastic Word Family Tales & Readers
Scholastic Word Family Mini-Storybook

9. The Activities Word Family Bonanzas Sort Cards: matching cards
flashcards
alphabetizing
“Memory” games
quick writes
***update hyperlink to the bundle

10. The Activities Bulletin Board: list words words from our books
words the kids find
transfer to a poster

11. The Activities Magnet Spelling Place picture strip on pan
Use magnets to
spell the word

12. The Activities Scrambled Words: Choose an egg Unscramble the letters
Write the word next
to the picture.

13. The Activities Match Up Boards: Slide in the cards Match the word to
the picture with
rubber bands
Flip center card to
check answers

14. The Activities Word Family Clip It Cards: Look at the picture
Use a clothes pin
to clip the word
that matches

15. The Activities Spin, Spell, Sentence: Spin the CD
Say the word, spell it
and use it in a
sentence.
**add hyperlink to the CD templates when finished
CD Spinner

16. The Activities Journal: draw a picture use the words in a sentence

17. Word Family Bonanza Worksheets cut & paste alphabetical order
crossword
cloze
word search

18. Expansion / Review Muffin Tin Toss:
Write the word families on wrappers
Toss the button
Say a word, spell
it, and use it
in a sentence.

19. Expansion / Review Folder Game: short a version in Word Family Bonanza
roll the dice, move
name, spell, and use
the word for the
picture on which
you land

20. Expansion / Review Beach Ball Bat:
Write the word families on the sections.
Toss the ball.
State, spell, & use a word
for the section your
thumb falls into.

21. Expansion / Review Body Boggle: Alphabet rug or tiles
Call a word & students
spell by jumping
on the letters

22. Expansion / Review Jeopardy:
Version for each Bonanza set (click pictures for hyperlink)

23. Organization Plastic Shoe Boxes: copies of the books sort cards
magnet spell strips
CD spinners
Match It cards
Bulletin board templates

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