Blog Entry #3
Reflection:
By interviewing Ms. Momin allowed me to learn how she manages an ESL classroom and understand the differences between a regular classroom that doesn't hold ESL students. I am currently student teaching at Sienna Crossing Elementary school within a 1st grade classroom. However, the classroom I am in has five students that are ESL, so my teacher is able to help them out one on one and different ways as well since she is ESL certified. Since my classroom teacher was busy and had personal things happening I was unable to interview her. However, I found another teacher who is similar to her and is ESL certified as well. I am glad I interview Ms. Momin because she helped me comprehend many ups and downs with ESL students as well as how the best way to assist them is.
Ms. Momin's teaching style is very different than how it is in my classroom and other ESL classrooms I have seen before. She uses her classroom as an open space to help the students how to use it as a guide to help them with certain words or pictures they may want to write about. For example, while writing a story if they don't know how to spell a certain word out then they can go around and find the word by sound sounded it out or by matching the picture with the word to write it down. But when it comes to assisting students she is very motivated and willing to help the child the best she can. Even with the student who spoke the same language as her called Urdu. She would say certain things in Urdu but also say them in English as well that way the student can make connections between the two languages and can understand them better. She also modifies certain lesson plans that way she can accommodate the ELL students and make it easier for them to comprehend the certain criteria.
With the help of this interview I was able to understand how to help ELL students within my future classroom instead of getting nervous on how to let them become successful in school. Also it was important to understand how to differentiate the instructions for the students, which I received help from Ms. Momin within my interview. She made it very clear as to how she instructs her students within her classroom and how her students are being successful as well. Which is going to help me use couple of her methods of teaching to help my ELL students in the long run as well. And with the additional ESL help and program that help the students are a very engaging and best way to help the students that need additional support in school. Researchers have stated, Language policies and social climates may dictate the status accorded to native and second languages, which in turn, can positively or negatively affect attitudes and eventual success in language learning (Brown & Lee, 2015). I think it is a great way to see students becoming successful within their studies and have a spark on their face at the end of the day.
I feel it was a great way Ms. Momin was able to learn how to work with ELL students that way I can be comfortable to work with them and be ready to start school without worrying about how to teach students who require additional help.
Hi Seemin,
ReplyDeleteI really liked watching your video! I noticed that the teacher you interviewed used several different techniques to understand her ELL learners better. She mentioned how in order to ensure that the ELL students are comprehending everything successfully she makes sure to give them extra instruction after explaining to whole group(p.54.) I see she has made sure to also give them extra assistance in small group so she is able to give them more one-on-one attention. This also gives them more opportunities to have a better understanding of what they are learning and how to achieve their goals. They teacher also mentions how she finds it extremely important to use hand gestures and visuals in order for the students to have a way to recognize what she may be talking about. I also think it was very interesting to learn that the teacher used Google translate in order to make sure that she was able to communicate with the Turkish student she had. The teacher also mentioned that the ESL program within the school consisted of ESL support team that was available in the school that was used as a resource who came into the class that was beneficial to the teacher and the ELL students. The teacher uses a wonderful approach of using reading books that are interesting to the students that they will enjoy reading in order to encourage them to read and write more fluently. You did a great job on your interview and I was able to learn a lot!
Brown, H. D., & Lee, H. (2015). Teaching by principles: an interactive approach to language pedagogy (4th ed.). White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman
Sharmeen,
DeleteYou are definitely right, because the teacher for sure had many unique ways she was helping her ELL students which I for sure will use in my future classroom as well. Because sometimes it really helps students when you use hand gestures. The students need some kind of motion to help better their understandings to certain concept. Because if you are helping the student with the word "move" then they will think many different ways of moving. So by giving the correct information and using gestures or certain motions to represent the word would be very beneficial for many students. However, I really agree with you when it comes to the teacher using google translate to help the certain ELL student because the teacher didn't speak the language as the student. I think that was very thoughtful of the teacher to go above and beyond ways to help the student in a way. Because most of the time it can get very challenging to help the student out if they are not familiar with the language. But by using google translate you can help a child out discarding their first language. Often times to gain an ELL students attention in the certain criteria you may be teaching it helps to read books to them that may have pictures so they can make connections and refer back to them as well and also help them with fluency.
Thank you for watching my video, glad to know you learned many new concepts of ways to teach ELL students.
Seemin M & Sharmeen Z.
DeleteI loved listening to the interview. Your teacher really shows how practice and determination will go a long way for a student. I love how she mentioned multiple ways to help her ELL’s students. The one that stood out the most was how she incorporated visuals and ad gestures for her students to help them with the language barrier. I find that so enlightening because in kindergarten that’s how they are doing things as well. Many of the students that cannot understand verbally receive special one on one attention with pictures and models in order for the students to grasp a better understanding. I think overall your teacher Is finding every possibility in order to help these students become successful.
Jolie,
DeleteI think you are absolutely right. Because when it comes to assisting certain ELL students it is necessary to find multiple ways to help the student understand to criteria. Since not every student has the same mindset when it comes to comprehending the assignment. Every child has a very unique and different way they may learn and assignment, they may understand things at a different time scale as well. But if a teacher understands the way the student may comprehend the assignment faster then the teacher can find a unique way to teach certain assignments to the student that way they are more motivated in the criteria. However, I also agree with you when it comes to using visuals to help the students understand certain concept better. Because most students forget what they hear in a short time period. But if they remember the pictures they have seen it is less likely for them to forget easier. To help your young ELL students it is best to help them understand certain words and writing by showing visual examples than verbal examples. Hope that can help your Kindergarten students within your current classroom right now as well.
Seemin,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your interview with us. In retrospect, the interview was very and to the point on the basis of what Ms. Momin does an ESL certified teacher and what regulations are specific to her school for the purpose of accommodating so many ESL students within one school. Her methods may be different from what is usually expected from teachers but if it works for her students and they gain growth from the methods then there is no argument against the method.
Hey Seemin,
ReplyDeleteI think it is very helpful that your teacher is knowledgeable on speaking Urdu. By providing that support and creating a connection between the primary and second language- students are accommodated and probably feel a little more comfortable with her as feel that they can relate to her as well!