Free Images for Educational Use

Pics4Learning has over 35,000 images that are free to use.  An image is a powerful teaching tool for any student, not just for those negotiating between languages.

The beauty of the site is that you don't have to worry about copyright.  What more could you ask for?

Some of the many categories include:
Animals
Food
Education
Space
Countries

Digital Story Telling App

Morgan mentioned a post on Digital Storytelling last week and I thought I would share a great app to get reluctant writers writing. One of my favorite apps to use in all subject areas is called "Write About This". There is a free and paid version of this app with limitations on using the free version.  This app allows for students to record their voice when writing stories and share them via email with the teacher. This app helps reluctant writers get started with writing stories. I absolutely love this app and use it in my Daily 5 Stations for Working on Writing. Here is a student sample of how it can be used in math.

DS - Where do I begin?

So I've read the amazing post on why Digital Storytelling is an asset to my classroom, but where do I begin?

New technology is often intimidating.  We always have the best of intentions to take time out of our chaotic days so that we may learn new technology but...

Reality takes over!

There is a vast internet FULL of resources for us to use in the classroom.  It just takes time to find them.

Here is a slideshare that may provide you with a jumping off point.

Digital Storytelling Across the Elementary Curriculum from jencynwms

What are some ideas that you have to help promote Digital Storytelling in your classroom with your ELLs?

Vocabulary Digital Storytelling

Why Vocabulary Digital Storytelling? 

First, let me introduce you to Digital Storytelling.  "Digital Storytelling (DS), meet classroom teacher.  Classroom teacher, meet DS."

DS is not a new concept and has actually been around for over a decade.  As technology has improved, so has the ability to make DS an effective tool in almost all disciplines, including teaching.


Digital Storytelling-the art of using technology to tell stories (From Tech4Learning)


If you want to see its effectiveness, watch this clip from a business conference explaining the benefits of Digital Storytelling in marketing.  (Only the first 14 minutes or so are applicable to teachers)

How about an educational example?

Now why vocabulary?
The English language is very complex.  Read this example to understand what your ELLs encounter in our classrooms:

"Specifically, our research is situated within a new literacies perspective that recognizes that literacy is no longer singular and print bound; instead the iconic and digital demands of the 21st century have opened up literacies that require traversals across print and nonprint-based formats" (Skinner & Hagood, 2008, p. 13)

Huh?

The easiest language for our students to acquire is the language of the everyday.  When they encounter the language specific to certain content areas, the academic language, we can easily lose them.

Explicit vocabulary instruction is one of the easiest ways to help bridge the divide BUT it is also one of the hardest to teach effectively and engage the students.

Enter Vocabulary Digital Storytelling!

Combining vocabulary lessons with key academic terms you wish for your students to be responsible for will not only increase engagement but also provide visual and auditory reinforcement.  When used effectively, students will be able to retain and use correctly the vocabulary you have taught them.

So...why not?  

Other Resources:
Request a Free kit with examples
5 Digital Storytelling iPad Apps
36 Digital Storytelling Sites & Apps

Haiku Deck Helps Build Vocabulary

Morgan's last post prompted me to share one of my favorite apps I use to help and develop vocabulary in all subject areas. Last year and this past summer, I had the pleasure of meeting some pretty awesome Haiku Deck guru's in San Antonio during my ISTE Tech Conference this past July. It is a more sophisticated way to present information like in a powerpoint but Haiku Deck has a strong image gallery that helps with the decks you build. So here I will share how I have used it and how you can incorporate it in your classroom:

• Download the app from the iTunes store (free)
• Once downloaded, one needs to explore and become familiar with the components ( I can give you a one on one tutorial)
• Each Haiku Deck that you build can be titled according to skill or lesson. For example, if you are studying -ing words then your deck would be titled "-ing words". 
• Brainstorm a list of -ing words and type them into a new slide and so on. You can add a background image using the gallery if you would like to add some pizazz to your deck. 
• Students can open each deck and recite the words as they go from slide to slide. 
• Students can draw an example of the word in another app titles "Doodle Buddy" (free) and take a screenshot of the picture, save to camera roll and upload the image in Haiku Deck as the background. This is one way to build vocabulary in all subject levels and this app is part of my Daily 5 rotations.

The students have built their own decks using math vocabulary, science and sight word recognition. Students save all their images they have created on their camera roll but in a one iPad classroom, you could have each student draw an illustration as you pass the iPad around and save it to the camera roll. Once the deck is created it will stay there until you delete it. Haiku Deck's can be published on Homework online, Twitter, Facebook ( see me) but you must create an account with Haiku Deck online (can be done on your iPad or lap top). Next week, I will share another favorite app to help with vocabulary development. 

Vocabulary Development

One of the biggest components teachers of ELLs focus on is vocabulary development.  Think about it.  There are over 1,000,000 words in the English language.  This number is increasing daily with new technologies, innovations, and slang infiltrating.  When you combine these words with others it may keep the meaning intact or it may change it entirely.  We have idioms, synonyms, antonyms, homophones... Being native in the language is difficult enough.  What about our students who come from a non English background?  What a feat to navigate!

There are five component that make up reading (vocabulary instruction leads to reading development):

1. phonemic awareness (think only using ears)
2. phonics (it involves both ears and eyes)
3. fluency
4. vocabulary 
5. comprehension

Today we will only focus on vocabulary.  If you scour the internet and print sources, you will find hundreds of strategies to use with ELLs when you teach vocabulary.  Since most of us don't have hours to devote to this kinds of research, allow me to boil the basics down for you.

1. You must create a "word-rich" classroom.  Have you books so they can be accessed by students. Alphabet needs to be at eye level (if possible).  
2. Directly & explicitly teach vocabulary daily.  When introducing a vocabulary word to an ELL, the best way is to provide the definition.  Work together to create a student/teacher definition.  Do not have them copy definitions down.  They will not retain the words this way.  Do you remember the vocabulary lessons from high school?  Boring.
3. Involve the students.  Make it engaging.  Use visuals.  Use conversation.  Use body motions.  Use what you can to engage the students and get them to participate.
4. Utilize antonyms and synonyms.  Perhaps don't employ that specific vocabulary when describing the activity but the concept is important.  "Let's make a list of words that mean the opposite for soggy.  Now that we have a list of opposites, we know what isn't soggy.  Let's come up with words that have a similar meaning to soggy."
5. Don't be afraid to teach your ELLs the morphemic analysis of words.  This means that you teach them root words, prefixes and suffixes.  How do these parts change the meaning of the word?
6. Most importantly (especially in ESL)-SIGHT WORDS! In the life of an ELL, when they are encountered new vocabulary day in and day out, the familiarity of those sight words are not only welcomed but they are beneficial.  They allow for the brain to process the next word to be encountered instead of waging war against a word that doesn't follow conventional standards and should be recognized in an instant.

This information was derived from ESL Partyland.  Please visit the link so that you can take advantage of the many resources shared within this space.

Ask and you shall receive

One of the suggestions from the survey conducted during the first week of school was to provide tips, tricks, strategies, and demonstrations.

Our plates are already overflowing and attending one more meeting after school just won't do.  This blog is intended to provide the help you have requested.  Throughout the year, resources will be shared within these pages.  

It may be some iPad Apps or an amazing website.  It may be a model lesson or even some book suggestions.  It may just be a place where you can read up on the current knowledge out there.  Whatever shape this may morph into through out the year, you can be rest assured that it will become a valuable resource for Bilingual, ESL, and teachers of ELLs throughout the building.

Welcome to the ELL Cafe.

~ESL and Bilingual