Shawna's favorite activities (updated August 2006)

English for Teachers, August 2006

Advice from ESL Teachers: "What Not To Do"

Other Writing Links

Genre and ESL Writing (WAESOL and BCTEAL)

More on Genre/ESL: Turning Rhetorical Triangle into Prism (SLW Symposium, Purdue University )

Insights from L1: Academic Writing (S-TESL)

Web Grammar [website inventory]- (UW ELP)

Coherence Bibliography (MMLA)

Genre Bibliography (various)

"ESL Assessment Conundrum" (a reflection poem by Diane Pecoraro)

Bring us a test that is normed,
Not to mention perfectly formed,
Fit for advanced beginners,
Lets all learners be winners.

Spits out numerical score
That provides funders with lore,
Hard data to track,
Offers legislators feedback.

Standardization might do,
Troy'd talk to Kalamazoo,
Transition starts to make sense,
And teachers wouldn't feel tense

When asked to document progress
For more accountability not less,
They know students are advancing,
But have trouble substancing

What they observe everyday,
From "repeat" to role play,
Gains in confidence, each try,
That's good enough! Why ask why?

Assessment alternatives ripe to explore
Will skills transfer beyond the classroom door?
Placement, process, progress and change,
How to shape our stories for the validity range?

Welcome to my Teaching Resources page.

I hope you find something useful here!

 Grammar, Vocabulary, etc.:

• Issues in Math Testing for ELL
• http://www.act.org/esl/desc/grammar.html (ACT grammar level descriptors)
• http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/WASL/testquestions.aspx (WASL 2005 released items- math, sci, rdg, writing)
• New TOEFL -iBT (sample questions)
• Vocab tips for teachers
• Grades 0-8 word lists  ///   University-level academic word list
• Vocabulary Notebook guidelines; Vocab Notebook BBC sample
• http://www.cal.org/topics/ilc/ilcstrat.htm  (quick-guide on integrating language and content)

Writing Assessment:

• http://mwp01.mwp.hawaii.edu/resources/wm6.htm (general info on ELL writers- for colleagues)
• http://www.bedfordbooks.com/bb/contents.html (history of rhetoric/composition)
• http://www.libarts.ucok.edu/english/rhetoric/rhetoric/ (description of approaches to teaching writing)
• http://abisamra04.tripod.com/writing/#appr (overview of approaches and methods for teaching writing)
• http://writing.umn.edu/tww/nonnative/nonnative_index.htm (links to research on ELL writers)
• http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1530903, http://huertas.vms.lusd.org/Janeschafferhandouts/JS5.jpg
• http://www.svusd.org/p_subject.asp?sid=11740 (More powerpoints and handouts)
• http://www.cyberspaces.net/6traits/rubric2.html (6 traits rubrics)
• http://cls.coe.utk.edu/lpm/esltoolkit/06rhetoric.html (contrastive rhetoric)

 Reading Assessment

• http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/reading.pdf  (sample test- Level 2-3 questions)
• http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/WAT/TILSA%20Dissemination%20Webb%20presentation%20for%20Training%20%20July%2024%20%202005.ppt#286,12,Slide  (DOK)
• http://www.crosscultured.com/articles/multicult_curric_handouts_ppt_pd.pdf (synthesized presentation)
• http://eslus.com/LESSONS/READING/READ.HTM  (resources)
• http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Reading/ (list of resources)
• http://www.manateemiddle.org/phonics/newpage13.htm  (whole language vs. phonics: learning styles)
• http://www.sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v14n03/2.html (reading "myths")
• PRONUNCIATION resources (click)

LINKS to testing items and tools online

Gemeral Assessment:http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.chetcuti/files/chart.gif    -assessment purposes charthttp://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.chetcuti/files/flowchart.gif   -assessment/instruction flow charthttp://www.ksde.org/sfp/esol/ensuringaccuracy.pdf       -Writing Assessment Items - pp. 36-51   -General Assessment Accommodations - pp. 56-72   -Research summary- pp. 114-118.  Also has sample test items.

http://www.ksde.org/sfp/esol/performassess.doc     -sample speaking rubric- p. 7, literacy rubric -p. 11,   -holistic rubric- p. 15, portfolio discussion pp. 18-25

Standardized Tests

• TSE/TOEFL
• WASL Math
• WLPT:  (Includes overview, format, sample items, etc.  PDF of PPT slides)
• LAS
• ACT:                                    Listening (levels 1-4)       Reading (Levels 1-4)     Grammar (Levels 1-4)
•  Other: Listening:  http://esl.about.com/od/listeningquizzes/
• Other: Writing:  http://www.riohondo.edu/admissions/assessment/sampletest/EnglishSample.pdf

To educate colleagues, parents, and administrators on the 'basics' of ELL instruction:

• Slide Presentation on Krashen's Natural Approach: http://coe.sdsu.edu/people/jmora/NatApprTheory-Eng/sld001.htm
• http://mwp01.mwp.hawaii.edu/resources/wm6.htm (general info on ELL writers- for colleagues)
• Myths about L2 Learning
• ELL Assessment Challenges (math-focused, but also gives overview of language vs. content issues)