{SO, LET'S TESOL}

TESOL

international association is an online community designed for individuals teaching or learning English as a Second Language (ESL).  Throughout becoming a member of TESOL I have taken the chance to see what exactly is offered to young ESL teachers.

Bulletin Board:

TESOL has an English language news bulletin of articles that concern English learners or teachers.  I found all these articles very interesting and most of them I would implement into the classroom.  One in particular that covers the effects of technology on this generation of students seemed appropriate for this blog, so feel free to read all about it. 

TESOL Journal:

The journal is mostly accessible to those who have memberships with TESOL.  Members of the community who have become part of the Board of Directors take turns writing entries about their experiences, thoughts, etc. on ESL teaching.  

I 

LOVE 

these journals because they are written in a more relaxed tone than the articles, but still offer professional advice to aid in your career.  One article that talks about what happens when ESL learners are asked to write poetry is available to non-members and was one of my favorites to read!

Forum:

My favorite part of the online community is the active forum that members are welcomed to join in on.  In a forum you can chat back and forth with other members about current topics.

EVEN BETTER: Each forum is separated into different "interest sections" so you can talk to others who have the same interest as you do.  A lot of professionals are active in the forums, but there are also a few students who have become members that are ESL learners.  Being a student myself, but coming from the perspective of "teacher," I was interested in what TESOL offered for a fellow student who had become a member for the purpose of learning English.  An exchange student from Columbia was online at one point.  He had come to America to study language because that was his passion but he was not surrounded by people who felt the same way.  Throughout joining TESOL he found that. =) 

Another forum that was locked, but I read out of curiosity was from a first year elementary  ESL teacher. 

"WHAT DO I DO FOR A WRITING ASSIGNMENT?!?!" he asked.  He had been doing well for his first year, but he was stuck in the English Writing segment of his curriculum because some students were advancing more quickly than others.  What to do?? TESOL members from experienced teachers to other ESL learners quickly replied with encouraging suggestions, ideas, and websites for the teacher.  I was happy to see such support from the fellow TESOL members.

If you would like to become a member of TESOL

 or just check out the great website, check it out here!

{That's Shady}

I created an art lesson plan for 4th or 5th graders that utilizes two of the FUN apps mentioned in my last post!

This lesson is full of awesome activities to enhance your teaching of shading and blending in the art class, and there is a PowerPoint I have included to more simply outline the week-long unit! This unit plan has a variety of examples for the teacher to use from Van Gogh to Sidewalk Chalk Art to anonymous YouTubers across the world and an exciting field trip centering on the techniques of shading and blending to top it all off.

 <<- Go check it out! ->>

 

 

{Fun Education Apps}

Every teacher needs to use technology at SOME point in their classroom.  Technology is a huge part of our students' lives; why not use it to enhance your lessons!? I researched some apps that are compatible to Android devices and are great for elementary Art or ESL classes. 

Click on the name of the app to go directly to the download page for each one:) 

{iStoryBooks} iStorybooks is an excellent app for younger children in an English class. I LOVE the  cultural variety offered and most subject groups are also offered aside from History.  The narrator talks to the young reader before each story and gives a short preface of what the story will be about.  PLUS she speaks very clearly. This app is very much directed to ESL students.

{How to Draw Superheroes} this app is so much fun without being distracting. Art students of older ages could utilize this in an Art unit to take a break from class lecture!  Easy step by step instructions are given started with basic line, then going to shape, then showing shadowing techniques.  Advertisements are kept at an extreme minimum. YAAAY!

{How to Draw Wild Animals} Very similar to Draw Superheroes but instead, the kiddos get the chance to draw their favorite animal. I chose these two art apps because they are so simple to use, but limit distraction, which offers an easy, yet effective way to plug technology into the art classroom.

{ABS Kids Phonics: Animal Train} This app does a really great job drawing interest and phonics together. It is designed for younger children so it has a lot of different games and matching words to sounds.  A little monkey drives a train through the thriving "Phonics Island" and at each side of the pentagon shaped island is a learning "station" the children can select.  Because phonics can be especially frustrating for the little ones, I think the reward system was a really great perk of the app.  When students match sounds to letters or correctly achieve the task at the station, they get to put a sticker on their sticker board.  This app is really fun to interact with, yet very detailed.

{Kids n Books} I think it is important that kids get the chance to read folk tales and fairy tales in Reading classes. This app has an interactive storyteller much like iStoryBooks, but students are encouraged more with this app to play with the characters as the story is being told.

~~ Phonics Island and Kids n Books have full versions you could buy if you wanted your students to play around more, but are still very useful in their free version! All of the other apps are free and easy to use. ~~