Reflection on Course

The book I chose to read was Reading, Writing and Learning in the ESL Classroom by Suzanne F. Peregoy, Owen F. Boyle.


Reading this book validated many of the teaching methods and ideas I implement as well as how I differentiate my instruction to meet the needs of all my students.  It emphasized that while some students learn through discovery, others through explicit instruction, others may need a combination of both.  Instruction on the  reading components: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension builds a solid foundation.  Assessments will need to be administered to determine an ESL student's level.  Assessments should be ongoing and occur before, during and after instruction. Using these scores in combination with observations the appropriate interventions, modifications and accommodations for assignments can be selected.  Many of the interventions, adaptations, and accommodations are the same as the ones you would use when working with an individual who has and IEP or how you differentiate instruction for any learner.    Some of them are:

• Shelter Instruction is tailoring instruction to the student's language proficiency levels and prior knowledge.
• Scaffolding is when learners are challenged with support  and assistance permitting them to perform at the next level.  By providing support, this allows students to perform a more complex process.  It offers practice and development of a skill instead of drill.  
• Differentiating product by having several avenues for students to display their knowledge. 
• Provide visual and verbal prompts.
• Provide materials in the student's language.

It is important to provide opportunities for an ESL student to develop both social and academic languages.  The two do not necessarily develop at the same rate.  

Throughout the course modules:

Exploring the ideas provided for service learning projects and co-teaching I was able to develop (as we all did) plans that I know I will use.  I am always looking for more ways to incorporate skype into the classroom and with the ePals I have established we will be skyping with them. 

This course has reminded me to record what I want included in my students' reflections.  I probably need to have it listed in my lesson plans.  Even though I have my students reflect on a daily basis or at least weekly, I neglect to record some of our oral reflections or have it noted in my plans.