Blogs

Contents of the MN Literacy Council's ESL Pull-Out Phonics Kit

Free Resource: ESL Pull-Out Kits

May 15, 2018

If you are looking for small group or one-to-one activity ideas for adult ESL learners, take a minute to explore the four different ESL pull-out kits. The kits take time off of teacher and tutor preparation by providing volunteers with complete activity instructions and materials for small-group and one-on-one instruction in four different areas: reading, phonics, pronunciation, and citizenship. The kits also provide structured support to volunteers which helps to develop their confidence, build independence and strengthen their teaching skills.

Educational Website Search UPDATED!

May 9, 2018

News Flash ! The Minnnesota Literacy Council's Educational Website Search http://www.mnliteracy.org/edweb has been updated and improved. Broken links have been fixed, dead links removed, descriptions updated and new websites have been added to the search.

To search for relevant resources , simply choose Levels , skills and topics you are looking for and clear results with website name, description and links will be provided.

standing woman holding a hand to her ear

Listen to Me!

May 9, 2018

Purpose: To encourage learners to practice listening to each other and recalling specific information

Preparation Time: None

Materials Needed: None

Procedure:

As a class, brainstorm a list of questions that learners can ask one another. Write the questions on the board. The questions should be personal questions on the topic that the class is currently studying.

Example: Weekly topic: Food and Shopping

Intercambio: Uniting Communities

May 1, 2018

Intercambio is a national organization based out of Boulder Colorado with a powerful vision: communities where all people communicate, connect, and succeed. Their mission is to improve immigrant lives through English education, and unite communities across cultures.

To that end, they provide a wide variety of tools for adult ESL programs, including affordable textbooks and teaching resources, teacher training webinars, immigrant guides, and program support for new and existing programs.

three words with large and small circles behind them to show the stress patterns

Draw the Word Stress

April 25, 2018

Purpose: To help learners become familiar with the word stress patterns of their vocabulary words through using a visual support

Preparation Time: None

Materials Needed: None

Procedure:

A red pencil making editing corrections on a typed paper

Find the Errors

April 10, 2018

Purpose: To help learners practice using correct grammar, and to develop proof-reading skills so that learners can become more independent with self-corrections

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Materials Needed: A short passage with several errors, or sentences or a worksheet with errors

What's the Story?

April 5, 2018

Purpose: To help learners improve their writing skills and practice grammar tenses

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Materials Needed: sets of comprehension questions (see example below)

Example 1:

What was Ahmed’s job?
What does he do at his job?
Why does he like his job?
When does he go to work?
What does Ahmed do after work?

Example 2:

Share Your Voice: Evan

April 5, 2018

What is your name? Evan Brewer

Where do you volunteer? Cedar Valley Learning Center in Apple Valley

What is your volunteer role? Teacher Assistant

What is your favorite thing about volunteering? Providing educational and emotional support to people who are living through these turbulent times is very important.