Evaluating ESL Reading Materials

In the past, if I wanted to select a book for my students, I went to the shelf and pulled off something that I thought would interest the students and that I could make a graphic organizer for and ask some higher order thinking questions about.

Now, with Dr. Craig's evaluation rubric, I have an idea of what to look for within each story I select. By evaluating the vocabulary, discussion questions, metacognitive activities, and illustrations,I can determine whether a book is appropriate for my students. Never before had I thought about using literature to build academic vocabulary (CALP) along with social vocabulary (BICS).

By selecting the appropriate materials and promoting literacy, we give our students the skills they need to be successful in the regular classroom, home, and other social settings.

YOED 6020

I am starting this blog as part of my Reading, Writing, and Learning Methods for ESL course at MTSU. I am currently teaching the ESL (English as a Second Language) class at Blanche in the afternoons, when the Pre-K students leave. I undertook this extra teaching assignment at the request of the school administration, trying to meet state requirements that ESL students have one hour of specilized instruction daily. Although I am still apprehensive about what to do with my students, I have come to enjoy them. I am anxious to work through this methods class and learn new techniques to use in the classroom.