Teaching Learners of English in Mainstream Classrooms (K-8) : One Class, Many Paths

by New Levine, Linda; McCloskey, Mary Lou

• ISBN13: 9780205410590
• ISBN10: 0205410596
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-30
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Teaching Learners of English in Mainstream Classroomsis a unique resource designed to help K-8 classroom teachers integrate language learning into the content curriculum. This book helps teachers teach their grade level curriculum even though they may have English language learners in their classrooms. By using the strategies provided, teachers can promote content achievement for all of their students. Specificially written for content teachers, Linda New Levine and Mary Lou McCloskeyrs"s clear and friendly writing style emphasizes practical application of known second language learning principles. The authors offer classroom teachers practical strategies and tools to integrate content and language learning, accelerating the academic achievement of their students. Techniques for developing reading writing and speaking skills in the content areas are also emphasized.

Author Biography

Dr. Linda New Levine is a consultant for public school teachers of language learning children and for programs for teaching English as a Foreign Language in both primary and secondary classrooms and holds a Masters in TESOL and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from New York University. .  She has been a teacher of English as a Second Language and a Staff Development Facilitator for the Bedford Central school district, New York.  Levine was an adjunct assistant professor of ESL Methods and Materials for school-age children at Teachers College, Columbia University and has written Elementary ESL curriculum and conducted numerous workshops with ESL, EFL and mainstream teachers in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia.  

 

Dr. Mary Lou McCloskey, former President of TESOL, is Director of Teacher Education and Curriculum Development for Educo in Atlanta.  As a consultant and author in the field of English language education, she has worked with teachers, teacher educators, and departments and ministries of education on five continents and in 35 of the 50 United States.  Current projects include Teaching Tolerance through English, a project with teens and teachers in Central Europe; working as consultant to the FugeesFamily, a nonprofit group that serves school-age refugees in Atlanta, on ways to best develop literacy; and an anthology of contemporary literature for teens learning English.  Author of many professional books and programs for learners, including On Our Way to English, Voices, Visions and McDougal Littell Literature.  McCloskey considers her most important credential, however, her years of experience with multilingual, multicultural learners and teachers, from pre-school through postgraduate.

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Figures, and Photos

Introduction

Language Acquisition and Language Learning in the Classroom

What do we know about first language acquisition?

Language acquisition is universal

Language acquisition is natural

Language acquisition does not require instruction What is the nature of the first language environment?

Children are immersed in language

Language is highly contextualized

Language is a tool for purposeful use

Children are physically active while learning languages

Acquisition occurs within a social environment

Children choose those aspects of language they wish to acquire

Language acquisition is emotionally embedded

Language acquisition is an integrated learning experience How is learning

a second language in the classroom different from acquiring a first language?

The acquisition and learning hypo

The natural order hypothesis

The input hypothesis

The affective filter hypothesis

The monitor hypothesis What are factors affecting acquisition?

Limited language input

Classroom organization

High content and language level

Academic and social language

Negative Bias

Cognition, age, and social/cultural differences

Error correction

Culture shock What strategies do ELLs use to acquire languages?

Overgeneralization

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.