[CALIBK12] Labeling books: my English Learner Collection

[Carolyn Accatino]

Wow!
It¹s great to hear other success stories!
Don¹t forget the power and magic of comic books and graphic novels for your
ELLs.  I can¹t keep them in my library!
Carolyn Accatino
Meadow Homes Elementary


On 10/4/07 8:49 AM, "Sandy Patton" <SGPatton at lbusd.k12.ca.us> wrote:

> You go, girl!
> Sandy Patton
> 
>>>> >>> "Christine Morgan" <cmorgan at srcs.org> 10/03/07 11:05 AM >>>
> The discussion of labeling books to designate reading levels interests me,
> although my situtation is different.  I am at a high school with a large EL
> population.(60% of our students do not speak English at home)  We have many
> Newcomer classes, including students who are pre-literate in any language,
> mostly Mayans but also many Spanish-speakers with only a couple of years of
> school behind them.  Toss in students who may be literate, to various extents,
> in Arabic, Hindu, Mandarin, Viet Namese,etc. but are just learning English. Of
> course, these kids run the whole gamut  of intellectual abilities, learning
> abilities,  previous schooling, family literacy and so on.  What they have in
> common is they are just beginning to learn to read English.
>  
>>  
>>  Over the last 12 years, I have a  created a  special EL collection (which I
>> originally called Newcomers  Library, and am now stuck with, to my regret, as
>> most of these kids are not  formally designated as Newcomers) , shelved in a
>> separate section, ranging  from picture books through maybe 4th or 5th grade
>> reading  level, emphaisis of course on high interest level.  Every picture
>> dictionary I can find is there, from the kindergarten kind through Oxford.
>> Most of the books are culturally relevant : myths, legends, geography,
>> history, traditions. (all cultures, including American) Many are  Spanish or
>> bi-lingual  (the "best-sellers")  We have big  tough-looking 17 year olds
>> carrrying around My Very First Picture Dictionary  and  kindergarten picture
>> books .
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  When the Newcomers  first visit  the library, I  level with them:  I know
>> these are  children's books.  I know you are mature young adults, with vast
>> and  varied life experiences, interests,  and goals.  I  have enormous
>> respect for your willingness to do whatever it takes to  learn English. I do
>> not consider you to be immature just because you are  reading children'
>> books; in fact, these books are well-written, beautifully  illustrated,  and
>> will be enjoyable and interesting to you.  You may  want to read aloud to the
>> younger kids in your families, which would be  very helpful to your own
>> language acquisition.  I hope you are  proud to be borrowing and reading
>> library books.  With this practice, you  will progress to reading regular
>> high school books.
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>   I tell them that when I was  studying in Germany, I brought my reading
>> level up to par by reading childen's  books, especially fairy tales.  We talk
>> about the lack of school  libraries (or any libraries) in their home
>> countries. These kids are very  cognizant of what a privlege it is to be able
>> to borrow all the books they  want, for FREE.  They just  get over any
>> feeling of  embarrassment about the reading level. There is no stigma
>> attached to  this.  Right now I have 3 big football player types  (Haitian,
>> Pakistani, Guatemalan)   making flash cards from a picture  dictionary,  at
>> the same table with their buddies reading regular  high school books. They're
>> all CHILL!  
>>  
>>  
>>  
>> And  the best and latest news: I have received a grant of $5,000 from the
>> Milagro Foundation, here in San Rafael,  to develop this collection. I would
>> greatly  appreciate any ideas and recommendations you, my fellow LMTs, might
>> offer.
>>  
>>  
>>  
>> Christine
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  
>> Christine Morgan MLIS
>>  
>>  
>>  
>> Library Media Teacher
>>  
>> San Rafael High School  Library
>>  
>> 185 Mission Ave
>>  
>> San Rafael CA 94901
>>  
>> (415)485-2354
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  
> 
> 
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