Since I am training to teach either Spanish or English as a Second Language I have been struck with the importance of helping language learners organize what they are learning. I am not talking about how to properly conjugate verbs or what category the words fall in but rather how to organize story plot lines, history lessons or any academic content they learn in their second language. This applies primarily to ELLs (English Language Learners). I was in a school where ELL students spoke limited English and had an ESL class only twice a day. During the other periods they had Social Studies, Science and Math all in classes with native speakers. For these students the content vocabulary was difficult to understand let alone organize it and remember how it all works together. For them if the teachers would have provided graphic organizers it would have helped them a great deal. I found a website that gives teachers, for free, many different types of graphic organizers. There are story maps, timelines, venn diagrams, KWL charts and many more. Click here to be connected to this site. I think any teacher will find this helpful, especially because you won't have to spend time trying to create the charts yourself. Happy organizing!!!
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