Ten Ways to Make the Methods WORK

in Kindergarten

Presented By:Heidi Rochin

ELD Consultant and Trainer

ObjectivesBy the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Provide a solid verbal rationale for grammar-based ELD methods in the early primary grades;Explain the importance of implementing the Key Language Acceleration Principles in grades K-2;List ten ways to make full and vibrant use of the grammar-based ELD methods in kindergarten.

Importance of the Key Language Acceleration

Principles in the Early Primary Grades

#1: LEVELED GROUPS FOR LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

Allows teachers to tailor-fit the language instruction to the students’ needs

•Develop more precise language objectives•Plan a more effective language lesson•Consolidate support materials•Focus on certain students•Assess growth and progress more easily

Allows students more opportunities to produce language…

Increased production = Acceleration of language learning!

Group together students of a similar language proficiency level

#2: CLEAR LANGUAGE OBJECTIVE

Teacher and student know what aspect of the English language they are expected to master.

Specific Aspect of Language

PHONOLOGY: Sounds

MORPHOLOGY:Affixes (Word Parts) Verb Tenses

SYNTAX: Word Order Rules

LEXICON:Vocabulary Word Bank

SEMANTICS: VocabularyWord Meanings

5 Aspects of Language

#3: COMPLETE SENTENCES

Students produce in complete sentences at all times

Apply and practice syntax (word order) rules

Key to comprehension & the quick and efficient learning of

new vocabulary!

Com

plete Thoughts

#4: 50/50 RULETeacher produces 50% of the lessonStudent produces 50% of the lesson

In order to quickly learn to play soccer correctly, what do I need to do?

•If students don’t produce a new language, they will never advance in that language

•Regardless of age or grade level

#5: THE PUSH

Teach students one level above where they are already proficient at producing without a teacher

Prevent stalled language development

Accelerate language learning

#6: ERROR CORRECTION•When a student makes a grammatical error, correct him/her on the spot

•Prevent students from developing poor grammar habits that will be more difficult to “undo” later

Quick

Effective

Gentle

Consistent

Purpose of Grammar-Based ELD Methods in the Early Primary Grades

• Develop vocabulary: Lexicon AND Semantics AND Syntax

• Build a strong grammar foundation: Teach the rules and patterns of the English language

• Take the guesswork out of language learning

• Eliminate wasteful time spent doing things wrong

If we looked at the list of kindergarten sight words, what parts of speech would be covered within that list?

Common Method Complaint #1 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students cannot pair share on topic.

•Strategic Partnerships

•Partner Assignments

•Knee-to-Knee, Eye-to-Eye

•Daily Opening Activity

•Specific Task

•Limited Amount of Time

Common Method Complaint #2 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

I can’t get my kindergarten students to speak in complete sentences.

•Daily Opening Activity

•Hand Gestures

•Restate Question

•Complete Sentence Clapper

Common Method Complaint #3 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students cannot read the charts.

•Use grade-level appropriate language

•Add visuals

•Color code your charts

•Use hand gestures

Verb Tense Study

Common Method Complaint #4 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students cannot write independently.

•Manipulate words during independent practice

•Use fold-ables with formula components

•Require students to use words from the Working Chart and Grammar Wall

Verb Tense Study

Common Method Complaint #5 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students don’t understand the parts of speech.

•Focus on Adjectives, Nouns, Pronouns, and Verbs

•Introduce Adverbs, Prepositions, and Conjunctions as When, Where, How, and Why words

•Teach with hand gestures

•Require students to justify responses with hand gestures

Grammar Wall

Common Method Complaint #6 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students don’t use the Grammar Wall.

•Interrogatives: Who, What, When, Where, How, Why

•Grade-level appropriate sub-categories

•Add visuals

•Group the synonyms

•Require its use!

Grammar Wall

Common Method Complaint #7 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Kindergarten students cannot sit through the method.

•Chunk material: Don’t compress too much information into your lesson!

•Hand gestures

•Kinesthetic activitiesVerb Tense Study: Human Formula

•Floor and Tables… Whole Group - Small Group – Partners

Syntax Surgery: Sentence Bags

•Act it out!Function Junction & This or That:

My Friend, GeorgePass the Ball

Common Method Complaint #8 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Vocabulary is too strenuous for kindergarten students.

•Pull visuals from grade-level textbooks: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Math

•Revisit visuals to cycle back through vocabulary

•Combination of:

Known Words+

Prompted Words+

New Words

Common Method Complaint #9 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

I cannot get the students to produce.

•Don’t forward question

•Ask clear questions

•Pair share before calling on students

•Use your hand gestures to prompt students

•Make sure your visuals have several actors or actions

Common Method Complaint #10 From Kindergarten:

Way to Make the Method WORK in Kindergarten:

Language Warm-Up is too challenging to get through with kindergarteners.

•Alphabet/Sounds/Numbers:Include letters, sounds, and number already taught… focus is pronunciation

•Repeat After Me:Visualize word cloudsFinger-pops for each word

•Count the Words:JumpClapTap

Ten Ways to Make the Methods WORK

in Kindergarten

Thank you for attending!

Heidi RochinELD Consultant and Trainer

(559) 250-7359heidirochin@yahoo.com