Reflection

After weeks of exploring identity, we have finally brought our unit to a close.  Tamzen was a huge support in finding resources for me to use as model texts for my students. 


After reading books, students were asked to describe the 'big idea' and make personal connections to each story.  Through these stories and higher-level questioning techniques, we were able to draw out some big understandings from our students.  First, that we are all unique and have different "you-ness."  Second, that we need to be aware of these pieces of our identity so we can grow and improve on our personal goals.  Finally, that this diversity needs to be celebrated. 



Once students had exposure to a variety of texts, we were able to engage them in higher level thinking questioning to draw our answers to our inquiry question, "Who Am I?"

Students had to compose writing that explored their identity and answered their inquiry question.  We published our findings using the app Voicethread.

Students were engaged throughout this process and took ownership over their learning and exploration.  I had my doubts that this inquiry process could be successful with EAL students.  With the guided inquiry model, supportive questioning techniques, and a fabulous TL, students were able to successfully complete this process.

Literature Connections

This week I have been aligning the inquiry project with exploring reading strategies.  My EAL students have been looking at making connections to text.  We are following the lesson sequences by the fabulous Adrienne Gear.

After modelling what making connections looks like, I read my students a story by Yanksook Choi called The Name Jar.  This book tells the story of a little girl named Unhei who moves to America from Korea.  She is teased because her Korean name sounds different so she decides to choose an American name. 

My students were able to make many personal connections to this story.  Many of them had stories to share about feeling different, outcasted and scared.  They began to share stories of arriving in Canada and not knowing English and the subsequent alienation that they felt.  Then they shared stories of experiences that made them feel welcome.  Every student had a story to tell.  Next week I will be recording their stories using the IPad.  My hope is to create a montage of their personal immigration experiences by the end of our inquiry. 

Storybooks are a wonderful way to breach these sensitive topics.  I have a basket of books in my classroom I am excited to try.  More posts on those books soon...

Identity & You-ness

We began our inquiry a few weeks ago.  The students are exploring the concept of identity and understanding all the elements that makes them unique. 

We started by reading this book:

 

Hooray for You

Written by: Marianne Richmond

After discussing the concept of "You-ness," the students brainstormed 8 areas they felt shaped their identity.  These areas were: family, culture, origin, school, strengths, weaknesses, dreams and hobbies.  They illustrated and wrote about each of these concepts, including definitions, examples and stating their importance.

We put all this together in a digital photo essay using this app:

 

Little Story Maker

The results were fabulous!  Students were extremely engaged in the entire process and excited to be working with technology.  What an excellent way for them to display their learning and develop their language.  This app was easy to use and I would definitely use it again for other projects.

Planning Time!

Today Tamzen and I were granted an afternoon to plan for our inquiry project.  What a valuable afternoon!  We spent the majority of our time flushing out our inquiry question and developing sub questions.  Due to the limited language proficiency of my EAL students we will need to use a guided inquiry process.  We developed a series of questions to help guide the students toward discovering their values and the positive effect these values have on the school community.  We also began exploring a variety of resources to support the students' learning.  These included a variety of text that celebrates diversity, as well as some IPad apps for the students to display their knowledge. 

I attended a workshop on inquiry learning today.  It was difficult to think of a question that matched EAL langauge goals, curriculum outcomes AND interlace the idea of cultural responsiveness.  My fabulous teacher librarian, Tamzen Kulyk, helped me flush out my original question:

 

”To what extent do the many diverse cultures within our school enhance our cultural responsiveness?”

 

to a kid and EAL student friendly version:

 

"How are my values and beliefs similar to others?"

&

"How does sharing my experience as a newcomer help create a sense of community within a school?"

 

I am looking forward to guiding the students to wardexploring these questions and sharing their learning through technology.

Join our learning journey as we explore the use of technology and inquiry in our EAL classrooms.