Engaging English Language Learners in Purposeful Reading
Engaging English Language Learners in Purposeful Reading
This resource presents six standards-based activities to engage learners in purposeful reading by scaffolding metacognitive strategies, analyzing language and text structures, and exploring word choice with the goal of building learner knowledge and working towards comprehension of a text.
Engaging ELLs in Purposeful Reading Part I Webinar Materials
Engaging ELLs in Purposeful Reading Part II Webinar Materials
The Text
This resource demonstrates activities for purposeful reading using a text from The Change Agent. The text, Celebrating Freedom on Juneteenth by Inez Sadler, has been adapted to a fourth grade reading level and is appropriate for the Beginning/Low Intermediate Adult Basic Education or the Low/High Intermediate ESOL classroom. However, the goal is that instructors are able to adapt these activities to best fit the proficiency levels of their learners.
Activity 1: Comprehension through Metacognitive Strategies
The following video presents an explanation for the standards connected to, purpose of, and steps for modeling and completing this activity.
Activity Materials:
Activity 2: Exploring Language Use: Verb Tense
The following video presents an explanation for the standards connected to, purpose of, and steps for completing this activity.
For the activity materials, see the webinar slide deck (slide 25) or the Change Agent text.
Activity 3: Exploring Language Use: Word Choice
The following video presents an explanation for the standards connected to, purpose of, and steps for completing this activity as well as a demonstration for using Jamboard.
Activity Materials:
Activity 4: Comprehension through Guiding Questions
The following video presents an explanation for the standards connected to, purpose of, and steps for completing this activity.
Activity Materials:
- Guiding Questions Google Doc
- Standards-Based Question Stems
- Standards-Based Question Stems for Beginning & Emerging Proficiency Levels
Activity 5: Exploring Text Structure & Language Use: Sequence
The following video presents an explanation for the standards connected to, purpose of, and steps for completing this activity as well as a demonstration of using Wooclap, a technology tool for creating interactive activities.
Activity Materials:
Activity 6: Comprehension through Read & Retell
The following video presents an explanation for the standards connected to, purpose of, and steps for completing this activity.
Activity Materials:
- Engaging ELLs in Purposeful Reading Webinar II Slide Deck (Slides 22 – 24)
- The text, Celebrating Freedom on Juneteenth by Inez Sadler