Evaluating+Materials+for+ESL+Instruction

**EVALUATING MATERIALS FOR ESL INSTRUCTION**  Basal readers, selected classroom literature, and non-fiction selections are useful resources for promoting ESL literacy and language acquisition the classroom. They work not only to support literacy, but also, to generate discussions, encourage metacognitive thinking skills for higher level thinking, and present vocabulary for building Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP).

Lobel, A. (1970). //Frog and Toad are Friends//. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. || **Bibliographic Information: ** London, J. (1998). Froggy’s First Kiss. New York: Puffin Books. || **Bibliographic Information: ** Munro, R. (2010). //EcoMazes 12 Earth Adventures.// New York: Library of Congress || The //Frog and Toad are Friends// series is an excellent catalyst for higher level thinking and discussion fostering effective use of the L2 language in the classroom. In the chapter, //Spring//, Frog is looking forward to spending some happy times with his friend, Toad; however, he is having a hard time waking him up from his long winter nap. Discussion questions that can be incorporated into the lesson could deal with the following: friendship, the seasons, things to do in the spring. || **Rating ** Discussion: Friendship, Valentine’s Day This book includes a lot of stimuli for metacognitive thinking. Bright illustrations help student connect with text and self-monitor while reading to make predictions. || **Rating ** In this book, students explore the ecosystems and the animals that live there. What is an ecosystem? You are part of the ecosystem? What kinds of animals live in those places? L2 learner connects information to his surroundings and around the world. Beautiful illustrations depict types of ecosystems and the natural habitat. || The text uses basic language, word repetition, and illustration to present ideas and concepts to the L2 learner. || **Vocabulary ** BICS and CALP vocabulary present. Idioms. || **Vocabulary ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">CALP: Geography terms (i.e, ecosystem, rainforest, tundra, etc.) and BICS || <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">This series is useful for content, reading, language development, new word acquisition, phonology, and using transitional words. For example, it is an excellent resource for studying consonant blends: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">/bl/ /fl/ /cl/ /gl/ /pl/ /sl/ and /spl/. Examples of consonant blends (digraphs) in the story are: //blink, climb, fly, play, sleep.// Students can create a list of those words from the story. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Students can also build story maps depicting events in chronological order using transitional words: i.e., first, second, third, etc. || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Recommended Use: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">This book is useful for teaching sound words and intonation. Examples: “//Whaa-a-a-at?, bonk!, flop, flop, flop//..” Leading questions should be asked by teacher to encourage metacognition skills in students. “Will Froggy get the girl?” || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Recommended Use: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Students can use book as a resource to learn new terms and associate word recognition with the described ecosystems. Students can make a diorama creating an ecosystem to show and use the new terminology describing what they learned to fellow classmates. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Basal/Content Textbook ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Literature ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Non-Fiction ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Bibliographic Information: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Rating **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">30 points **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">30 points **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">30 points **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Vocabulary **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Recommended Use: **



Daiva Berzinskas ESL Instructor: daivaberz@gmail.com