Interactive Notebooks and English Language Learners: How to Scaffold Content for Academic Success

by Marcia J Carter, Anita C Hernandez, Jeannine D Richison

Overview

Interactive Notebooks are gaining popularity in English classrooms nationwide that include English language learners. These student-created, teacher-directed notebooks are effective with all students. But as places to record learning and develop proficiency with academic English, they are ideally suited to the needs of English learners. With Interactive Notebooks and English Language Learners you’ll see how easy the Notebook is to implement and why it makes such a difference to English learners.

The Interactive Notebook works so well with English learners because it scaffolds content and gives students the space to develop school-based ways of thinking—to go from English language learners to academic language learners. With Interactive Notebooks and English Language Learners, you’ll see how the Notebook becomes a classroom text for rigorous instruction as you use it to:

• scaffold content so English learners can develop and access background knowledge more readily
• increase English learners’ facility with academic language
• engage all students actively and improve their note-taking and retention abilities
• work with parents to add another layer of support for classroom goals
• assess student learning and progress authentically, encourage self-monitoring, and plan further instruction.

Interactive Notebooks and English Language Learners gives you straightforward instructions for launching the Notebook. You’ll find plenty of student examples as well as nitty-gritty teaching advice such as suggestions for instructional sequencing and planning. In short, everything you need to get going and be successful in supporting English learners’ acquisition of academic English.

Why are Interactive Notebooks becoming so popular? Because they work. Read Interactive Notebooks and English Language Learners and see how to make them work for you and your English learners.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780325026114
Publisher:	Heinemann
Publication date:	03/13/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	11 - 17 Years

About the Author

Jeannine D. Richison is coauthor of the Heinemann titles Interactive Notebooks for English Language Learners and Theme-Sets for Secondary Students. She taught secondary English for twenty-eight years and currently coordinates English education at California Polytechnic State University. She has worked in a variety of capacities with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the California Early Assessment Program, and the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence. She has also been a speech and debate coach with the National Forensic League.

Anita Hernandez is coauthor of the Heinemann titles Interactive Notebooks for English Language Learners and Theme-Sets for Secondary Students. A former classroom teacher and college migrant program coordinator, she is Associate Professor in the college of education for California Polytechnic State University. She teaches reading and language-arts methods, and bilingual literacy methods courses for future teachers. Anita has directed a federal professional development grant for teachers of second language learners, worked with the California Muni-Corps Program, consulted with the San Diego County Office of Education, and served with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Marcia Carter has taught English for thirty-two years and is a consultant for the California Region 8 AVID precollegiate program. She is a statewide and national presenter for many organizations, including AVID, NCTE, IRA, and ASCD.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Chapter 1 Introducing the Interactive Notebook 1

Chapter 2 Getting the Interactive Notebook Started 10

Chapter 3 Beginning to Meet the Needs of My English Learners 21

Chapter 4 Structuring the Interactive Notebook for Learning 30

Chapter 5 How Do I Assess Interactive Notebooks? 53

Chapter 6 Instructional Needs of English Language Learners 62

Chapter 7 Instructional Sequences 82

Chapter 8 On Your Own: Putting the Interactive Notebook to Use 105

References 131