ESL Learning Standards - Higher Ed - New York State Education ...

Standard 3: Continued
Elementary Grade Sample Classroom Tasks:
English Proficiency Level
Beginning
Teacher provides groups of students with copies of a newspaper.
After becoming somewhat familiar with basic contents
and format, students cut out pictures of people working.
In groups, students place pictures on posters and
label the occupations. Students talk about the jobs of people
they know. They choose one job and act it out, and
the class guesses the occupation. Students draw a picture
of their chosen job and explain why they like it.
Performance indicators: 1, 3, 7
Intermediate
Teacher provides groups of students with copies of a newspaper.
After becoming familiar with basic contents and format,
students review the different sections of the newspaper
(one section per group). Students cut out items of
interest and create a poster for presentation to the class.
Members of each group plan the presentation by discussing
what is of interest and who will present each item. Groups
present their posters. Class completes a teacher-made
reflection sheet featuring categories such as “surprises,”
“most interesting,” and “already known”
Performance indicators: 1, 3, 4, 7
ESL
3
Elem
Teacher divides class into cooperative groups. As a first
task, students select a name for their group. Members propose
possible names and group reaches consensus.
Groups design posters to represent their group and chosen
name. Cooperative groups may work on a variety of class
projects.
Performance indicators: 3, 6, 7
Teacher presents the Pocahontas story, using a documentary
video (e.g., “Pocahontas: Ambassador of the New
World” [A&E Network]) and/or picture books. In groups,
students select an incident to reenact. With teacher’s help,
the class discusses and evaluates the actions of the characters
in each scene. The teacher captures the language.
Each group makes life-size drawings of the characters in
their scene and attaches language bubbles from the information
collected by the teacher.
Performance indicators: 1, 3, 7
Students complete Beginning task. Class reads The Three
Little Pigs and True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John
Scieszka. Students prepare for a mock trial of the wolf.
Groups take on roles of judge, jury, defendant, plaintiffs,
and attorneys. Trial is conducted and jury renders verdict.
Judge hands down sentence. Students each write a
response to the verdict, indicating reasons for agreement or
disagreement. They share responses in class.
Performance indicators: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Students complete Beginning task. Students watch the
Disney movie Pocahontas. In small groups students use a
T-chart to speculate as to what is true and what is
Hollywood fiction. Teacher provides simple reference
material, and groups check facts. Groups revise T-chart.
Whole class discusses rationale for fictional embellishments.
Performance indicators: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9
56 Learning Standards for ESL