Academic Word Exercise

ACADEMIC WORD EXERCISE

Student ProfileAnatoly is a 9th grade student from the Ukraine. He is at a WIDA proficiency level of 2 (Beginning). He has had moderate exposure to English and has taken some lessons. However, his grammar is limited. He struggles in the classroom and he struggles to fit in with his peers.

II: Compare & ContrastIII: Reptile & Amphibian

Introduction & WIDA Can Do DescriptorsELLs who are at the beginning level stage of English proficiency either may have a limited amount of word recognition, both spoken and written. However, the WIDA Can Do descriptors take a more optimistic view and state that some of the abilities of students at this level include: -Match or classify oral descriptors to visually-represented, content-related examples-Give features of content-based material and describe objects-Match information with its source or genre-Classify information presented in visuals-Compare content-related features in visualsTeachers can use several strategies to help these learners develop word recognition at this level. One such strategy is the use of “cognates.” In this lesson, Anatoly will learn the words “contrast,” “reptile,” and “amphibian,” which are all cognates between English and Ukrainian. He will also learn the word “compare,” which is not a cognate. The strategies of word families and semantic maps are also used briefly in this lesson. Anatoly will be using the above listed skills from the WIDA Can Do descriptors to learn the vocabulary words, and compare and contrast reptiles and amphibians using a visual.

Compareпорівняти (porivnyaty)Find the similarities between 2 or more things

RationaleThis activity helps me to build an awareness of academic language in respect to ELLs. It helps me to better understand the importance of teaching tier II words, and various strategies that can be used to teach tier II and tier III vocabulary to ELLs. It enhances my skills in the area of WIDA Can Do descriptors, and how to put the knowledge of them to use, by planning a lesson around some of the descriptors. It has also given me practice with using comprehensible input in a science vocabulary lesson. This information will improve my teaching techniques, which will positively impact the learning experience of my students.

Amphibianамфібія (amfibiya)A type of animal with the following traits:-Cold-blooded -Vertebrate -Uses lungs to breathe-Have soft slimy skin-Start their life in the water, but live on land when they are older-Lay soft eggs-Breathe through gills or breathe through the skin

Reptilepептилія (reptyliya)A type of animal with the following traits:-Cold-blooded (body temperature changes with surroundings)-Vertebrate (has a backbone and skeleton)-Uses lungs to breathe-Most lay eggs, but some have live young-Have scales-Some live on land, but some live in the water

Contrastконтраст (kontrast)Find the differences between 2 or more things

Lesson Starts Here!

Different - Contrast

Same - Compare

Follow the pictures along with the narration

Background Information

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