Language+Learning+Resources+for+Teachers

Resources for Cultural Understanding
__Working with Hmong Students__ @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vmFQL0JodY This is a link to a YouTube video that promotes an understanding of Hmong and other Asian Refugee students, who have come from similar living conditions.

__Nepali and Bhutanese Refugees__ __@http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_bhutanese.pdf__ This is a link to an informational handout with information on Nepali and Bhutanese refugees. There are many Nepali and Bhutanese refugees moving to McMurray Middle school and the surrounding communities. This file gives basic background information necessary for any teacher working with Nepali and Bhutanese refugees.

__Helping Refugee Students in the Classroom__ @http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/23379 This article gives facts about refugee students, challenges faced by refugees, and ways to help them in the classroom. This is very important for teachers of students who are refugees in our country, who may be just arriving in America.

Resources for Multicultural Literature
__Multicultural L____iterature - Celebrating Cultural Diversity Through Children's Literature__ __@http://www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com__ This website is devoted to promoting multicultural understanding through children's literature. Dr. Robert F. Smith provides links to annotated bibliographies for children's literature for African American, Chinese American, Japanese American, Jewish American, Korean American, Latino/Hispanic American, Native American, Middle Eastern, and Vietnamese American literature.

__Gary Soto - Website__ __@http://www.garysoto.com/index.html__ This website is dedicated to the Mexican-American author Gary Soto. It contains a biography of the author, Frequently Asked Questions, Photo Gallery, and many useful links for the author. This page could be used as a teacher resource before reading Soto's works. It is also a great site for a webquest on the author. Gary Soto has written many books for children, young adults and adults in both English and Spanish.

Resources for Curriculum Development and Lesson Planning
__ Teaching History Through Film __ __ @http://mediapede.org/filmhistory/ __ This website provides information for middle and high school teachers who wish to use film in their teaching of history. Teaching with film is a great way to provide ELL students with necessary background, and additional visual and oral representations of historical subjects. __ ﻿ __

__The Privilege Walk__ __http://www.ipas.org/Publications/assen_upload_file357_3785.pdf__ The Privilege Walk is an exercise designed "to encourage participants to become critical of their personal privileges associated with race, ethnicity, class, ability, religion, and sexual orientation" this is a great activity for professional development among staff to realize privilege within educators, and also for older secondary students.

__Second Language Acquisition__ __@http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/second.htm__ This website provides answers to the following questions: What is second language acquisition? What is the best way to teach a second language? How can a speech-language pathologist help?

ESL iPod / iPhone Apps
Apps are a great thing to use for students to use in the classroom, for quiet learning time. Many students may not have access to advanced technology, so allowing them to use technology in the classroom will spark their interest in learning, as well as their interest in English.

__ESL Review for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad__ @http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/esl-review/id415291116?mt=8 ESL Review has lectures, flash cards and chapter tests to quiz and help your students. This is best suited for older, more advanced students.

__abc PocketPhonics: letter sounds & writing + first words__ __@http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-pocketphonics-letter-sounds/id299342927?mt=8__ This app provides phonics and writing training for students. These are a fun way to teach students basic reading and writing skills in a way that will peak their interest and teach them at the same time. This is best suited for younger, beginning students, especially students in the "silent period".

Blogs and Other Great Reading
50 Must-Read Up and Coming Blogs by Teachers 50 Teaching Blogs

Mrs. Lassen's blogs: Grammar Blog Fieldwork with the Book Buddies Antonio's Gun and Delfino's Dream

Jennifer Lassen McMurray Middle School jennifer.lassen@mnps.org