Rules For Alphabetizing

ESL teacher creates unique instructional guide

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. (MMD Newswire) August 16, 2011 - - As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher for more than a decade, Marjorie Kramer has used dozens of ESL texts. In "Charting New Territory in ESL: What You Wish Your ESL Book Included" (ISBN 1460987306), Kramer covers materials rarely addressed in other ESL books.

Kramer offers original techniques and ideas that she has used with students. The cornerstone of her teachings, her original method of "Sentence Builders," lays out easy-to-follow rules for the correct formation of statements and questions. She includes philosophical advice on building student trust in sections such as "The Hardest Part of Teaching" and "The Art of Choosing Groups." She also offers step-by-step instructions in areas such as "How to Teach the Alphabet," "Teaching Pronunciation" and "The Disappearing Chart." Including fun techniques like "Tic Tac Toe Verb Practice" and "The Alphabetizing Game" assists in further engaging students.

"I hope that ESL teachers will welcome my direct style and want to incorporate my ideas in their own classrooms," Kramer says.

Kramer wants her work to aid teachers in streamlining, simplifying and improving the way they teach ESL. She believes that her innovative techniques and crystal-clear instructions will bring fresh enthusiasm to both teachers and students.

"Charting New Territory in ESL: What You Wish Your ESL Book Included" is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other sites.

About the Author:

Marjorie Kramer graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught ESL from literacy through level four in three states since 1997. She was the distance learning coordinator and CASAS coordinator at one of the largest adult ESL schools in the world. She co-wrote and co-taught a seven-hour adult ESL teacher training seminar, which she eventually expanded into a 24-clock hour, six-week course. As the grant coordinator for a grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia, she created computer classes and conversation classes for adult ESL students. The Virginia Department of Education selected her to attend a "Train the Trainers" seminar and to give feedback on the development of content standards for intermediate and lower-level ESL courses.

Starting spelling lessons « SCM Discussion Forum: Charlotte Mason ...

Hello,

I will be starting my dd9 with prepared dictation next school year (gr. 4). She has done minimal spelling practice but is a good reader. Will the Spelling Wisdom book 1 be adequate spelling instruction for her? Should she be having some sort of teaching on spelling rules or tricks or learning words in groups (ie. Words that all use the same consanant blend or that all follow the same rule, that type of thing). I was also wondering if she should be doing other "wordy" type activities starting at this age. Such as alphabetizing, dictionary skills, etc. If this should be done now, how do I do it in a CM way?

I welcome all seasoned veterans advice!

Hi Miranda,

The Spelling Wisdom book should be good for spelling. It will not teach alphabetizing and dictionary skills, however. You can do those sorts of things as you have time and need. You could have her alphabetize your spices, a party invitation list, etc. As you notice areas in your home that need organization, it is a good time to bring the children in to do some of that. It is good thinking skills and often uses word skills like alphabetizing and catagorizing. The children then start seeing the needs in their home and their ability to meet those needs through their academics. And it starts to answer that age old question, "What am I ever going to use this stuff for?"

Dictionary has been done in our home as needed. The children will not typically take the time to use the dictionary because they prefer to blow through their assignments (we're working on that), but I will often take it out and hand it to one of the children when we come across new words. As I come across words in their writing that are not correct, we have a little exercise that we use to learn them (which is not cm, but it works for us), plus I use that as an opportunity to teach some rules. Also, when they ask how to spell a word, I will typically (not always because time is limited sometimes) give them the rule, if there is one, and then ask them how they think they should spell it based on that rule. Sometimes, the word they want to spell is a rule breaker and so I will give them the rule anyway and we shake our heads at the silliness of the English language.

Blessings,

Cindy

Hi Miranda,

I spent A LOT of $$ on a highly recommended spelling/reading/writing program that was just too tedious for us. It has all the sounds and spelling rules and special notebooks-great if you have a child super interested in that sort of thing.

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