How to Best Use the Real-Life Narratives Included in this Edition
We decided to include case studies at the end of each chapter of this edition of The More-Than-Just-Surviving Handbook to confront you with real-life kids, situations, challenges, and dilemmas and to help you think critically about what you might do should you be confronted with similar issues. The stories are of real kids, wrestling with real challenges, and they bring to life the issues we as teachers of English language learners grapple with daily. By using narrative to illuminate abstract theories of language learning, we are attempting to translate complex issues, goals, and ideas into vibrant reality.
Continue reading ‘Case Study: How to’
Abir
Abir is enrolled in your school part way through the year. She tests at a level 2 (see pages 60–62). She is very shy at first and never talks above a whisper.
Continue reading ‘Case Study: Abir’
Bao
Bao is enrolled in your school. The person who brought her to school said that she knew a little English and had been in school in Fresno before she moved here.
Continue reading ‘Case Study: Bao’
Vianney
Here is Vianney’s placement interview:
What’s your name?
Vianney.
Continue reading ‘Case Study: Vianney’
Richard
Richard came to America to experience summer camp. He seemed to be a nice enough boy, but the other kids didn’t like him. It became quickly apparent that he still wore diapers, and his parents had sent along Tommy (see page 69) to tend to him and change his diaper when he made a mess. Here is Richard’s placement interview:
Continue reading ‘Case Study: Richard’
Yoshuane
Yoshuane was in fifth grade when he was tested using the Language Assessment Scale (LAS). He had a very easy time with the oral portion of the test. Here is his retelling of a story he listened to:
Continue reading ‘Case Study: Yoshuane’
Liz
Here is Liz’s placement interview:
What’s your name? Liz.
How old are you? Fifteen.
Continue reading ‘Case Study: Liz’
Tommy
Here is Tommy’s placement interview:
What’s your name?
Tommy.
How old are you?
Seventeen Continue reading ‘Case Study: Tommy’
Andre
Andre was four when war started in his country. He was playing outside one day when someone began shooting at him. If his aunt had not rushed out and dragged him inside, he might have been killed. Continue reading ‘Case Study: Andre and Yoshi’
Lee
Lee arrived in the spring. She had no English and had never been in school before. Because it was late in the year, the teachers gave her time to adjust to school and learn basic oral English, without really working on literacy skills. Continue reading ‘Case Study: Lee’
