Every now and again someone sends me something really worthwhile. The following is an example of this.
10 useful websites for teachers of ESL students & all Litearcy Learners
Website
Useful because…
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/ writingfun.html
Great for writing genres & text organisers, can be used with smartboard & has printable pages. Best for upper primary.
Clear & simple layout, thematic units, good for very basic literacy & numeracy resources. For lower primary & brand new arrivals.
Varied materials ranging from simple alphabet exercises & flashcards to more advanced activities. Categorised into subject areas & themes, includes fun activities like puzzles, word searches, word scrambles & colouring pages. Appropriate from lower to upper primary.
HEAPS of free flashcards, worksheets and accompanying handouts, phonics cards, games, printable certificates, stickers & other activities. Also has some flash games that go with printable materials, to reinforce vocab etc. Middle to upper primary.
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/printables.htm
The name says it all. Not specifically for ESL students, but worksheets are clear & attractive with large text & space to write. No much vocab building/thematic stuff, but good for thinking, organisation, writing development etc. Best for middle/upper primary.
Similar to abcteach.com. Also has puzzle maker feature & activities for critical thinking & problem solving. Best for upper primary. Some sections require membership to print materials, but some are free.
http://www.esltower.com/teachers.html
Scroll down just a little to find a huge selection of printable worksheets & exercises related to vocabulary building, grammar, parts of speech etc. You can also search the site for any topics/themes. Results will appear on the right side of screen, and links to other websites on the left. A lot to look through, but very comprehensive materials. Includes video lessons for pronunciation etc. Best for upper primary/extension work.
Similar to website above, also with PowerPoint lessons & videos.
Includes hundreds of printable resources for ESL students. Best for upper primary; lots of written activities- grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocab etc. Useful if you’re looking for very specific exercises for more advanced learners, eg. verb tenses, parts of speech etc.
http://www.coloringcastle.com/
Just colouring sheets. Organised into themes down the right hand side of screen. Includes alphabet & numbers, so can be useful for pre-literate students, to start discussion about various topics, or just for fun. Some great mandalas & geometric shapes for students with more advanced fine motor skills.
Source: Noble Park English Language School
Photo: Shakespeare and Company – The famous English bookstore in Paris frequented by Earnest Hemingway and F.Scott Fitzgerald.
Cheers Nina
Nina Davis: Teaching & Learning in Australia 