Double Entry Journal #8

Why is it a mistake to group all English as Second Learners together?

Students that are English Language Learners do not all have similar backgrounds. It is important to consider where these students grew up and what type of cultural background they are from. Experiences are something else to reflect on when teachers consider grouping these students together. Just because ELL students have a different language in common, doesn’t mean they have anything else similar. Therefore, when grouping these students together they will most likely not benefit from the same instruction. The teacher, Miss Garrity, sat Bianca near Rosa because she knew they had a common factor of learning English. However, their experiences and backgrounds were not similar. This grouping was unsuccessful.

Grouping ELL students together is also a mistake because these students have differing educational histories. It is a slim chance to find two students learning English that are on the same academic page. Bianca was more advanced in understanding and speaking English and Spanish. However, Rosa was not on the same academic level in comprehending or speaking English.

I feel that grouping all English as Second Learners together won’t be beneficial for these students because they will only be interacting with ELL students. This will result in a lack of speaking and comprehending English for these students during the academic day. Bianca had no desire to speak Spanish. It is evident that if she had spoken Spanish to Rosa then the girls would not have had English interaction.

What is a virtual backpack and how does it relate to Funds of Knowledge?

A virtual backpack is what a person carries with them. Students’ virtual backpacks are what they take to the classroom with them. Knowledge, values, resources, talents, and assumptions about teaching, learning, and life can be found inside a student’s virtual backpack. Some student’s virtual bags are full of information, while others may not be as full due to their specific experiences. For a teacher to be successful, he/she must tap into a student’s backpack to help them create a curriculum to exhibit knowledge in the child’s backpack.

A student’s Funds of Knowledge is the culturally developed knowledge someone carries with them. This relates to a student’s virtual backpack that is brought into the classroom because it is also knowledge that is learned from the child’s background, families, communities, and life experiences.

Related Source:

I found a really interesting Facebook page on teaching English as a Second Language. This page includes many articles and tips/tricks for teachers teaching ELL's. Click Here!