ESL
News Press
Project URL:
http://www.teachnet-lab.org/cgersh/news/index.htm
How
it works:
The ESL News Press is a project where students develop and create
a school newspaper. With the guidance of their teacher, they take
on the roles of editors and news reporters, and are fully responsible
for what topics/stories will be included in their newspaper. Students
work in groups to brainstorm news article topics for each section
of the paper. Once topics are chosen, students begin to do research.
While some students write about school news or do interviews, those
whose topics were related to current events, sports, or entertainment
use the computer for research. Search engines like kidsclick.org (simple
vocabulary for low-level ESL) are used to gather information, and
students also use the Internet to gather pictures for inclusion with
their articles.
Standards addressed:
Students
independently
and habitually demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English
language in written and oral work, analyze and subsequently revise
work to improve its clarity and effectiveness, produce a report of
information, and participate in group meetings.
Materials used:
Teachers
will need a
computer with Internet connection, an LCD projector, and an overhead
projector.
The
students:
The
students participating in the ESL News Press project are low-level
ESL students who have had one or two semesters of English. Most of
these students have been in the U.S. for less than one year.
Overall value:
The
students do a great job creating their newspaper. All the brainstorming
and topic ideas come directly from them, and they are able to display
control of their English by writing four-to-six-paragraph articles.
This project also allows students to practice their research skills
when using the computer. It gives low-level ESL students the opportunity
to utilize all their English learning and also have a great finished
product to share with other ESL classes!
Tips:
Present
this project near the end of the semester so that students
will have a much better sense of their English vocabulary,
grammar, and sentence structure while
writing their articles.
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About the teacher:
Cari Gersh is currently an ESL teacher at Christopher Columbus High School. She has been teaching for three years, and teaches all levels of ESL. She recently graduated with a Masters Degree in ESL and participated in the New York City Teaching Fellows program.
Email:
woobyer@hotmail.com
Subject Areas:
ESL
Social Studies
Technology
Grade Level:
10 -12
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