Making Content Come Alive for English Learners: A Student Teacher's Success Story

Abstract

This article describes how one student teacher has successfully applied many of the principles, strategies and research findings that she has gleaned from her teacher preparation program. The reading of non-fiction literature was carefully and successfully crafted to improve the comprehension, literacy, and thinking skills of her students, particularly the English Learners. Armed with compassion, determination, creativity and increasing understanding of how to engage and support learners, this teacher-in-training awakened in her students a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to take care of the beauty and wonders of our oceans. The utilization of sensory experiences, combined with purposeful writing and dialogue opportunities, help to create robust, multifaceted learning experiences her students will long remember.