PD Resources
Recommended Literature
Pieces of Peace: A collection of literacy-based lessons for young peacemakers by Eds. Julie Ashworth, Lisa Brunick, and Emily Drommerhausen (2007, Augustana College, www.augie.edu).
Educators are constantly looking for ways to make their instruction more inclusive and effective for all students, including English language learners. Research supports and validates this desire by showing that ELLs benefit from hands on, relevant, and authentic curriculum (Brown, 2007; Fay & Whaley, 2004; Mason, 2006; Rice, Pappamihiel and Lake, 2004). WIDA recommends Pieces of Peace because of the unique opportunity it poses for educators to engage in critical dialogue that promotes language proficiency as well as overall literacy.
This resource is filled with hands-on activities with the goal for students to expand their literacy through critical pedagogy. Each lesson plan uses children’s literature to demonstrate ways of problem solving in their everyday lives. For ELLs, this represents an opportunity to link new content and language to their everyday lives within an authentic and relevant curriculum. The lessons are divided into six environmental categories in which students can incorporate peace including: family, classroom, lunchroom, playground, community, and world. Additionally, these lessons are tied to a model of youth empowerment called the Circle of Courage which was inspired by Native cultures. It was developed to promote courage in environments to create change and meet needs of the individual and society. The circle consists of four values including independence, generosity, mastery, and belonging.
Each lesson is aligned to the Education Standards of WIDA's newest member state, South Dakota. Topics include reading, communication arts, and social studies. For example, in these activities students will cover content and language standards that include, but are not limited to:
- vocabulary development
- writing and retelling information and ideas
- multicultural literary appreciation
- developing and applying comprehension strategies
- critical reflection on the values, beliefs, interests, and celebrations of different cultures.
An example lesson plan:
“We Dream of a World...Where Everyone is Generous” in the Peace in the World category deals with all four areas of the Circle of Courage wheel. The lesson plan begins with an introduction explaining how to help children realize that they can make a difference. Objectives, materials, and vocabulary terms (such as independence, selflessness, and generosity) are also discussed. The introductory event is an activity to build teamwork and belonging by having every individual student help complete a puzzle of the circle of courage with a poem on the inside. Students will work together to complete the poem and become a member of the inner circle. Following the introductory event, the lesson course of action follows with a discussion activity. It introduces students to a song activity involving learning some sign language, and they read the book “We Dream of a World” created by students just like them. Students will work on English language listening proficiency during the song and while their teacher reads the book, and speaking proficiency during discussion.
The activities included in this book will increase the student’s self-awareness and their knowledge of diversity in the world. Encouraging reflection through these lessons will teach ELL students to self-advocate and have a voice both inside and outside the classroom while helping them develop critical skills that can transfer across academic areas.
WIDA Presentation Videos
The following presentations given by WIDA Executive Director Tim Boals (tjboals@wisc.edu) on April 4, 2006 are available for personal and/or group use.
These presentations address the needs of educators who are supporting English Language Learners academically and linguistically, and outline the best practices for promoting the academic achievement of ELLs.
Comprehensive School Reform for English Language Learners (ELLs)
Key Elements of Good Language Objectives
Meeting the Academic Needs of English Language Learners (ELLs)
Teaching Language Through Content
Background