Post #8 - Academic Language

NM Teach places emphasis in Domain 1 element B states: The sequence of learning experiences is aligned to NM adopted standards, instructional learning targets and is differentiated by scaffolding content and academic language for diverse learners.
and again in element 1E: Teacher demonstrates solid knowledge of students’ backgrounds, cultures, skills, academic language development, interests, and special needs.

So this weeks App of the week addresses the ability to scaffold academic language as well as academic language development through a fun engaging app called Word Salad.

App of the week:  Word Salad
Ideas for use in the classroom:

• Create a topic in google docs or even on the white board in the room - have your students brain storm the topic with discussion either in the classroom or online.
• Create your vocabulary lists here through student collaboration in small workgroups.
• Create academic vocabulary clouds through reading activities to promote comprehension
• Assign individual student activity to capture important ideas from a video or a discussion.
• Create a class wide word cloud to capture class reactions to a topic or question
• Build individual word clouds to capture student definitions of a vocabulary word.
• Capture a student survey and display as a word cloud.
• Have whole class or small groups create word clouds to show class expectations
• Have a fun activity and do a collaborative project by using students first names.

Click here for a web resource with 170 different ways to use word clouds in your classroom:  Subject specific ideas as well.

My web resource of the week is a library of Creative Commons Images.  This is a fantastic site that allows you to cite reference graphic images and use them for no charge.  What a great way to teach students about appropriate use as well as a nice resource for a library of graphics.  Tie a graphic into your word salad and create a writing project with your students that they can visualize by using a quality image.
Click Here to access the library