Using Index Cards/Post-it Notes to Construct Sentences

Write individual words on index cards or Post-it notes. Lay cards on table or stick Post-it notes on wall to create simple sentence:

The man is tall.

Overlay individual words with new index card/Post-it note to show how sentences are constructed with interchangeable parts:

The man is tall.
The woman is tall.
The woman is hungry.
The dog is hungry.
A dog is hungry.
A dog was hungry.
A dog was hungry yesterday.
etc.

This approach can also be used to illustrate how more complex sentences are created from simple ones:

The woman is tall. The woman is hungry.
The woman is tall and hungry.
The tall woman is hungry.
The tall woman was hungry.
The tall woman was hungry yesterday.
Yesterday, the tall woman was hungry.

Cards/Post-it notes can also be given to learners to construct sentences themselves.

Hands-On Activity from Janet

A hands-on activity I've used as warm up or "take a break":

1) place common items in a bag or in the middle of table;

2) write one or two-word descriptions of those items on 3 x 5 cards and place cards in a pile next to items;

3) have learners pull one item at a time and find matching 3 x 5 card OR have one learner hold up an item and ask: "What is this? or What do I have?" and another learner must find the matching card and read the item description.

You can make this easier, if necessary, by drawing a quick picture clue on the 3 x 5 card to match to the item, but it offers more challenge if they have just the word(s) as clues. Example: Item in bag is a fork: write on 3 x 5 card: a fork (always use articles).

Alphabetization Practice

With a heavy magic marker, write both forms of each letter of the alphabet on 3x5 cards. (E.g., Aa, Bb, Cc, etc.). At the beginning of each session, shuffle the deck and have the learner lay them out on a table in the proper order, starting with the top card and working down through the deck in sequence.

When the learner has mastered this, repeat the process with increasingly longer words.

For warm up activities:

-Make flash cards with pictures and written words from the last lesson(s). Play Concentration having the learners match the picture with the word and then pronounce it correctly.

-Write a scrambled word on the board or paper. Have learners see how many one letter, two letter, three letter, etc. words they can find from the scramble.

-Make sentence strips using 3x5 cards. Write different subjects on cards in one color, different verb forms you're working with in another color, and sentence endings in a third color. Have learners form sentences with a subject, verb, and ending card, then read the sentence out loud. The class can repeat the sentences and make changes if necessary.

Hello ESOL Tutors!

Given the difficulty of trying to get everyone together for follow up meetings we have created this Blog as a place to share tutor tips, questions, problems, or any other ESOL related information or queries. I hope that you will use this frequently to ask for/give advice and share websites or techniques you have found helpful.

The Eastern Shore Literacy Council’s Mission:
To provide literacy tutoring without charge to adult residents of the Eastern Shore so they may acquire the skills needed to improve their participation in society and enrich their lives.
ESLC's Program:
ESLC serves residents in Accomack and Northampton Counties of Virginia by providing tutors -
To assist adult learners achieve basic reading and writing skills, or To teach English to adults whose native language is other than English.