READING AND READING LITERACY - LECTURA

READING AND READING LITERACY

The entries on this dashboard have been completed in Spanish. The questions answered were part of an on online course on Reading Literacy held by the Ministry of Education of Spain. 

ALL LEVELS OF READING

VOICE OF AMERICA is a multimedia source of news and information for both teachers and learners of English.
It is ideal for learning English while listening, reading and answering comprehension questions. It is free and you don't need to sign up to have access to their activities.

Mediation

MEDIATION

 

Read the following text and summarize using your own words.

 

Why tough times can create better neighbours

The coronavirus has changed everyday life. For many people, it limits the contact they have with others. Still, they have found ways to reach out.

In a neighbourhood in Boston, Massachusetts, people came from their apartments for a flash mob on March 14. The neighbours waved to each other and joined in singing the Beatles song "Let it Be." In Italy, people on lockdown lean out of windows and balconies to sing. On March 14, people in Spain began clapping together to cheer health care workers.

As the practice of "social distancing" grows, people are finding ways to meet even though they can't meet face-to-face. They're using video calling and social network connections. However, people aren't just staying in touch with friends and family. The global problem is causing people to reach out to their communities. In the middle of the outbreak, there is kindness among strangers.

"In times of great stress, helping others is a powerful way to maintain control in a moment where many of us feel helpless," said Jamil Zaki. He wrote the book, "The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World." "Kindness toward others actually can be a great source of healing."

Adapted from Newsela.com

SUMMARY

 

DEFINITION OF WORDS

To reach out: ___________________________________

Waved to each other: _____________________________

Social distancing: ________________________________

Staying in touch:________________________________

Kindness: _____________________________________

WORLD BOOK DAY

WORLD BOOK DAY 23RD APRIL, 2020

I would like to thank Marta Vicente for sharing this engaging strategy with me. Students need to click on the link to access the interactive map of Britain which will take them all across England through some of their masterpieces. 

Map adapted from:   https://www.thinglink.com/card/891286582256992257

B2.2 TRANSLATION

B2.2 TRANSLATION

Students practise their comprehension and translation skills. First they work on their own for four or five minutes.They are not allowed to look up words in a dictionary. After that time they compare with their partner for two minutes without doing any changes. 

I am displaying below a possible translation on the PDi and students ask questions. 

This strategy can also be used as a mediation task. Once the previous steps have been accomplished, a student at random gives summarizes the passage aloud.

The passage has been adapted from their Student's book, Voyage B2.

B2.1 CLOZE

B2.1 CLOZE & ORAL MEDIATION (8')

This passage is the audioscript of an activity they have to in their student's book. Before listening to it, I provide when with the text without warning them about it. 

Once they have checked their answers with their partner, I show them the answers. They then read the text aloud to each other; together they work out the meaning of unknown words or they may ask two partners (ask three before you ask me). 

B2.1 FILL IN THE GAPS

FILL IN THE GAPS

This is on the activities I do at the beginning of the lesson. Some of my students arrive a bit late because of their work schedule so I prepare activities that last for about eight minutes to give those late comers some time to join the lesson. This strategy or "Do Now"  is at the same time, a kind of assessment or diagnostic test. It helps me know how much the remember from the previous day or how much they know about the new topic.

In this case, this passage is part of the audioscript of a video they are going to see. By flipping the way in which we teach, we are helping the students to overcome the pitfalls they will encounter when watching the video making it easier for them but still challenging.

B2.2 Unscramble sentences

B2.2 UNSCRAMBLE THE SENTENCES

Students work individually for five minutes before the check their answers with their partner. In the resolution of this activity, they need to apply their grammar knowledge to create meaningful sentences applying critical thinking.

Once they have checked their sentences for two minutes, we check them as a class and five volunteers read the correct sentences.