Low Literacy Independent Work in a Class Setting

MelissaO · Post by **MelissaO** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:00 pm

I've cross posted this in the Texts forum:

I teach a multilevel ESL class to Hispanic parents in a family literacy program. Not only is this a multilevel class as far as English speaking goes, but also as far as native language education in their home countries. I've got a few students who didn't finish primary school as well as students with B.A.s and one with a Master's degree.

It generally works out pretty well, and even those with very low educational levels enjoy writing. They just need more support, spelling work, and sometimes don't express themselves in writing as fluently as those with more education.

But anyway, I've hit a snag with one of my students. He most likely not only has a learning disability, but he's also stuck on the FACT that he can't write (he can write, but it's a slow, laborious process for him). No matter how much I and his wife express to him that if he writes one sentence when others write eight, we are perfectly happy with his attempt and I just want him to move along at his own speed.

I've tried to adapt and simplify the writing exercises for him, but it's proven futile. He flips out if I simply ask him to copy his vocabulary words five times each, just for the writing practice.

So I need a new tactic....I'm very open to ANY suggestions you can give me. But right now my specific question is about a text that he could work on independently while the others are writing.

What I envision is a text with minimal writing in which he could still be practicing. Maybe a text to go along with listening activities in which he works with pictures? I really don't know...most of the texts I've found still use quite a bit of writing, even if it's low level.

Any suggestions?

Sally Olsen · Post by **Sally Olsen** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:12 pm

How about a computer and teaching him to type? Not everyone has the motor skills to be able to write but they can usually learn to type with all fingers. It would give him higher status than the others even though he doing something basic. Check with your IT department and find an old computer that is sitting in a back room somewhere and get a very basic typing program. He will be learning spelling as he is learning typing and of course, the rest can take turns as well when he is tired and he can teach them how to use the computer which will give him some status in the classroom.

If it is possible get him tested for Irlen Syndrome because he might have difficulties in that area and if you can't try out various colours of pens and pencils on various colours of paper. He might find it easier to see his writing with a different colour.

I think I would try to keep his wife out of the picture as much as possible and just have him working on his own - there is always a complicated relationship between husband and wife and it mgiht be that she really wants to be the best in the family at this task and is unconciously or otherwise promoting the idea that he will never learn or vice versa. It is really best if they both learn so try to keep them apart for as much as possible in the classroom.

MelissaO · Post by **MelissaO** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:24 pm

Hi Sally,

You're absolutely right about his wife. He depends sooo much on her in almost every aspect of their lives, and English class is no exception. I orginally talked with her to get some insight into the issue, and she expressed the same frustrations I was feeling.

I don't mean to be one of those people who shoots down suggestions, but part of the problem with his using the computer lab is a logistical one. The writing activities may only be 10 or 15 minutes, and then we go back to speaking and listening practice, so it's not like there's a good, solid block of time when he could go to the computers.

We're also working on his computer skills, but he needs a lot of supervision and help with the computer. It's the type of situation I've retaught him twice a week, every week since September how to turn the computer on and off, and he still can't do it. I could see him becoming extremely frustrated with working on the computer by himself.

There are A LOT of issues going on that contribute to this situation!

Sally Olsen · Post by **Sally Olsen** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:04 pm

I understand that it requires a lot of patience and a huge amount of support on your part. He is lucky to have someone who understands.

How about an old electric typewrite then? Some of those old typing books have a very easy set up and you can just look at one page at a time to copy. They are a bit noisy but you could stick him in the corner and he can peck away. It doesn't require much sophistication after you have turned it on and set up the paper.

It is certainly going to be hard to break the "I am not good in this area of my life" pattern he has developed and psychologically it may not be possible so I would try to find ways that he can help the class that didn't focus on the writing and just keep on with the encouragement for small steps but give him what you give the rest of the class so he doesn't feel left out even if he does feel left behind. The more you value his contributions in speaking, the more he will be able to contribute something and gain a bit of confidence. Is he good at something outside of the school - a hobby, a skill that he could talk about or help others understand or learn?

If he were younger and had writing problems I knew would not be overcome during my classtime, I would send him to the office with an "important" note or think of other jobs that he could do for me that were valuable - taking a book back to the library or reorganizing some papers that I just "accidently" dropped and needed for the next part of the lesson and so on. If he is good with his hands maybe you could "break" something that needed fixing - a light bulb out or a pencil sharpener not working.