Need Help!!!

[byrd]

Hello,
This is my first posting, but I have used the ESL Cafe in the passed and have found it to be a great resource. I currently teach third grade ESL. My question is what can I do for one of my third graders who is only reading at a kindergarten level in both Spanish and English? He gets no support from home and I feel that he is slipping further and further behind. His writing skills are just as behind as his reading.

The strategies that I have used this far are review, one on one tutoring with both the teacher and his peers, translating his writing, and having him sound out words he is familar with. I am having a difficult time reading anything that he is writing, and when I ask him to translate he also has difficulty.

I have asked my fellow colleagues for help, but haven't had much success so far. I would really appreciate any help that could be provided.

Thank You!!!

[joshua2004]

The strategies that I have used this far are review, one on one tutoring with both the teacher and his peers,

This I would keep doing, if you have the resources.

translating his writing,

This is not as effective at acquiring language. It can be useful when it provides input for him, when he is genuinely interested in the translation.

and having him sound out words he is familiar with.

This is also not an effective tool for language acquisition. To acquire a language takes time. He needs lots of input, not output. Having stories read to him, watching tv or listening to music, are all things that will help him climb that long slow hill. You will not see the results immediately, but if you provide lots of comprehensible input for him, you can see a noticeable change in a month. Focus on input not output.

I am having a difficult time reading anything that he is writing, and when I ask him to translate he also has difficulty.

This is understandable since translating is a very difficult task for even an adult. I charge more for an hour of translating than for teaching. Writing is an important tool for learning a language and it is necessary for using the language, but do not over use it and try not to over-critique it.

Thanks for coming to the site and I hope others can provide some more advice.

[musica5]

There is a phonics program produced by Letterland in England. they have a Spanish version called Letralandia, I don't know if this will help.

Sometimes with beginning readers it is a good idea to zoom in on their interests and create your own reading books. You can get clip art free from your computer and create some simple sentences with the child which they can then read and reread.
Boys love non fiction. They really are motivated by books on space, natural disasters etc. Lots of question and answer language can grow from non fiction.

Repeated reading is also very important as it reinforces and builds confidence as well as increases speed.