My students are freshmen through seniors, with a large English Language Learner population; who are eager to learn about the world through a safe environment. They are curious and engaging when it comes to learning new ideas and cultures and jump at the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new environment when they feel comfortable with those around them. It does not matter if it is reading about current events or volunteering on campus; my students are willing participants at their school.
My Project
One of the requirements of all freshmen English classes, including English Language Development, is reading The Odyssey, an incredibly complex text. In the past, I have found that a majority of students struggle with "The Odyssey." One thing that most students rely on is their prior knowledge about Greek mythology, location, and history. My ESL students face a particular challenge in tackling Homers "The Odyssey" because they do not have this prior knowledge as a majority of the students did not learn about Greek history or culture in elementary school. This task can be made easier for these students with the help of background information about Greek life and their history.
These resources will help my English Language Learners understand what Greek Mythology is, how it differs from todays religions, and connect the historical Greeks to modern immigrants.
Before they read the text, they will have the necessary background knowledge to comprehend the series of events as they unfold in the story.
These resources will allow them the opportunity to build up that knowledge. All the great gods and goddesses of ancient Greece are depicted in these texts, along with vivid illustrations to help students remember the material later on. The texts are easy to read silently and out loud, while still maintaining academic language, which is great practice for ESL students. These texts will be a great way for my students to build their knowledge and their confidence as they get ready to read a more challenging classic piece of literature.
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