1. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 1.2 Symbols in ESL Teaching – Beyond Snapshots of Nouns Presented By: Bogdan Pospielovsky

2. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 May 13 th – 15 th See new technologies Network with professionals from across Canada Learn from educational and assistive technology leaders Discover UDL strategies Experience Technology hands on.

3. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 EducATe Content – Canadian curriculum in AT tools, templates, tutorials, tip sheets Courses – How to, application of AT, requests Community – build learning communities, post events and news

4. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Introducing Youdle

5. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Introducing the Youdle Box

6. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 How to Learn More Subscribe to Blog Free Info Sessions Bridges’ to Learning Conference Web based live Software Demos Bridges Loan Pool –Switches –Communication Aids –Mounts etc.

7. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Outline of Presentation Look at differences between symbols, realia and pictures How to use Symbols to support growth of BICS and CALP Overview of using the symbol based software in support of BICS and CALP Drawing on Research by: –Chris Abbot (Symbols Now, 2000) –Tina and Mike Dethridge (Literacy Through Symbols, 2002)

8. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Types of Technology Closed Curriculum Multi-Media Authoring Task Based Tools

9. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS) Designed with a focus on literacy Over 10,000 symbols available from Widgit Software Simple Line Drawings

10. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Symbol Pictures vs. Symbols Picture Symbol something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign focuses on a single concept/idea can be put together to build more precise information Picture visual representation of a person, object, or scene, as a painting, drawing, photograph conveys a lot at once/detail its focus may be unclear

11. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Limits of Photos and Realia Intensive use of concrete photographic visual representations language acquisition plateaus after initial success (Kang, S.H. & Dennis, J.R. (1995). “The effects of computer-enhanced vocabulary lessons on achievement of ESL grade school children.” Computers in the Schools, 11 (3), 25-35).

12. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Iconicity TransparentOpaque guessability learnability drink A continuum that describes symbols based on their ease of recognition

13. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Iconicity Opaque Concrete Abstract verbs setsnounsFunction words Transparent

14. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 What is the Message? What is the lesson?

15. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Does the symbol convey the correct meaning?

16. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Do the symbols have a clear schematic structure to support learning? WLS

17. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Do the symbols have a clear schematic structure to support learning? Symbolstix

18. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Do the symbols have a clear schematic structure to support learning? PCS

19. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Do the symbols have a grammatical structure to support reading/writing? –Verb tenses

20. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Do the symbols have a grammatical structure to support reading/writing? plurals, comparatives, superlatives

21. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Choosing Symbols: Considerations Do the symbols support a range of vocabulary required for curriculum?

22. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Contexts in which we use symbols Communication Organization and Independence Vocabulary support for concept development, oral language ELL support, reading/writing –within the symbol application –combined with other software applications Create materials for reading support Within grids to support student writing

23. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 BICS Basic interpersonal communication skills

24. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Behaviour concrete references and/or cues are easily accessed during new, difficult, tense or escalating situations.

25. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Pragmatics and Semantics subtly of language given in a visual context to make them more accessible and concrete.

26. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Homophones words pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not.

27. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Heterophones words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings.

28. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Metalinguistic Awarentess Metalinguistic awareness (MA) across languages (Bialystock, 2007) very important Supported by studies by McCarthey et. Al (2004) and Garcia (2000)

29. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Boardmaker – Dual Language Search Searches in English Presents in Language of your Choice –Arabic –Russian –Hindi etc.

30. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Notes to parents

31. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 'Communication Friendly Environments'

32. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Guide to creating a Communication Friendly Environment www.symbolsinclusionproject.org/evidence/cfe Symbols Inclusion Project

33. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 *Current support *Communication *Environment www.symbolsinclusionproject.org/evidence/cfe Audit strands self survey Symbols Inclusion Project

34. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Why do we use symbols? Supplement text to increase reading comprehension. Symbol Inclusion Project (2006)

35. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Learning to Read

36. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Guided Reading: What Will You Be For Halloween?

37. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Supported Curriculum Learning –Reading books and worksheets Symbols Inclusion Project

38. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Creating Reading Materials Communicate in Print Symwriter – writer Clicker 5 – clicker library, PCS and/or WLS Boardmaker Plus - symbolate

39. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Communicate Ideas

40. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Add Vocabulary to SMART Notebook Copy and pastePaste into gallery

41. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Concept Mapping Software

42. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 CALP Cognitive academic language proficiency (Cummins) Symbols can be used effectively to support: –Discrete subject specific academic language learning –Scaffolded subject specific Writing

43. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 “ELL’s are especially hurt by the fals presumption that they will continue developing advanced literacy skills in mainstream classrooms through mere exposure to classroom discourse and text reading, even without effective, ongoing language learning assistance (Allison 2008, Callahan, 2005) p132

44. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Can you do this worksheet?

45. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Symbols illustrate meaning

46. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Key symbols help where meaning is unclear

47. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Supported text –primarily text, with a few key words symbolized, used mainly for specific curriculum topics Symbol Literacy: –full content in symbols and text, symbols reflect grammar, one sentence per line, no more than 8 symbols Symbol information: –Simply imparts the vocabulary terms associated with the topic Levels of Symbol Support

48. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Levels of Symbol Support Simplified

49. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Levels of Symbol Support Full symbol support

50. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Levels of Symbol Support Symbol supported text

51. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Levels of Symbol Support Text

52. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Pupils often understand the ideas but cannot always read the words or write their responses.

53. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Communicate Ideas: Widget Software

54. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 In Smart notebook

55. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Word processor that displays a symbol (if available) for each word typed. Communicate: SymWriter

56. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Supported writing environments for selecting from predefined grids and buttons Communicate: SymWriter

57. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Communicate: SymWriter Over 10,000 Widgit Literacy Symbols, color and black & white Smart Symbolizing

58. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Speech feedback Symbolic spell checking Communicate: SymWriter

59. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Vocabulary Support Within an application for creating displays : –Communicate in Print - WLS –Boardmaker – PCS (WLS addendums) –SymbolMate - Symbolstix Concept Mapping Software : –Kidspiration/Inspiration –Smart Ideas –Communicate Ideas – WLS Pasted into other applications –Boardmaker –Communicate Ideas –Symbolstix online –WLS Metafile Collection

60. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Writing What is the activity, the goal? The place for symbols for spellers –Consider the impact of using a symbol processor on motivation –Consider vocabulary support in text mode –Language representation in word prediction? Language representation in the word processor as well as the grid?

61. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Other Curriculum Symbol Supports Web support: –Point (Widgit) –Purchased by the web site developer

62. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Other Curriculum Symbol Supports Web support: –Insite (Widgit) create and display symbol-supported content on your website new "content editor" plugin which can replace or work alongside your existing content editor

63. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Other Curriculum Symbol Supports Web support: –SymbolWorld http://www.symbolworld.org/ http://www.symbolworld.org/

64. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Communicate: Ideas A dynamic environment for modeling and organising thought Comes with the Widgit Symbol set of over 10,000 images Easy to use Ideal for younger grades

65. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Symbol Supported Assessment? “It is essential that ELL’s be assessed in a way that uncouples language proficiency from content knowledge.” Improving Achievement for English Learners Claude Goldenberg

66. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Useful Web Resources Symbol World – Symbol supported resources www.symbolworld.org www.tarheelreader.com www.dictionary.com/translate www.wordle.net www.tagxedo.com

67. www.bridges-canada.com 1-800-353-1107 Contact Information Bogdan Pospielovsky, B.A., B.Ed Bridges Canada 1-800-353-1107, 2178 bogdan@bridges-canada.com Please contact me with any questions! Or Comments!