di: Language for Learning/Thinking/Writing vs Direct Instruction Spoken English

[Kay D. Thomson]

Hi, 

I am more in the minority of the DI list, I think, when it comes to
Horizons, but I use that program a LOT.  I think it is especially
helpful having all the pictures for ESL and LS students.  I have used it
for years with Spanish speakers, and the last 4 years, I have used it
while working in Qatar with predominantly native Arabic speakers who are
receiving (or have been identified with) learning support needs.  Since
you are 1:1 you can repeat lessons as needed.  I worked with an
extremely low Arabic student who had cognitive difficulties (FS IQ 69).
He had repeated KG, and was 1/2 way through 1st grade when he was
referred to me.  At that point, he could only say sounds for some of his
letters, had no words, and had lots of difficulty with memory.  I saw
him 3-4 times/week for 30-35 minutes/session.  In just 3 months, he was
reading the stories at the end of book 1 of Horizons A/B.  I repeated as
needed during each lesson for multiple practice, then we ended with the
workbook, which he really liked.  Then, each day, I did a repeat of the
previous days lesson in the text (sounds and any words) before beginning
the new lesson in its entirety. 

I also use the L4L for some students also.  It depends upon how much
time I have.  Horizons provides a lot of language opportunities with the
pictures and directions.  I don't get into big discussions so as not to
detract from the reading, but just in the directions such as "put your
finger on the circle, triangle, dog," etc., the students learn lots of
vocab.  It doesn't teach sentences like L4L does, but they do get vocab
useful in the classroom. 

Hope this helps! 

Kay 

---
KAY D. THOMSON, M.A.

Dreamcatcher Direct Instruction Centers
Owner/Director
kay at dreamcatcherdi.com
970-443-7111 

_"We Don't Just Tutor, We Teach!"_ 

On 08/12/2019 8:00 pm, Christopher Duss wrote:

> Dear DI List, 
> 
> I have a 7 year old ESL student in Japan who is preparing for international school interviews. He is applying for entry to the second half of first grade. He has to answer questions - for example "What did you do last summer" - and read and write simple words and sentences - for example, "write dogs".  
> 
> Over the past year we have been working through _Language For Learning_ and are now through lesson 40. I have to confirm if there has been a formal diagnosis, but there has at least been some speculation that he has Asperger's. If he does, it hasn't impeded his English acquisition, and the main tweak I have had to use with the program is to be more careful about number of consecutive mistakes. He often becomes frustrated to the point of tears before the prescribed 7 mistakes, and it is difficult to bring him back after that happens.  
> 
> He has no reading experience but knows the alphabet letter names and the main phonetic sound for most letters. I have been tasked to bring him up to the above level in speaking/reading/writing in the next 6 weeks. I will have him for an hour a day most weekdays, so around 40 sessions until the interview. My current plan is to continue with _Language For Learning_ to build speaking skill and use_ Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons_ to build reading and writing. I also own_ Horizons Fast Track A-B_ and have been wondering whether it would be better to use that than_ Teach Your Child_. 
> 
> Does anyone have thoughts on how to better structure a program to build these skills in the specified time period? Or thoughts on which reading program to use? 
> 
> Thanks, 
> Chris 
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