New HISD approach in teaching English shows signs of success

Houston schools are using a new model to teach English to students who know little or no English and it is working quite well.    - - Donna Poisl

By Susan Carroll

The middle school teacher moved from desk to desk in a portable classroom on the city's southwest side, helping students read a second-grade-level story about a butterfly and a moth.

"Look at your pictures," teacher Joan Marshall cajoled the 13 newly arrived immigrant and refugee students, who all speak little or no English. "See if you can think of a sentence."

Hands shot up high. Razqia Al Tuma, 12, from Iraq, bounced in her seat, waiting to be called on.

"The … moth … is … small," a boy from an indigenous tribe in Mexico said slowly.

The other children clapped.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/HISD-center-has-success-with-new-approach-to-3498951.php
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