Why is works for ELLs ?

• Role cards provide structure within the activity and support students interaction (Predictor, Clarifier, Questioner, Summarizer)

• Vocabulary is reinforced with visuals 

• Speaking and listening are built within reading 

• Students will be able to engage through focusing on direct content

• Discussing different weather patterns 

Pre-reading introduction will include a vocabulary preview of the key terms: cloud, storm, rain, forecast and wind.

While assinging students roles, instruct them to rotate as they go throughout the text

Students will then be paired up into small groups and given their own individual role: Predictor, Clarifier/Reader, Questioner or Summarizer. 

Optional sentence frames to give to studnets prior to the lesson may include 

"I think this section will be about..." Predictor 

"This word means..." "I don't understand this but I think it means..." Clarifier 

"Why did...?" or "What does it mean when..? Question 

"This section was about ..." Summarize 

Before reading, the predictor will share what they belive the reading will be about. They can do so by the context clues or using the visuals for help. The reader, with guidance from their peers and the teacher will read the short 1-2 paragraphs aloud to their group. The clarifier, will point out any confusing words and identify the defintion from using the books' glossary, for the groups understanding. The quesioner for example: will then ask "Why does it rain?" "What kind of clouds start thunderstorms?" The summarizer, then will summarize what was disucssed from the reading and answer questions. 

Students will then rotate roles for the remaining paragraphs. 

Invite students to draw or write one thing that they learned about the weather. During this, they can share a prediction that they made and if it was clarified together as a group or not.

To wrap up, each group will share to the class their most interesting facts and the teacher will record them on the class anchor chart.

The assessment that will be implemented within this activity is a observation checklist. While students are working with pairs, the teacher will walk around and assess a checklist to monitor different skill sets such as 

• Student particpates and is willing to share roles 

• Student uses the key vocabulary accurately 

• Student can summarize in their own words 

• Studnet is able to ask relevant follow up questions 

• Student reads aloud with good pacing and limited guidance