Strategy Smash: Virtual Trips & LEA

Strategy Smash: Virtual Trips & LEA

Field Trips and LEA

The LEA (Language Experience Approach) is a strategy students love! This shared experience allows English learners to express themselves as teachers hold the pen (or keyboard) to scribe. This approach works well with students in grades K-12 and supports students as they speak, write, and read in a low-stress environment. Read the linked article from Edutopia or watch the video from Carol Salva to learn more about implementing this strategy.

To increase writing engagement, create an interesting shared experience to write about. When travel isn't possible, virtual field trips allow students to visit the surface of Mars, an art museum, or the bottom of the ocean. Through virtual field trips and the language experience approach, students will acquire a lot of English -- and have even more fun! To extend this activity, encourage students to keep and use shared writings for reading practice and mentor texts.