Discussion Starters
These lessons include warm-up questions, vocabulary preview, reading, comprehension questions, vocabulary review, and discussion questions. Use them as supplemental material for the Ventures curriculum or as stand-alone lessons.
Grammar Lessons
These lessons include ....
ELL Short Story Library
This collection of short stories is perfect for high beginner ELLs and above. Most stories present pre-reading questions and vocabulary words as well as comprehension questions aligned to the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCR) for Adult Education.
The Monkey's Paw
The Love Powder
Dear Amanda
The Expression
The Cog
The Scholarship
The Invaders
Blue Eyes Far Away
The Cow-Tail Switch
The Snakes of Bera
Of Missing Persons
Matrimony Inn
Rain, Rain, Go Away
The Wind in the Rosebush
The Donkey Goes to Market
Newsela: Use Newsela to easily select relevant, accessible content that supports state standards and real-time instructional decision-making.
News For You: Password B1AAB8 -- This website offers easy-to-read news stories that can help you learn to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. Seven new stories are posted each Wednesday, along with audio, exercises, vocabulary, a crossword puzzle, a word search, and a poll. Listen to each story in full or sentence-by-sentence.
Readworks: Articles & Passages -- Focus on the following three pillars of reading comprehension to improve student reading comprehension and overall reading outcomes.
- Building Background Knowledge
- Growing Vocabularies
- Strengthening Strategic Reading
That's Life
This series, published by New Readers Press, is great for developing ELL reading comprehension skills by presenting a text and basing the lesson on information taken directly from the text. Learners can practice determining meaning from context, finding information in a text, citing information, critical thinking skills, and they can ultimately improve English reading fluency.
Reading for Today's Adults - ELL Reading Activities
- Select an item from your student's approximate reading level
- Beginner: NRS 1 & 2
- Intermediate: NRS 3 & 4
- Advanced: NRS 5 & 6
- Let your student read
- Provide help, guidance, and corrections as need
- Focus on Accuracy,Fluency, and Comprehension
- Accuracy: Read exactly the words as they are printed; don't skip words or substitute for similar words (ex. "mom" for "mother")
- Fluency: If the sentence is choppy, ask the student to read it again; if it's still choppy, the Tutor should read that sentence to demonstrate proper cadence and fluency
- Comprehension: Ask questions as you go along, to ensure the student understands what's being read; re-read and scaffold as needed
More stories from Reading for Today's Adults
Links to websites to study English Idioms:
- Idiom Site: Short, precise meanings
Dolch Word: Free sight word games and printables.
Worksheet Works: Create worksheet of text for printing practice.
Strategy 12 Identify Equivalent Fractions
Strategy 13 Add and Subtract Fractions and Mixed Numbers with Like Denominators
Strategy 14 Add and Subtract Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Strategy 15 Multiply Fractions
Strategy 16 Multiply Mixed Numbers and Fractions
Strategy 17 Interpret Fractions as Division
Download LSW's guide to using Zoom in virtual tutoring.
- Listening Comprehension: Select a story or article to read; stop frequently to discuss what you've read so far, make sure the student is "picturing" it, discuss challenging vocabulary within context.
- Lessons & Worksheets: Email your student a lesson or worksheet ahead of time, then work through it together over the phone.
- ELL Students:
- Many of our ELL students express apprehension about speaking English on the phone. You could use this as an opportunity to allow them to practice those skills with you!
- Role-play typical conversations, like scheduling appointments, placing an order, or talking with a child’s teacher.
- Discuss the current state of affairs regarding the virus, social distancing, good hygiene, etc.; help them understand the situation at hand, and work together to answer their questions.
- Use Conversation Starters (see ELL Resources) as needed to keep your student talking. Be sure to provide feedback and corrections as usual, and praise their efforts because speaking English on the phone is challenging for them.
If your student has access to tech, use any of the available platforms to meet virtually. Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and Facebook Messenger are just a few methods that will allow you and your student to see each other during your regular lesson time.
If you need help getting set up, please email info@literacyservices.org to request assistance from a Digital Mentor.
Spectrum: Spectrum internet assist - free internet for qualified households.
T-Mobile: $15 per month (unlimited talk and 2GB data)
AT&T: Access from AT&T $10 per month
Cox: Residential internet service $9.95 per month
If you need help signing up for a service, please email info@literacyservices.org to request assistance from a Digital Mentor.
- Calls can be extra helpful for ELL learners practicing conversation
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Texts can be great for grammar
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Send a short text, have the learner correct it, or find an error and text back and forth until it is correct
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Practice expanding sentences - start with ‘I stayed home today.’ They add in a word, retyping the whole sentence with the word in it, then you do the same and continue on until you can’t come up with anything else to add
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Practice writing a story - you start with a sentence, they add one, you add one, and so on
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Send a short text, then call to discuss what vocabulary words mean or if it is grammatically correct
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Set time expectations for responses for texts and calls
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It can be at a set time each week or if ongoing set parameters of certain times during the day and a time-frame to respond
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- GCF Learn Free
- This website offers tutorials on a wide range of topics including work skills, technology, career skills, core skills, and GED information. Appropriate content for ABE, ASE, and ELL of all levels. The tutorials involve text, videos, and activities and can be accessed in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- Khan Academy
- Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Subjects include reading, language, math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more.
- Free Math Worksheets
- Math worksheets with answer keys. Levels from basic place value through Algebra. Some highlights include left handed tables and large print worksheets.
Free Clinics in Milwaukee: This site lists income-based free clinics. If you have COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms, call your doctor before going to urgent care or the ER.
National Domestic violence hotline
- Feeding America continues to work with food banks across the country. Use the pantry locator to find the pantry closest to you. Some food sites have changed their hours or are offering drive-through only to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
- The Salvation Army Milwaukee Citadel Corps Worship & Community Center
4129 W. Villard Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53209
Phone: (414) 463-3300Pull into the lot and enter a the Community Center sign. You will need to provide your name and address. They are open Fridays from 10am to 3pm. No paperwork is needed during the pandemic. They will serve any zip code upon first visit. After first visit, the pantry will only serve residents of 53206, 53209, 53216, 53217, 53218, 53222, 53223, 53224, and 53225.
- The Salvation Army 60th Street Food Pantry
5880 North 60th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53218
Phone: (414) 464-2940You need an ID. Go to the north side of the building and ring the door bell. No zip code requirement.
- The Salvation Army Oak Creek Corps Worship & Community Center
8853 S. Howell Avenue, Oak Creek, WI 53154
Phone: (414) 762-3993
Hours: 9-noon Wednesday and ThursdayYou need to provide ID, proof of income, birth certificate of any children (to receive food for more than 1 person), and 2 utility bills.
Spectrum: Spectrum internet assist - free internet for qualified households.
T-Mobile: $15 per month (unlimited talk and 2GB data)
AT&T: Access from AT&T $10 per month
Cox: Residential internet service $9.95 per month
If you need help signing up for a service, please email info@literacyservices.org to request assistance from a Digital Mentor.
- Protection from Eviction/Foreclosure. In order to help ensure people are able to stay home and slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Evers announced a temporary ban on evictions and foreclosures for 60 days. This includes both residential properties, as well as businesses. To read the full document, click here.
- Prevention of Utility Shut-offs. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has directed regulated utilities to stop disconnection for nonpayment for all customers, including commercial, industrial, and farm accounts. They have also halted late fees and eased a number of administrative rules to keep homes and businesses supplied with light, heat, and water. For help with utility disconnections, reach out to the PSC directly here.
Food Resources in Waukesha County
Health Care Resources in Waukesha County
Family Promise of Waukesha County: Applications are now being accepted by Family Promise of Waukesha County from families who are seeking rent, mortgage or utility assistance.
Refugee & Immigration Services: Advice and legal services related to immigration.