“Stories and Lessons by Immigrant Learners” begins with two stories by moms struggling to work and stay in school so they can help their children. Next, four immigrant learners share stories about learning to drive, using GPS, and navigating their local bus system. Finally, in two stories from the Hair issue, ESOL learners share touching stories from their childhood.
“Working Hard in the U.S.” starts with a poem by Langston Huges, “I Must Say.” Use this to uncover the common phrases that your learners must often say at their jobs. The next three stories include detailed drawings and short text that helps students explore problems or challenges they may face in the workplace. Finally, a tailor from Afghanistan and a drywall-installer from New Orleans describe their professions.
A Beginning Literacy Packet: Adaptations from the Indigenous Peoples Issue (#48) contains five pieces, all written at about a fourth grade equivalency level. All the pieces (except for the first) are adapted from articles that appear in the “Indigenous Peoples” issue of The Change Agent. If your class is multi-level, you can teach from different levels of the same piece.
