Dahlberg Lu Choosing Instruction Materials

Choosing Instructional Materials: Challenge and

OpportunityNational Chinese Language Conference

May 1, 2009

Carol Ann DahlbergCarol Ann DahlbergConcordia College, Moorhead, MNConcordia College, Moorhead, MN

Jane LuJane LuChicago Public Schools/ Confucius Institute in Chicago Public Schools/ Confucius Institute in

ChicagoChicago

挑战 The Challenge: • Materials selection is a BIG decision • Materials often determine curriculum,

especially with inexperienced teachers– Inexperienced in the classroom– Inexperienced in the U.S. setting

• Materials designed for U.S. classrooms are still being developed

• Materials for other contexts may not always be suitable

National K-12 Foreign Language Resource CenterChinese Curriculum Project

http://www.nflrc.iastate.edu/Chinese/curriculum.htm

Ohio’s K-4 Content-Enriched Mandarin Chinese Curriculum and Professional Development Modules

http://www.ode.ohio.gov

U.S. Curriculum Projects

• Well-designed materials can serve as valuable in-service for teachers.

• Materials that match program philosophy can guide teacher thinking and classroom practice.

• Well-designed materials can help to unify a program and ease articulation

时机 The Opportunity:

Special Issues for Chinese

• Which language?

–Cantonese

–Mandarin•Traditional•Simplified

•Approach to literacy

•Role of literacy

Special Issues for Chinese

• Approach to literacy

–Pinyin/BoPoMoFo•May conflict with English phonics in younger learners•Needed for computer use•Aid to pronunciation--especially older learners

–Hanzi 汉字•Culture bearer•Fully represent the language

Special Issues for Chinese

• Role of literacy

口语

书面语WRITTEN - oral

口语书面语

WRITTEN - ORAL

口头

written - ORAL书面语

Materials Suitability• Diversity

EthnicRacialAbility/DisabilitySocio-economic

Materials Suitability• Diversity• Stereotyping

racism sexism (ageism)•Racial and gender equity

Materials Suitability• Diversity• Stereotyping/racism• Racial and gender equity

• Role of religion• Attitude toward the human body• Role of violence• Developmental appropriateness

Possible Guidelinesfor Use in

Materials Selection

Things to Consider when Looking at Guidelines:

• What issues are addressed that you have been struggling with?

• What do you find on the lists that you might have otherwise overlooked?

• What are the top 5 things that you are walking away with that were included on these lists?

• What should be added that hasn’t already been listed?

Languages and Children

Goals

Standards- and Performance-BasedCompatible with program goalsCareful Scope and SequenceAppropriate appropriate for intended audience.

Languages and Children

Communication

Organized by communication, rather than by grammar

Use of English avoided/discouragedOriented to activity and experienceApproaches to literacy compatible with program goals

Provide for meaningful, purposeful language use

Languages and Children

Culture

Integrated into program materialsPresented from a global perspectiveSituations and language are culturally authentic, up to date

Access to authentic songs, poems, games, literature

Languages and Children

Subject Content, Thinking Skills

Teaching grade-appropriate subject content, interdisciplinary content in Chinese

Help to develop higher-order skillsOpportunities for students to personalize language, culture, content learning

Languages and Children

Bias

Flexibility

Physical Characteristics

Budget

Languages and Children

Support Materials

Teacher’s manual with abundant suggestions

Relevant, effective visual and audio materials

Technology materials or activities

Suggested Guidelines for Districts Using:

Criteria for Understanding by Design Districts

Do the materials…

•continually revisit big ideas?• reflect a developmentally-appropriate approach to student learning?•provide for diverse abilities, interests and needs of students?

Criteria for Understanding by Design Districts

Do the materials…

•have many different types of materials, including technology-based materials, rather than just a text?•encourage interdisciplinary connections?

Criteria for Understanding by Design Districts

Are the materials well organized and teacher-friendly?

Are outside experiences, including family involvement, part of the learning experience?

Self & Campine

Searching For & Selecting Sound Teaching Materials

Jane Lu, CPS / CIC

Ideas for Ideal Teaching Materials

• Comparison• Integration• Differentiation• Cooperative Learning

Workshops for Teaching Resources

• The Better Chinese Strategy for Implementing Inquiry-Based Story-Centered K-12 Mandarin Language Instruction

• An Introduction to “Chinese Essential: What and How”

• Pen Plus, Speech Plus - Computer Software for Teaching and Learning Chinese

• An Introduction to “CPS Chinese K-12 Curriculum”

• ActiveChinese – Go Above and Beyond Language Teaching

Swap Shops for Sharing Teaching Materials

• Engaging Learning Activities• Effective Teaching Strategies• Selecting and Making

Instructional Materials• Using Movies or Movie Clips

Publishers & Distributors for Chinese Textbook and Material Resources• www.chinasprout.com• www.cheng-tsui.com• www.chinabooks.com• www.afk.com• www.betterchinese.com• Beijing Language and Culture University Press (BLCUP)

北京语言大学出版社• www.hep.edu.cn Higher Education Press

高等教育出版社• People‘s Education Press 人民教育出版社• Beijing University Press 北京大学出版社

Websites for Chinese Textbook and Material Resources

• www.askasia.org/chinese/• www.zhongwen.com• www.chinasite.com• www.chineseculture.about.com• www.chinapage.com• www.mandarintools.com

Websites for Chinese Textbook and Material Resources

• www.chinasona.com

• www.chinalinks.osu.edu

• www.lost-theory.org

• www.chinese.cn

• http://ChineseCLASSresources.osu.edu

Some New Teaching Materials

For Elementary School:

• Flying with Chinese 飞向中文• Experiencing Chinese 体验汉语• Children’s Primer 中文启蒙

Some New Teaching Materials

For Middle & High Schools:• Discovering Chinese 奇妙中文 • Magic Tour of Chinese• Experiencing Chinese 体验汉语• Exploring Chinese 汉语• Chinese for U.S.

Some New Teaching Materials

For AP Chinese:• 加油 Chinese for Global Community• Barron’s AP Chinese Language

and Culture

Some New Teaching Materials

For College:• Comprehensive Chinese 汉语综合教程

– New Arrival 初来乍到– When in China 入乡随俗– Understanding the People and the World

知人论世– On the Present and Past 说古道今– Writing and Truth 文以载道

Tips for Selecting Teaching Materials

1. Make full use of what you already have2. Age appropriateness and on-level materials3. With visual aids4. The contents of teaching materials reflect: a. Comparison of both western and Chinese cultures b. Integration of other subject areas c. Options for assignments d. Abundance and variety of interactive activities5. Rubrics for assessments6. Continuity

Some Chinese Textbooks Used in CPS

Elementary Schools:• Chinese Paradise 汉语乐园• Happy Chinese 快乐汉语• Chinese Made Easy for Kids 轻松学汉语• My First Chinese Words 快乐幼儿华语• My First Chinese Readers 快乐儿童华语

Some Chinese Textbooks Used in CPS

High Schools:• Easy Steps to Chinese 轻松学中文• Chinese Made Easy 轻松学汉语• Chinese Link 中文天地• Integrated Chinese 中文听说读写• New Practical Chinese 新实用汉语课本• Contemporary Chinese 当代中文• Ni Hao 你好• Learn Chinese With Me 跟我学汉语

Things to Consider when Looking at Guidelines:

• What issues are addressed that you have been struggling with?

• What do you find on the lists that you might have otherwise overlooked?

• What are the top 5 things that you are walking away with that were included on these lists?

• What should be added that hasn’t already been listed or discussed?

Thank you!谢谢！

• www.confuciusinstitutechicago.org• www.askasia.org

• www.olce.org• www.cps.edu

Choosing Instructional Materials: Challenge and

Opportunity

Carol Ann Dahlberg (cadahlbe@cord.edu)

Jane Lu

(jylu@cps.k12.il.us)