Jon and His LEA

One of the methods used to enhance comprehension skills, as well as develop expressive language, is LEA – or the Language Experience Approach. In the samples below, Jon was asked to independently follow a procedure, beginning with the preparation of materials, until making sure that the work area is left clean after the activity is done.

In this first LEA activity, Jon was asked to do the experiment, purely based on the text provided below. Hardly any guidance was given; monitoring was mainly focused on maintaining safety.

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Erupting Volcano Experiment

Materials:

·        Small bottle

·        Clay

·        Measuring cup

·        Plate

·        Bowl

·        Dropper

·        Spoon

·        Funnel

·        ¼ cup of hot water

·        ¼ cup of vinegar

·        5 drops of red food coloring

·        2 spoonfuls of baking soda

Procedure:

First, get a small bottle and put it on a plate. Second, wrap the clay around the bottle to make your own volcano, making the plate as your base. Be as creative as you want to be! Then, put this plate of volcano in a bowl. After making sure that the plate of volcano is steady, measure ¼ cup of hot water and pour it into the bottle.  Then, using the medicine dropper, mix 5 drops of red food coloring into the hot water in the bottle. Afterwards, put 2 spoonfuls of baking soda into the mixture. Make sure you use a funnel so the baking soda does not spill all over! Now, your volcano is complete. Well, almost. The final ingredient is the most important, so make sure you pour it slowly. Can you guess what the final ingredient is? If you have figured it out, that means you are ready to make this volcano erupt! Have fun!

After the activity, as well as the resulting discussion, was done – an integral part of any LEA activity is an independently written essay outlining the materials, steps, learning points and conclusions or opinions made from the experience. Guidance was initially given Jon regarding the parts of a three-paragraph essay, as well as the essential ideas incorporated within the parts: introduction, body and conclusion.

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MAKING A BAKING SODA VOLCANO ERUPT

          When a base and an acid mix, carbon dioxide will be produced. A baking soda volcano erupts carbon dioxide, which is produced by a base and an acid. In making a baking soda volcano erupt, you will need clay, a paper plate, 1/4 cup of vinegar, red dye, 1/4 cup of hot water, two spoonfuls of baking soda, a bottle, a big basin, and just to stay safe, a funnel.

          In making a baking soda volcano, first put the bottle standing on the plate. Then wrap the bottle around with clay so it will look like a volcano but do not cover the hole of the bottle.

After that, put the plate of volcano into the basin. Now that the making of the baking soda volcano is complete, it is time to make the mix that will make the volcano erupt. First pour the hot water into the volcano and also put the red dye into the volcano. Then put the two spoons of baking soda into the volcano using a funnel and a spoon. After that, pour the vinegar into the volcano but be quick and careful or the hot water will fry your hands.

          Carbon dioxide is produced by the mix. The production is too fast, the mix has to get out of the bottle for more space. If you are smelling something now, that may be the carbon dioxide from the volcano mix and it isn’t good for the lungs.

Video Link to Jon's Erupting Volcano Experiment

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In this second LEA activity, Jon was given the procedure in the form of picture diagrams. He was once again given minimal guidance, but was encouraged to ask questions when in need of clarification.

After making his own kite, Jon was given the chance to test-fly his kite. Some difficulties were encountered, as there was a marked absence of any breeze that day. But, as Jon himself explains in the following written output, he was able to creatively solve this problem.

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Kite

This essay is about making and flying a kite. In making a kite, you will need plastic bags, string, sticks, scissors, a marker and tape. You will also need a big open space like a park, field, or even a big building top.

          The first thing you have to do in making a kite is cut the plastic bag into a shape of a diamond. Then put the two sticks in a + shape. Make sure the sticks end at the pointy ends of the plastic diamond. After that, put tape to secure the sticks. Then poke two holes beside the place where the two sticks meet. You also have to put two holes in the bottom end of the kite. Next, put a string and tie it through the holes. Tie long string to the string tied to the kite. Lastly make a tail for the kite out of plastic strips tied to the bottom of the kite. Flying a kite is easy. You just need sunny weather and wind that makes the leaves flutter. In case there is no wind, make wind by running.

          Kite flying is fun because it feels good when the kite is in the sky. Kite flying is tiring without wind. It is because you have to run. Be careful not to go into dangerous places like the road or the edge of a building top while running.

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A reading of Jon’s written outputs would reflect this young man’s keen sense of humor, his natural facility in understanding and following step-by-step procedures, as well as his inclination towards creative thinking. He just recently transferred from a highly traditional to a progressive school espousing inclusion, where he seems to be thriving. This is Jon’s first reading intervention program. He has proven to be very much invested in the activities presented, as well as the strategies introduced; he has been noted to use said strategies with as little guidance as possible.