A two-part ESL unit for third and fourth grade multilingual learners focusing on foundational phonics with -ck endings and communicative modal language structures with can and can't.
Notice: Every single word has a short vowel right before -ck!
Choral Reading: Sentences in Action
Fluency Practice
1
The black duck sat on a big rock.
🦆
2
Jack will pack his red sock in the bag.
🎒
3
Look at the clock before you kick the ball!
⏰
🗣️ Echo Read: Teacher reads first with expression, then students repeat together! Count the -ck words: 7 total!
Exit Check: Show What You Know
5 Min CFU
Question 1: Sound Tap
How do you spell the ending /k/ sound in this picture?
🚚
t - r - u - ?
Is it c, k, or ck?
Question 2: Sentence Builder
Choose the word that fits:
"Please use the key to
______ the door."
A) lock B) lick C) luck
Now complete your "Click Clack Practice Worksheet"!
Great job, Sound Detectives! Next up: Let's practice with our worksheets.
"Can + you + [action verb]?"
"Yes, I can."
"No, I can't."
CFU: Total Physical Response (TPR): Nod & thumbs up for "Yes, I can", shake head & cross arms for "No, I can't".
Introduce complex response with conjunction: "No, I can't swim, but I can run fast."
3. PRACTICE ("WE / YOU") Guided & Solo Application
20 min
We Do (8 min): Choral Echo & Fishbowl Interview
Teacher models with a student partner: "Can you swim?" Partner responds: "Yes, I can." Class repeats chorally. Repeat with 4 target verbs.
You Do (12 min): "Can Do Crew" Peer Interview Survey
Students use their "Can Do Practice Worksheet" to interview 3 classmates. They ask "Can you [ride a bike]?", record checkmarks, and write partner names. Students write 2 synthesis sentences about themselves.
Scaffold: Printed dialogue bubbles on desks. Visual action icons next to every verb. Sentence stems.
Fast finishers write about a family member: "My mom can cook" / "My brother can't drive."
4. CLOSURE / CFU Exit Ticket Check
5 min
Exit Ticket "Talent Showcase":
Students complete the exit slip on the worksheet by writing: 1) One thing they CAN do, and 2) One thing they CAN'T do yet. Oral check: Whisper your sentence to the teacher on the way out.
Mastery Criteria: Correct auxiliary placement and positive/negative subject agreement in writing & speech.
Encouraging growth mindset: adding the word "yet" to "can't".
Teacher Reflection
Check if students drop the subject pronoun (saying "Yes, can" instead of "Yes, I can"). Reinforce full pronoun + auxiliary pair.
Reteach & Support
Use color-coded cue cards: Green card = "Yes, I can." Red card = "No, I can't." for non-verbal support during oral warm-ups.
School Events & Reminders
Review weekly student work samples from Day 1 (-ck phonics) and Day 2 (can/can't) for dual-objective portfolio assessment.
