Welcome!
On this site you will find information and strategies to utilize in the classroom setting.
*This site is continually being managed and updated. There may be times where areas may seem incomplete.*
English Language Learners Levels
Model whatever it is you are asking your students to do. Do not just tell them and expect them to understand, physically show them step-by-step what they are supposed to accomplish. This will also help students associate words with actions.
Modeling
Word Sorts/ Sight Words
Use word sorts so students can work with the sounds of new words that also have pictures to show meanings of words for students to sort. You can also create sight word cards that have pictures of words for student practice with recognition.
Think/Pair/Share
Have students write down their answer to a thought provoking question. Once all students have had adequate time to do this, have them share their ideas with a partner. After students have shared with a partner allow for whole class group sharing. This strategy allows ELL’s to have a lot of time to think out and sort out their answer and helps build their confidence in sharing with the whole class. Overall, this strategy really helps to improve whole class engagement.
Consistency
English Language Learners are able to learn new concepts and ideas when they are adapted to a consistent routine. This helps students know what to expect next and also helps them learn new words and phrases by hearing and seeing the same thing happen every day.
Picture Glossary
A great way to help students keep track and learn new words is for them to create themselves a picture glossary of all their vocabulary terms. Students complete this by drawing a picture resembling the word on one side and write the vocabulary term on the other side.
The GOTO Matrix
Introduce it, Teach it, Review it
Introduce a topic with some headlining questions to gain what students know already about the topic. After discussion has taken place, teach the lesson as you normally would. Once the lesson is taught allow a few minutes to go over the material once more and for students to ask any clarifying questions they may have.
Celebrate Each Student as Unique
Take time to talk with students about their favorite hobbies, interests, family life etc. Get to know your students so they feel safe and welcome in your classroom. Use a star of the week idea to celebrate a different student every week, for English Language Learners allow them to share about their native language and culture to educate their classmates and show their passion for something they love. Do not discourage use of native language in the classroom or a student talking about their native culture. For all you know as a teacher, a student may be in the process of adpating a completely new life style, your job is to make sure they feel safe and welcome in your room.
Sentence Frames
Help students to build sentences by providing them with sentence frames that create a generic sentence leaving room for students to fill in the blanks to either add to the content learned or add in their own touch.
Ex. My favorite food is ____________________.
Ex. The __________________ in the book worked in a school every day as her job.
Stop and Think
Teach students to use the stop and think strategy. This is to help students identify why they are struggling and evaluate their own learning. If you observe a student struggling with their work as them to stop and think about the following questions: What am I struggling with? What can I do differently? What questions do I have? Who can help me answer those questions?
This is also a great strategy to have laminated and taped onto every students desk.
Purposeful Grouping
Grouping English Language Learners with other students of varying English profiency is a great benefit to the ELL’s. The students are then exposed to a variety of ways to use words in the English Language while also working with peers, which can more often than not be less stressful for the student than working with the teacher since the student tends to feel the need to impress the teacher which can bring a lot of anxiety to a student. Creating groups in the classroom that would help benefit ELL’s is a great strategy to get these students exposed to the use of the English Language in a relaxed manner.
Ex. Table groups, reading groups, project groups, etc.
