Chapter Title: Supporting English Language Learners in the Prekindergarten

Classrooms

(Chapter 9)
Presenters: Miss Gaby Ochoa and Miss Jessica Ochoa
Description of presentation (brief summary of the chapter plus activities
used from appendixes and/or Already Ready book). Please, include at least
one photo/video.
Every child has learned a language in their lives, which means they have
learned a sound system, vocabulary, rules and expressions of such language.
The process and sequence of learning a language are the same all over the
world.
There are 20 suggestions/principles for working with ELLs:
1. Provide a visual demonstration.
2. Keep language clear and simple.
3. Invite children to act out meaning.
4. Engage children in conversation.
5. Check understanding.
6. Repeat the language of stories.
7. Provide wait and think time.
8. Avoid correcting childrens attempts at language.
9. Rearticulate book language.
10.
Explain vocabulary.
11.
Explain academic language.
12.
Draw and talk about drawing.
13.
Repeat messages children attempt to write.
14.
Repeat children language structures.
15.
Use previously written texts as resources.
16.
Pronounce words slowly.
17.
Learn about childrens home languages and cultures.
18.
Provide hands-on activities.
19.
Provide a good vantage point.
20.
Create strong connections with childrens homes.
Some of the activities used were:

Using the Turn and Talk strategy to encourage students to use pretaught English vocabulary and learn English language structure or
other phrases in English (such as I want or I like.)
Providing a visual demonstration when talking to students in English,
giving them instructions, or asking them a question.
Providing hands on activities (like writing on sand) to learn the letters
of the alphabet.

Evidence

N1

N2

N3
PK4

PK5

K6

K7

PK-K8

PK9

Encouraging the use of complete sentences in English by

giving a prompt (like Yes, I am swimming or No, I am not
swimming.)
Using the Turn and Talk strategy to encourage students to
use pre-taught English vocabulary and learn English
language structure or other phrases in English (such as I
want or I like.)
Providing a visual demonstration when talking to students
in English, giving them instructions, or asking them a
question.
Providing hands on activities (like writing on sand) to learn
the letters of the alphabet.
Repeating the language of stories using books by known
authors that use repetitive language (like Eric Carle.)
Using a Question of the day to encourage answering in
complete sentences using a prompt (such as My favorite
fruit is.)
Using repeated readings by common authors (such as Mo
Willems Pigeon books.)
Encouraging students to use English by retelling known
stories and/or adding to the story or changing parts of it.
Drawing and describing the drawing.
Asking students to stop, think, and then talk about their
drawings.
Encouraging the use of English vocabulary, complete
sentences, and vocabulary.
Using students and family names to learn structure in
language (such as syntax), letter names, and sounds.
Retelling known stories with puppets and acting them out
individually and/or in groups.
Sharing reading.
Providing Wait and Think time when drawing, and asking
What details am I missing?.
Using a finger to follow print while reading.
Learning about students home cultures and languages by
counting and singing in different languages.
Using repeated readings in storytelling.
Leaving books accessible for children to read and retell the
stories.
Acting out familiar stories.

K10

PKK11

Alondr
a

Encouraging the use of complete sentences and vocabulary

in English.
Drawing and talking about their drawings.
Using classroom written texts (repetitive phrases such as
May I go to the bathroom?) as resources to teach English
language structure (syllables, words in a sentence, letter
names and sounds, etc.)
Checking for understanding.
Inviting children to act out meaning.
Asking students to repeat the messages they are
attempting to say or write.
Repeating the language of stories.
Using catchy chants to learn to use complete sentences in
English.
Drawing and talking about drawing.
Providing Wait and Think time.