What I Know
-Phonological awareness activities can help
students understand sounds and blends when
working towards stretching, chunking and
reading strategies to solve unknown words
-Students who are below grade level in Language
struggle through other subjects such as science
and socials because of the expectation that a
student at a certain grade level has the same
abilities in language (writing and reading)
-There are a wide variety of English Language
Learners from someone who doesnt speak any
English to some who speaks some English to
others who speak English but need to work on a
certain sectors of English
-Oral language is the first step in language as it is
the building blocks to reading and writing
-The communication gap between the teacher
and ELL student makes it hard for them and the
teacher to identify their strengths
What I Want to Learn
-how to help students increase their language
abilities (oral, reading, writing) when they are in
grade 6 or above and at a primary reading level?
-What are some good technology apps or
programs that help with ELL?
-How can I integrate culture into my daily
lessons to reach all students in my classroom?
-If a student doesnt speak another language and
English is their first language yet they are still
below grade level what can we do as teachers to
help increase their language abilities?
-How can I, as a teacher, use an ELLs first
language to help teach them English?
-How can you get across content about a subject
for ELL students?
What I Learned
-Children dont actually learn a second language
more easily than adults but they learn in
different ways.
-Welcoming ELL students and their families are
essential to their success
-Pre-teaching vocabulary using a variety of
strategies can help students understand other
subject areas more easily (great strategies at
http://learningtasks.weebly.com/vocabulary-
strategies.html)
-Self-identity is crucial to an ELLs development
and learning
-Creating a safe and comfortable environment
will allow ELLs to take risks which will help them
learn
-alternative assessments are important for ELLs
because it allows students to find an assessment
that suits their learning style and one that may
be less language demanding
-Using a variety of group work activities within
the classroom will help promote oral language in
the classroom and allow ELLs to be more willing
to participate because there is less pressure on
them then answering a question in front of the
whole class. There are many different strategies
for students to work together through
discussions
-it is important to activate ELLs prior knowledge
before teaching a lesson so they can make a
connection and have a better understanding of
the learning goal
-teach explicitly and with scaffolding to allow
ELLs to understand the learning goal best
-Writing opportunities should be made for ELLs
to develop their confidence in writing, such as
chunk and chew, quick writes, etc.
-Using and creating dual language books helps
ELLs affirm their identity and will help them
learn content.
-Allow students to use their L1 to express their
learning and ideas. When students use their L1 it
often helps them develop their L2
-reading like you are writing will help develop
their reading (more detail in ELL Literacy Tips
assignment)
-Providing graphic organizers and using them in
lessons will help ELLs
-allow ELLs to orally speak about your ideas
before asking them to write
-BICS is the social conversational used for oral
communication while CALPS is the more
advanced skills needed to learn academically
about other subject matters (it can take 5-7
years to learn)
-overcorrecting students when they speak and
write can be discouraging there needs to be a
fine balance between allowing students to find
their own mistakes and the teacher pointing it
out and teaching it