March 30, 2020 6 Key Considerations for Supporting English Learners with Distance Learning By Heather Skibbins We find ourselves in unprecedented times as the COVID 19 pandemic has shut down our schools for an indefinite amount … This is what you sound like to ELLs when you say too much or speak too fast. Imagine how some of your English language learners feel when they suddenly find themselves in a new school, while at the same time adapting to a new culture which includes, among many other things, learning a new language. For this reason, it's critical that teachers be intentional about teaching vocabulary to their English learners. This means you need to allow sufficient wait time after you pose a question. All information on the page, including directions, is clear and concise. Pause. English language learners will benefit from increased exposure to print and language. Don't place too much emphasis on grammar and spelling at first—remember that writing is usually the last of the language domains to develop (after listening, speaking, and reading). Ensure that class rules and expectations are clear and enforced from the beginning of the school year. These approaches can be used in classes composed of only ELLs and in mainstream classes composed of ELLs and non-ELLs. Because many of your English language learners are not exposed to spoken English in their... 2. Make sure you enunciate clearly and if you're a fast talker, slow down! I wouldn’t give a haiku poem assignment to a group of English language learners when it’s already hard enough to come up with the words, let alone try to come up with the syllables. Including pair-share and small group activities as a regular part of your lessons allows your ELLs many opportunities to practice English in ways that are fun and natural. Supporting English Language Learners Book Description : Smart, passionate, practical, and filled with experience-honed thinking, Supporting English Language Learners is an ideal resource for all education professionals who are looking for the best ways to help nonnative learners. Search by type, topic, grade or discipline, Our standards-aligned Language Arts curriculum for grades K-5, Models of high-quality student work and related tools for teachers, Resources grouped by theme for deeper study, Designed for self-study, small-group or large-group PD, Best-selling publications from EL Education authors, Teaching techniques alive in real classrooms with EL experts, A Transformative Opportunity for More Equitable Schools, Reopening: Moving Toward More Equitable Schools. The value of visual aides in helping English learners comprehend subject matter cannot be overstated. When possible, choose a student who speaks the same first language as your new ELL. The Supporting English Language Learners guidance document provides a high level overview of our system for supports for English language learners, including cultural and linguistic supports. Speaking concisely and in chunks facilitates comprehension and decreases stress for your ELLs because they have fewer words to process at a time. Lack of academic vocabulary is one of the greatest barriers ELLs come up against in school. Cooperative learning activities have proven to be highly successful for engaging all students in the classroom! When you make connections between what your students already know and new concepts you present, lessons are more relevant and meaningful to them. "Today you're going to work on your advertisement posters so we need our class helpers to please hand out everybody's posters." The Supporting English Language Learners guidance document provides a high level overview of our system for supports for English language learners, including cultural and linguistic supports. Be patient. Create a language-rich environment. After you pose a question, allow sufficient wait time for your ELLs to process the question and to formulate a response. Supporting English Language Learners English language learners are a richly heterogeneous group. She holds an MEd and has taught English language learners for over ten years. Since English isn't their first language, ELLs need more time to process what they hear in English in order to make sense of it. For example, only the front side or only the first section. Instead, quietly communicate your expectations to them before or during class. A clear, colorful image of the water cycle. Most visa students are of secondary school age. Abstract (summary): English language learners (ELL) have dedicated considerable time and effort to the development of their language proficiency. Have a regular morning process for attendance, lunch count, morning announcements, and other daily items. Speaking slowly and clearly is one of the most underrated yet most effective strategies teachers can use to help English language learners succeed in school. ELLs need more time to process what they hear in English, so allow sufficient wait time after you ask a question. All students, not just English language learners, need practice with academic conversations. Includes details on our use of the California English Language Development standards (ELD), and details about "language … Educators recognize our responsibility to hold all students, including English Language Learners (ELLs), to high expectations. If you have a lot to say, use several short sentences with pauses in between, rather than one long, drawn out sentence. Keep classroom materials and supplies such as pencils, paper, and glue in the same location, such as on a table in the corner of the room. A print-rich environment will include access to books and reference materials, labels and posters, and student work on bulletin boards. If there's a word bank, the words are enclosed in a box. Because the information on them is laid out so clearly, your students can make sense of them independently after they leave your classroom. Tips and ideas for collaborative writing 9 Tips to Support English-Language Learners. Supporting English language learners: A practical guide for Ontario educators Grades 1 to 8, 2008, is designed to support and help teachers, principals, and other education professionals in elementary schools work effectively with English language learners. Heinemann Publishing. 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