Ways to support English Language Learners
-Focus on the strengths and prior knowledge that students bring to the classroom
-Connect the content or lesson to my students’ personal experiences in order to validate their background, culture, and experiences.
-Make an effort to learn about my students’ families and communities in order to connect the lesson to various aspects of their lives.
-Make explicit connections between the new vocabulary and the translation in their primary language.
-Provide alternative, creative, and nontraditional approaches for parents/caregivers to be involved. For example, student can bring to class a picture or the actual object of something valuable in their household as a project.
-EL students should be permitted and encouraged to use their primary language in oral and written activities, they should be able to use bilingual dictionaries, and share songs, books, or stories in their primary language
-Teachers should make efforts to display labels and signs in all student languages
-EL's should be given chances to speak in smaller groups
-Use pictures, objects, maps, graphic organizers, and graphs to present material and access mastery.
-Provide samples of larger assignments and final projects.
-Use gestures, mime, pointing, and other nonverbal aspects of communication so that EL students can understand what is being taught.
-Give extra time to complete a task/ assignment
Things educators should not do
-Teachers should refrain from correcting students’ grammar, semantics, or syntax in English.
-ELs should not be required to speak, especially in front of large groups unless they voluntarily choose too.
-Educators should avoid situations that draw unwanted attention to ELs, such as forcing them to share a response with the class or asking them to read aloud.
-ELs should not be required to speak, especially in front of large groups unless they voluntarily choose too.
-Educators should avoid situations that draw unwanted attention to ELs, such as forcing them to share a response with the class or asking them to read aloud.