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English Language Proficiency Standards - these are important to include in the language objectives when lesson planning and for determining which language domains are begin addressed with the lesson.

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Proficiency Level Descriptors - these are important to refer to when monitoring the progress of the English learners. They also serve as reminders of what students can do at each level of proficiency within each domain of language.

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The EB Reclassification Criteria Chart is important in understanding where each individual EL needs to be in their education and what type of classroom is the best place for them. This chart came out of Texas legislation for EB/ELs.

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This sheet was extremely helpful for me in understanding the statistics of EB/ELs in Texas. The most eye-opening for me and for most people is that 1 in 5 students in TX is an EL!

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Differences between ESL and Bilingual Education Programs/Classes

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Differences between ESL and Bilingual Education Programs/Classes

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This video was so helpful and informative about the differences between ESL classrooms and Bilingual education classrooms. There is a difference between the two and EBs and ELLs are two completely different groups that have different needs.

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This fact sheet shows the different demographics in the bilingual education programs in Texas along with what bilingual education programs have to offer in Texas specifically.

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Ideas for enhancing vocabulary in the classroom + at home!

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Ideas for enhancing vocabulary in the classroom + at home!

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This source had great ways for both teachers and parents to enhance student vocabulary and oral development. I chose this resource because it is two-fold and easy for teachers to share with parents to work on at home as well as in the classroom with their student.

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As parents, we all want our children to excel in every aspect of their lives, especially in academics. One of the key ingredients in academic success is having a rich and varied vocabulary. But how do we enhance our kid's vocabulary? Is it just about reading more books, or is there more to it? Let's explore some practical tips and strategies that can help you boost your kid's vocabulary and set them on the path to academic excellence. So, if you're ready to take your child's language skills to the next level, keep reading!

Incorporating Word Games and Puzzles into Everyday Learning Activities

Word games and puzzles are a fun way to help your child expand their vocabulary. Crossword puzzles, word searches, Scrabble, and Bananagrams all require children to think creatively with words. You can create your own crossword puzzles or play Mad Libs together.

Another idea is incorporating vocabulary in everyday activities, such as identifying letters and sounds on road signs during car rides. When reading books together, ask your child about specific words they may not know the meaning of - this helps them learn new words in context.

Finally, try challenging your child by introducing them to more advanced language-based board games like Balderdash or Boggle that provide an opportunity for learning while having fun. By making it enjoyable and part of daily life activities, you might be surprised at how much faster kids pick up new vocabulary!

Encouraging Active Listening in Children: Techniques for Helping Them Pick Up New Words

Active listening is a crucial skill that can help children expand their vocabulary. To encourage active listening, parents can try a few techniques. First, ask open-ended questions that require more than a simple "yes" or "no" answer. This encourages children to think critically and express themselves using more complex language.

Another technique is to read aloud to your child and pause periodically to ask them questions about the story. This not only helps them understand the story better but also exposes them to new words and concepts.

Parents can also encourage their children to listen to different types of media, such as podcasts or audiobooks, which can expose them to a broader range of vocabulary.

Finally, model active listening by paying attention when your child speaks and responding thoughtfully. This shows them the importance of listening and encourages them to do the same.

Use games like charades to deepen understanding of the meanings of words

Charades is a classic game that can be used to enhance your child's vocabulary. To play, simply write down a list of words on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Then, have your child pick a word and act it out without speaking while others try to guess what the word is. This game helps children understand the meaning of words by using nonverbal cues and encourages them to think creatively.

To take it a step further, after each round, discuss the meaning of the word with your child. Ask them to explain what the word means and how they acted it out. This will help deepen their understanding of the word and its context.

Another variation of this game is to have your child act out idioms or phrases that contain multiple words. For example, "raining cats and dogs" or "spill the beans." This will not only help expand their vocabulary but also their understanding of figurative language.

Incorporating games like charades into your child's learning routine can make vocabulary-building fun and engaging.

Watch famous speeches or TED Talks and analyze them

Watching famous speeches or TED Talks can be a great way to expand your child's vocabulary. Analyzing these speeches can help them understand how words are used in context and how they can be used to convey different meanings. Encourage your child to pay attention to the speaker's tone, inflection, and body language to better understand the message being conveyed.

As you watch the speech together, pause periodically to discuss unfamiliar words or phrases. Defining these words and discussing their meaning in the context of the speech can help your child better understand their usage. Additionally, encourage your child to take notes on new words they hear and look up their definitions later on. This will help them retain new vocabulary words and expand their overall knowledge base.

Explore the root of more challenging words to understand meaning

One effective way to expand your child's vocabulary is by exploring the roots of words. Understanding the origin of a word can help your child grasp its meaning and even remember it better. For example, the word "pedestrian" comes from the Latin word "pedester," which means "on foot." Knowing this root can help your child understand that "pedestrian" refers to something related to walking.

Encourage your child to look up the roots of unfamiliar words in a dictionary or online. They can also use resources like word origin books or websites. By understanding the roots of words, your child can also learn about different languages and cultures.

It's important to note that not all words have clear roots, and some may have multiple origins. However, exploring word roots can still be a fun and educational activity for children. It can also help them develop critical thinking skills as they analyze and make connections between different words.

Expanding your child's vocabulary is an essential part of their development. By incorporating word games and puzzles into everyday learning activities, encouraging active listening, and using techniques like charades and analyzing speeches, you can help your child pick up new words and deepen their understanding of language. Additionally, exploring the roots of more challenging words can help them understand the meaning behind them. With these tips and strategies, you can enhance your child's vocabulary and set them up for success in their academic and personal lives.

Questions & Answers

Who can benefit from tips for expanding kids' vocabulary?

Any parent, teacher, or caregiver of young children can benefit.

What are some easy ways to expand kids' vocabulary?

Reading, playing word games, and using descriptive language are effective ways.

How can I make vocabulary expansion fun for kids?

Use games, songs, and storytelling to make learning new words enjoyable.

What if my child is not interested in expanding their vocabulary?

Try incorporating vocabulary-building activities into their favorite activities or interests.

How long does it take to see results from vocabulary expansion efforts?

Results vary, but consistent practice can yield noticeable improvements in a few weeks.

What if my child has a learning disability or language delay?

Consult with a specialist to develop a personalized plan for vocabulary expansion.

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How to Enhance Your Kid's Vocabulary: Tips and Strategies - Hands of The Carpenter

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Looking for tips for expanding kids' vocabulary? Check out our article on how to enhance your kid's vocabulary with practical strategies and exercises

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I picked this video because I thought the activities were helpful for teachers to implement in their classroom in both large group and small group activities.

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3 Activities to Promote Oral Language // How to Develop Oral Language and Vocabulary in K-2

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The Collaborative Classroom has multiple activities and supports to enhance ELL reading and writing instruction. This program has supports for both students and teachers which is helpful for in class instruction and home practice!

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Explicit teaching of social skills creates safe, supportive classroom communities where students respect and care for one another

Implementation handbook for each grade with resources for supporting instruction and planning specifically for ELs

Classrooms honor and appreciate the culture, language, and experiences each child brings to the table

Designated pre-teaching section with instructional suggestions for preparing students to participate confidently in lessons

Explicit scaffolds throughout the program support English learners with accessing the texts and content so they may participate fully in class discussions, and succeed with lesson content

Weekly extensions specifically designed for ELs to practice or deepen their understanding of a strategy or concept

High-quality, diverse texts reflect a range of backgrounds, cultures, views, and perspectives and expose students to rich language and academic content

Targeted EL margin notes throughout lessons that allow teachers to implement suggestions as they are teaching

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Support Equitable Reading Instruction for English Learners | Collaborative Classroom

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Read our interview with Dr. Bravo about instructional strategies and scaffolds that are critical for teachers to help English learners gain access to academic content before they speak English fluently.

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Reading Rockets not only has great tips for ways to support ELLs in the mainstream classroom in this article in particular but also has multiple activities and books for ELLs to use in the classroom and at home.

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1. Read to students every day

2. Support students' comprehension as much as possible

3. Teach the alphabet when necessary

4. Teach phonics in context

5. Check comprehension frequently

7. Support native language literacy

8. Encourage reading outside of the classroom

9. Establish an English Language Learner Center

10. Make up individualized activity packs for your newcomers

You are welcome to print copies for non-commercial use, or a limited number for educational purposes, as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact the author or publisher listed.

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Supporting ELLs in the Mainstream Classroom: Reading Instruction

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You can and should use what you already know to be effective, research-based reading instruction to English language learners (ELLs). However, ELLs will need additional support in learning how to read, and the strategies here will help you to provide assistance in your everyday teaching, particularly for newcomers (students who have recently arrived in the U.S.).

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This graphic is helpful in reminding what the goals of multicultural education are. This is important for teachers to remember in what they are trying to achieve for their students & what their students are trying to achieve.

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This video was helpful in understanding what it looks like to not only have multilingual thinking & a multilingual classroom but also strategies in formulating a multilingual thinking based curriculum.

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Multilingual thinking and learning in multicultural classrooms

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Ways to get ELLs to use academic language!

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Ways to get ELLs to use academic language!

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This graphic was so cute & also easy to read and understand different ways that teachers can create space for ELLs to use academic language.

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Building Academic Language in the Classroom Video

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Building Academic Language in the Classroom Video

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I liked this video because it was set in an actual classroom setting which is helpful to observe and see how a teacher implemented these strategies for building academic language in the classroom with ELLs.

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This "cheat sheet" helps teachers create a language objective for their students based on their activities and what they are wanting to achieve in that lesson.

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I liked this video and it was extremely useful because there are clear cut instructions and tips on how to write the best language objectives that are possible for ELL students.

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How to Write Language Objectives: Tips for ELL Educators

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Word walls are helpful for ELLs as they grow with the student's vocabulary. This is a great tool that would be useful in a future math classroom.

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I liked this resource because it had 10 strategies to help ELLs be successful in a math classroom and are all easy and applicable ways to do this.

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This video was a fun watch & also helpful tips on how to create a safe and fun environment in learning science material and skills!

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Flashcards and visual aids are helpful for ELL students in every subject area, but especially in such a hands-on area like science.

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3 Strategies for Supporting SS Education in ELLs

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3 Strategies for Supporting SS Education in ELLs

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This article was helpful in seeing how teachers can practically support ELLs in social studies instruction at different grade levels.

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3 Strategies to Support English Language Learners in Social Studies

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Scaffolding such as visual guides and templates can make it easier for ELLs to grasp material in courses with complicated vocabulary.

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This video was helpful especially since it was for ELL's in middle grades! I think we always forget that even the middle school aged students need their background knowledge activated too.

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Building ELLs' background knowledge about the 50 states in a Social Studies lesson

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Colorin Colorado has multiple resources for different ways to support Special Education EB/ELs along with interviews with multiple professionals on the topic.

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Special Education and English Language Learners

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Learn more about how schools and families can collaborate to ensure that ELLs, including those with special needs, have the appropriate support and services to meet their unique needs.

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When SPED services are necessary for EBs/ELs

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When SPED services are necessary for EBs/ELs

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I chose this graphic because it was helpful in understanding what "level" EBs/ELs need to be at to be considered SPED.

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This article had multiple platforms and supports for technology supports in EB/EL classrooms. One in specific was Read&Write that is a huge support for EBs/ELs.

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These tech tools are helpful for both the ELL student and the teacher as well when it comes to lesson planning, lessons in general, etc.

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3 tech tools that work wonderfully in the EL classroom | Episode 65

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I liked this video because it again was set in an actual ELL classroom and gave great tips on how to engage ELL parents.

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Engaging Parents of English-Language Learners

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This graphic was helpful in giving ways to engage ELL families and also explaining why each route is helpful and engaging to the parent.

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Colorin Colorado has multiple resources for how to advocate for ELL students as their teacher to others, their parents, etc.

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Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.

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Teaching ELLs to advocate for themselves

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Teaching ELLs to advocate for themselves

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Being an advocate as a teacher is important, but also encouraging your students to be advocates for themselves is also so important as well.

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Teaching ELLs to advocate for themselves