High Frequency Words are the words that occur frequently in the English language. The above list is Edward Fry's 100. These words can be delivered to ELL students via visual aids for literacy (reading) or via video for oral language (phonology/morphology).

Why did I include it?

The 100 most frequently used words make up fifty percent of all written material! This means that these words are vital for any English speaker to know.

What age group is it for?

All ages!

Explicit Instruction is a systematic strategy. Skills, strategies, concepts, or vocabulary terms are taught in a sequential order. Easier or high frequency skills, strategies, concepts, or vocabulary terms are taught first. Instruction is broken down in a very clear and concise manner to limit confusion. Objectives are meant to be clearly stated so the student knows exactly what they are working towards.

Why did I include it?

I included Explicit Instruction because of the organized and student-centered approach it uses. It allows the teacher/EA the maximum number of opportunities to model and ELLs the maximum number of opportunities to practice what they have learned. In the video above, EI is being used in a way that would help develop oral language (listening/writing/speaking/reading).

What age group is it for?

EI can be used for all ages!

Visual supports may include manipulatives, photos, posters, word walls, flash cards, videos, slides, graphic organizers, sentence frames/sentence starters, PWIM, or even non-verbal gestures. Depending on the visual support used and how it is used, literacy development (reading/writing/semantics/syntax) or oral language development (listening/writing/speaking) may be aided.

Why did I include it?

Visual Support is important to help ELL's succeed when developing a new language. Visuals help students comprehend the onslaught of new vocabulary, syntax, and phonetics. They can also help students connect their second language to their first language. Some other pros are listed on the visual above!

What age group is it for?

Visual supports can be altered to suit any age group.

School Bingo helps a student new to English learn some basic words that will be relevant to their school days. The pictorial representation will ensure the student is able to find the object that they are looking for, even if they do not quite recognize the written word yet.

Why did I include it?

This activity is fun for students and will strengthen their literacy skills. When the teacher or EA says the word the student is to find on their BINGO card aloud, the student will listen and read as they attempt to locate the word. As a student's skill level increases, I would alter the BINGO card to include words only.

What age group is it for?

This particular BINGO card would be best suited for elementary age students due to it's cartoonish illustrations, but this activity could be altered to work for any age group.

A digital matching activity to help ELL students learn the English words for basic body parts.

Why did I include it?

This activity teaches ELL students basic words that are important for them to know. The students will listen to the word, read the word, and learn what the word means.

What age group is it for?

This activity would be great for any age group.

A Fill in the Gaps activity to help students newer to English learn about different jobs.

Why did I include it?

This activity will help students strengthen their literacy skills by reading and writing the key terms. It will also help them strengthen their understanding of syntax and semantics.

What age group is it for?

As is, this worksheet would be suited for a student in roughly grade 3+, depending on their English skill level. To simplify this worksheet, I would cut out each job and ask the student to fill in the blanks of one job at a time. I would only supply the key terms that work for that specific job.

These conversation starters encourage students learning English to practice using it.

Why did I include it?

Encouraging students to speak is a key part of supporting ELL's oral language development. This activity would specifically support syntax and pragmatics.

What age group is it for?

This PDF includes many simple questions (for those who speak English fluently), but they may be more challenging for someone just learning. I would recommend these conversation starters for those in grade 3+, dependent on their English speaking skill level.

This nursery rhyme uses repetition and a catchy tune to capture student's interest. Singing along and encouraging your students to sing along will help this nursery rhyme be the most effective it can be.

Why did I include it?

ELLs will strengthen their oral language skills by learning to say the numbers up to ten and some important phrases such as "shut the door".

What age group is it for?

Nursery rhymes are classically meant for young children. I do believe that the repetition in this video would be great for any age, but the delivery feels very young child-centered.

The attached video goes through all 44 of the phonemes used in the English language. It stresses the importance of saying only the phoneme and not adding extra sound to enunciate, such as saying /b/ as /buh/.

An alternate resource is UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute). Many schools in my school division, Prairie Rose School Division are beginning to implement UFLI's resources with great success!

Why did I include it?

Phonemic Awareness is one of the building blocks of oral language development!

What age group is it for?

I believe this is an important resource for all ages and this video is delivered in a way that does not feel "childish".

Leveled stories focused on real-world experiences and challenges that ELLs new to Canada may need some assistance to navigate.

Why did I include it?

The Level A readers are set up like Social Stories so they are very simple for an ELL to decode. Each story also includes pictures and an audio recording. These readers will strengthen literacy skills (reading and listening). I was happy to find a resource that is specifically for adult ELLs.

What age group is it for?

This resource was made specifically for adult ELLs.