Toolkit for ELL Teacher Resources by Jonni Wolskee

Instructional Strategies for ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 19:48:33 UTC

Language objectives outline the language that ELLs will need to understand to be able to achieve the goals of the lesson. Superior language objectives harmonize with the skills and content knowledge recognized in content standards and focus on the features of academic language that will be reinforced during the instruction of grade-level content (Short & Himmel, 2013).

https://youtu.be/v1QUznhixes?si=P0bsmt3k5RQ6OkYh

Social and Emotional Needs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 19:59:28 UTC

https://youtu.be/9wAVhTXf5aQ?si=LbQtSscjLIOqdHtY

Resources

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:13:19 UTC

Short, D. & Himmel, J. (2013). Moving research on sheltered instruction into curriculum and professional development practice

Scott, R. (2015). Practices to welcome and support ells

Espinola, M. (2019). 4 ways to support english language learners

Colorin Colorado, (n.d.). How to create a welcoming classroom environment for ells

Sage 2YC, (n.d.). Cultural challenges and recommendations for working with ells

Corujo, J. (2023). 6 levels of english language proficiency for ell students

Robertson, K. & Ford, K. (n.d.). Language acquisition: an overview

Kaplan, E. (2019). 6 essential strategies for teaching english language learners

Nearpod team, (2023). Amplify learning with nearpod for ell

Colorin Colorado, (n.d.) Ell strategies & best practices

Breiseth, L. (2023). Sel for english language learners: what educators need to know

Boost, (n.d.) Create a personalized english/spanish literacy pathway through data-driven instruction built on the science of reading

Supportive Learning Environments for ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:21:39 UTC

It is important to help your English Language learners feel welcome in your classroom. In doing this you will lend a hand to improve their confidence, feel more comfortable in class, and forge positive relationships with their peers (Colorin Colorado, n.d ).

Instructional Strategies for ELLS

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:23:14 UTC

English Language learners have certain educational needs, but do not learn differently than their English speaking peers. The strategies both include explicit teaching and large-picture mindsets. These strategies include: being culturally responsive and cultivating relationships, provide instruction in language skills in all content areas, focus on productive language, increase wait time and speak slowly, differentiate instruction, provide multiple modalities, use technology, and incorporate students' native languages (Kaplan, 2019).

Supportive Learning Environments for ELLS

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:23:55 UTC

When teachers use practices that embody empathy, tolerance, and perspective, they are able to engage their English speaking students in treasuring and participating with their English Language learner peers ( Scott, 2015).

Instructional Strategies for ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:24:19 UTC

This article provides strategies and ideas to provide support the English Language learners' literacy development and language, lesson planning, how to use language objectives, differentiation of instruction and assessment (Colorin Colorado, n. d.).

Technology and ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:25:01 UTC

Nearpod assists teachers to assign interactives lessons. This can happen virtually or in the classroom. Teachers can make presentations that are interactive. These presentations may include polls, quizzes, collaborative boards, and videos. Teachers can access various premade K-12 standards-aligned activities or upload your already existing activities. The Nearpod platform makes instruction fun and easy with the resources, interactive tools, and the subject areas teachers need.

https://nearpod.com/blog/nearpod-in-the-classroom/

Here's a tutorial to show you how to navigate the Nearpod platform.

https://youtu.be/BDfmsnq9Qg0?si=3nQbqW02St9GSHjE

Technology and ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:25:21 UTC

https://youtu.be/bqIBzjln6jI?si=cBmVzMRpiqNPdVax

Technology and ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:25:54 UTC

Nearpod EL supports teachers with ready-to-teach EL lessons. The lessons are standards aligned with interactive activities to keep students engaged. This programs inspires ELL students across all grade levels and subject areas. Nearpod lessons use digital activities and researched-based assessments to connect both instruction and evaluation to support the learning needs of English Language learners (Nearpod Team, 2023).

Applying Language Acquisition Theories

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:28:25 UTC

In order for communication to be successful it requires more than being able to simply translate words. There needs to be knowledge of dialect, intonation, nuances of words, intent, expression, and cultural context. An outline has been established for language acquisition that explains the process that English Language learners go through to learn a foreign language (Robertson & Ford, n. d.).

English Language Proficiency Levels

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:29:18 UTC

English Language learners are coming into schools with varying proficiency levels. In order to address this issue, it is vital to be very knowledgeable about the students' proficiency level and their background knowledge. Language proficiency is the ability to comprehend and communicate in a language. The six proficiency levels are: Entering, Beginning, Developing, Expanding, Bridging, and Reaching (Corujo, 2023).

Cultural Considerations

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:30:04 UTC

Often times there are expectations and assumptions made regarding human behavior that are caused by societal perspectives that can differ from culture to culture. We sometimes do not realize that these behaviors mirror cultural values that are very different from our own values. We need to be aware that our perspective may carry some cultural bias and we need to keep an open mind to the many interpretations founded in cultural backgrounds of the students we teach. Teachers need to take in account for understanding non-verbal behaviors, interpreting the role of silence, addressing class participation expectations, managing differing concepts of time, and recognizing different narrative styles (Trumbull and Pacheco, 2006).

Supportive Learning Environments for ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 20:37:37 UTC

Communication can be problematic when a child's first language isn't English. Teachers can support ELLs in 4 different ways. These strategies include: promoting cultural awareness, use of visual aids, journaling, and finding opportunities for communication (Grand Canyon University, 2019).

Technology and ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-12 21:11:11 UTC

Boost is a digital platform that assists students in developing a strong basis in English literacy as well as the important concepts of the Science of Reading. It includes phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. It also provides support in speaking and writing skills.

Boost bridges data to instruction so educators can readily see gaps in literacy, differentiate instruction, and maximize student success.

Instructional Strategies for ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-13 18:33:26 UTC

This video displays several ways informal assessments can be given throughout the day to evaluate ELL students' achievement when drawing conclusions.

https://youtu.be/q6fG4FmibEQ?si=gjNxE2IKz9wt-77x

Technology and ELLs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-13 18:48:41 UTC

Ellevation is a platform that helps English Learners succeed in academic language. Ellevation partners with teachers, school district administrators, and EL students throughout the United States, who utilize these resources to serve English Language learners and equip students with the academic language that is vital for achievement in school. Ellevation is the one EL program management fix that goes above and beyond compliance and affects instruction in all classrooms.

https://youtu.be/-jmYn81NcO0?si=TEYQ1i6OrSww_udf

Social and Emotional Needs

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-13 22:41:35 UTC

SEL is where children develop skills that help them to be successful in life. These skills include: regulating emotions, forging positive relationships, managing stress, and contributing to society.

Understanding English Language learners' perspectives and experiences in advance can ensure that they can truly engage in all classroom lessons and activities. During this process, ELLs as well as native English speakers will also benefit from enhanced communication and collaboration around SEL everyday (Breiseth, 2023).

Reflection

jonniwolskee — 2023-11-13 23:37:53 UTC

Culturally and linguistically teaching necessitates using ELLs’ linguistic and cultural experiences along with their background knowledge in order to provide many opportunities for children to learn and show understanding. Activities should include collaborative learning and interactive lessons that draw from prior experiences to allow them to make relationships with newly acquired learning. These activities help students engage in new understanding and bolster self-confidence.

In order to have a culturally and linguistically responsive environment, it is important to have knowledge of your students’ culture. Students should be asked what their name is, what they like, and what would they like to learn. During a lesson, the ELL students could share their own experiences to make connections to the content we are studying. This can give insight to the teacher as to how to guide their lesson. Students benefit as well because it makes learning relevant.

There should also be many opportunities for cooperative learning in either with a partner or in small groups. This keeps students engaged and gives them time to talk about their ideas before writing their responses. This can enhance communication, confidence, and problem-solving skills.

In a culturally and linguistically responsive classroom, language supports are provided for ELL students. Content should be connected to real life by having members from the community come into the classroom to discuss their experiences or provide real problems for the students to solve. There are nonverbal strategies such as pointing to an answer in order for ELLs to show comprehension if their expressive language is not proficient. ELLs should be allowed to use their primary language when they are learning new concepts.

Instructional scaffolds are supports that are used when learning a new skill. However, that should be temporary until there is mastery of the skill. Visual aids like pictures for social studies or science lessons can be used to support understanding. Graphic organizers can be used for reading to support students connection of language to content. Leveled texts can be provided for ELL students so that they can learn the content, but with materials that will not cause frustration (Blaha, 2022).

There are many digital platforms available to ELL students. One of these platforms in Nearpod. This app allows teachers to assign lessons that are interactive. It offers interactive presentations that can be used by the teacher with the students. These presentations include videos, polls, quizzes, and collaborative boards. There are thousands of premade k-12 activities that are standards-aligned (Nearpod Team, (n.d.).

Blaha, K. (2022). Foundations of culturally and linguistically responsive teaching

Nearpod Team, (n.d.).