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Radnor Elementary School

ELL

Support for Teachers with ELL Students

in their Content Areas

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Standards
Understanding our English Language Learners (ELLs) and How to Help them
Sample Leveled Adapted Quizzes and Tests
SMILE
Tips for working with ELL Students

Ten Things Mainstream Teachers Can Do to Help ELLs

More Tips

Content Area Specific Articles


STANDARDS

Here are some key components of the Pennsylvania English Language Proficiency Standards that will be helpful for you as you work with the English Language Learners in your classes. Below you will find documents with:

  1. Language Performance Definitions for the Levels English Language Proficiency Across the Curriculum
  2. CAN DO Descriptors
  3. Framework for Formative/Classroom Instruction and Assessment (for all Standards/Content Areas)
  4. Framework for Summative Assessment (for all Standards/Content Areas)

All teachers: click here  and here: Understanding the ELL students' levels and how we can help, based on WIDA Can Do's

Mathematics: click here

Social Studies: click here

Science: click here

Language Arts: click here
 
Understanding our English Language Learners (ELLs) and How to Help them
  • Challenges for ELLs in Content area classes: click here
  • Monitoring comprehension and designing realistic assessments: click here
  • Graphic Organizers for Content Area instruction of ELLs: click here 
  • Questioning Strategies: click here
  • Tips on Communicating with the ELLs: click here
  • Study Skills for ELLs: click here
  • 25 Quick Tips for Content Area teachers: click here
  • Keys to Effective Communication: click here
     
     
    Sample Leveled Adapted Quizzes and Tests
     
     

     
     
     
    SMILE- Tips for Working with ELL Newcomers
     
    Remember to SMILE
    S:  Show them that you care.  Introduce yourself and

          introduce them to a helpful buddy in your class.

     

    M:  Mention it again!  Repeat information as much as

           possible.  Its never too many times.  Point to

           objects for clarification.

     

    I:   Invite them to participate and listen in pair and

          group activities.  They dont want to be left out.

     

    L:  Let them try an adapted assignment.  They want to

           learn, but dont know enough English words right

           now to tell you that.

     

    E:  Encourage them!  They are just starting out on a hard journey

          to learn English in a country that is new to them.  Give them a

          high five whenever you can.

     
     

    3 Tips for working with ELL Students

    1.        Socialization:  Get to know your ELL student! 

    A.           Introduce yourself/ Ask questions about the students culture.  Provide support, as many times its limited at home.

    B.           Give him/ her a non-ELL buddy in the classroom (especially for newcomers).

    C.           Assign classroom jobs (ex.  clean the board, take papers to the office, etc).

     

    2.        Classroom Strategies: 

    A.           Use plenty of visuals (always point to items in the classroom when referring to them).

    B.           Incorporate hands-on learning.

    C.           Emphasize key essential questions and content.

    D.           Write on the board the most important instructions, assignments, and notes.

     

    3.        Differentiating Assessments (Testing)/ Homework:

    A.           Keep it simple!  Dont let language interfere with the students ability to show you what he/ she has learned.

    1.      Ask the student to answer 5 essential questions in his/ her own words (using pictures when necessary).

    2.     Grading accommodations (accountability for specific material).

    B.           Provide Scaffolding- Support the students!

    1.     Give them 10 facts that you want them to know.

    2.     Use word banks for fill in the blank questions.

    3.     Use multiple choice questions.

    C.           Be flexible!  Assign a project instead of a test.  Allow students to show their understanding of a topic through pictures, diagrams, and charts. 

    D.           Homework:  Keep it limited, realizing that students have limited resources at home (no computers and working parents who dont understand English).

      

     
    Ten Things the Mainstream Teacher Can Do Today To
    Improve Instruction for ELL Students
    1. Enunciate clearly, but do not raise your voice. Add gestures, point directly to objects, or draw pictures when appropriate.
    2. Write clearly, legibly, and in printmany ELL students have difficulty reading cursive.
    3. Develop and maintain routines. Use clear and consistent signals for classroom instructions.
    4. Repeat information and review frequently. If a student does not understand, try rephrasing or paraphrasing in shorter sentences and simpler syntax. Check often for understanding, but do not ask "Do you understand?" Instead, have students demonstrate their learning in order to show comprehension.
    5. Try to avoid idioms and slang words.
    6. Present new information in the context of known information.
    7. Announce the lessons objectives and activities, and list instructions step-by-step.
    8. Present information in a variety of ways.
    9. Provide frequent summations of the salient points of a lesson, and always emphasize key vocabulary words.
    10. Recognize student success overtly and frequently. But, also be aware that in some cultures overt, individual praise is considered inappropriate and can therefore be embarrassing or confusing to the student.
    These tips were adapted from the Help! They Dont Speak English Starter Kit for Primary Teachers (1998) (developed by the Region IV and Region XIV Comprehensive Centers, the Center for Applied Linguistics, and ESCORT, a national resource center dedicated to improving the educational opportunities for migrant children) and from Integrating Language and Content Instruction: Strategies and Techniques (1991) by Deborah Short of the Center for Applied Linguistics.
     

     
    More tips:
    While a wide variety of subject-specific strategies can be used to improve English language learners' success, the following checklist offers proven strategies for any classroom.
    • Visual Aids
      Visual aids give ELL students visual cues that may help clarify meaning and solidify learning. Visual aids should be clear and reproduced for ELL students, whenever possible.
    • Hands-On Activities
      Where appropriate, hands-on activities help ELL students connect with classroom content. Processes that can be experienced or observed make learning more concrete.
    • Sufficient Wait Time
      ELL students need additional time to formulate their answers in English. Some may still be translating their first language into English, others may need time to find the appropriate words. By pausing after a question is asked, everyone, English proficient students included, has time to think about the question before responding.
    • Modeled Spoken Language
      Refrain from correcting your students spoken language. Instead, model the proper usage in a restatement. For example, if a student says "No understand." You might reply, "You don't understand? Okay." Students may occasionally ask to be corrected; but as a rule, it is best to leave corrections to the written word. In this case, be sure to balance positive feedback with corrections.
    • Lesson Outlines
      Teacher-prepared outlines or notes can help ELL students follow along in class. Alternately, you may ask another student to share his or her notes with the ELL student. You may also choose to give the student information regarding the teaching plan and objectives so that they may have an easier time following along.
    • Skim and Scan
      Directly teach ELL students reading strategies that will enhance their reading skills. Skimming, scanning and even outlining chapters in the textbook are excellent pre-reading strategies that can help students preview material prior to reading. They can also engage in other strategies such as predicting chapter content from headings, creating vocabulary lists, writing responses, and summarizing.
    • Respect the Silent Phase
      Most second language learners go through a silent phase. Forcing a student to speak may make them embarrassed and overly self-conscious. In a worst case scenario, other students may laugh them at them. While your intention may be to give them practice, this technique very well may backfire.

    Source: http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/english-language-learner-teaching-strategies-that-work

    Articles- Making Content Accessible to ELLs
    Help for Science teachers of ELL students: click here

    Help for Math teachers of ELL students: click here

    Help for Social Studies teachers of ELL students: click here

    Help for English teachers of ELL students: click here

     
     
    Online Resources to help you create Lesson Plans, Worksheets, etc. for use with your ELLs
     
    • Last Modified on November 16, 2010