Helping English Language Learners Orientation for Teachers
Seven Teaching Strategies
for Classroom Teachers of
ELLs
These seven strategies are
designed to help teachers
meet the needs of all the
students in their classes and to
help make the mainstream
classroom more inclusive for
ELLs.
Source: Teaching English
Language Learners Across the
Content Areas (ASCD, 2010),
Debbie Zacarian and Judie
Haynes More>
How long does it take to
learn English?
How long does it take to learn
English? How long should
students receive support in
language? These are the most
frequently asked questions by
administrators, school board
members and classroom
teachers.
Source: EverythingESL-
Judie Haynes
More>
Challenges for ELLs in
Content Area Learning
Do you want to help classroom
teachers in your school with
their English language
learners? Begin by
understanding the challenges
ELLs face in their content area
learning.
Source: EverythingESL-
Judie Haynes
More>
You are key! No two ELLs
(English Language Learners)
are the same! You are key to
their success when you
differentiate! Most of what you
already do benefits ELLs.
A New ELL? WHAT DO I DO
FIRST?
Modifications and
Accommodations
Modifications are required for
all ELLs, if needed ELLs
cannot fail because they lack
English proficiency!
More>
Quick Reference Guide for Teachers
All new learners of English
progress through the same
stages to acquire language.
However, the length of time each
students spends at a particular
stage may vary greatly.
•Listening- process, understand,
interpret, and evaluate spoken
language in a variety of situations
• Speaking- engage in oral communication in a variety of situations for
a variety of purposes and audiences • Reading- process, understand,
interpret, and evaluate written language, symbols and text with
understanding and fluency • Writing- engage in written communication
in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes and audiences.
What if the ELL doesn’t speak any English? • Use gestures, flashcards,
visuals, and repetitive commands. • Put ELLs in cooperative groups. •
Provide opportunities for ELLs to learn American culture (games, word
play, flashcards, nursery-rhymes, songs, holidays.) • Give ELLs a
picture dictionary (check library or ESL teacher.) • Simplify your
language. Speak slowly. Repeat! • Use software like Rosetta Stone. •
Encourage parents to read aloud in home language. This print
awareness will facilitate English literacy. • Very important: Include ELL
in academic instruction. Teach academic vocabulary and syntax
Teachers
@Hello_Teachers
Colorín Colorado.org is the leading national website
serving parents and educators of English language
learners (ELLs) in Grades PreK-12.
AdLit.org is a national multimedia project offering
information and resources to the parents and
educators of struggling adolescent readers and
writers.
Understanding Language-
Language, Literacy, and Learning in the Content Areas
Our team is currently developing sets of teaching resources that
exemplify high-quality instruction for ELLs across three content
areas. The resources will correspond to the widely-adopted Common
Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics
and to the Next Generation Science Standards. More>
What if an ELL speaks English, but lacks literacy
skills?
Conversational English usually precedes reading & writing. • Phonics: ELLs need to know
the meanings of words used to teach phonics. • ELLs may come to you not knowing that
print conveys meaning. Or ELLs may be from a language that is read right to left, or top to
bottom (Arabic, Chinese) or uses characters. Give ELLs a lot of exposure to print concepts.
• Teach and build sight word vocabulary. • Provide or record books on tape, CD, computer,
ipods, ipads, or tablets. Read aloud!
Teachers