LANGUAGE: Challenges and Teaching Strategies for ELL Students Stephanie Paradis

Agenda Read Aloud Read Aloud –Language: What It Means to You? Presentation Presentation Group Activity Group Activity –How can we meet the academic needs of ELL students? Wrap-Up Wrap-Up –Questions/Comments –Reflection

Meet Monica Thao!!! Read Aloud Read Aloud “I Am Proud to Be Bilingual” “I Am Proud to Be Bilingual”

Think, Pair, Share THINK about what “your” language, languages, dialect, language variations mean to you. What does it say about you? THINK about what “your” language, languages, dialect, language variations mean to you. What does it say about you? PAIR off with a partner to discuss your thoughts. PAIR off with a partner to discuss your thoughts. SHARE your findings with the class. SHARE your findings with the class.

Challenges for ELL Students Mastering a new Mastering a new language language Learning content- Learning content- area material area material Social acceptance Social acceptance among peers among peers Adjusting to a new Adjusting to a new culture without culture without having to give up having to give up their own their own

What This Means for Teachers * Giving Students the Best Experience Possible * Resist “Americanizing” ELL students Resist “Americanizing” ELL students Educate Yourself Educate Yourself Ask questions but avoid generalizing Ask questions but avoid generalizing Model language learning Model language learning Visit language classrooms Visit language classrooms Look beyond culture Look beyond culture Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. (n.d.) Giving your students the best experience possible. Retrieved from students-best-experience-possible

Additional Challenges for ELLs English language learners receive lower grades English language learners receive lower grades Judged by their teachers to have lower academic abilities Judged by their teachers to have lower academic abilities Score below their classmates on standardized tests of reading and math Score below their classmates on standardized tests of reading and math

What This Means For Teachers “Teachers and administrators must draw from a range of research-based strategies, pedagogy, and instruction to support English language learners in building language proficiency.” “Teachers and administrators must draw from a range of research-based strategies, pedagogy, and instruction to support English language learners in building language proficiency.” Focus on Effectiveness: Current Education Challenges. (2005). English language learners. Retrieved from

Implementation Develop reading skills Develop reading skills Work from strengths Work from strengths Connect with students’ families and cultures Connect with students’ families and cultures Use engaging instruction Use engaging instruction Vary assessment strategies Vary assessment strategies Focus on Effectiveness: Current Education Challenges. (2005). English language learners. Retrieved from

Group Activity 4 Members per Group 4 Members per Group Remember to build off of each other’s strengths and incorporate your own experiences with language!!! Remember to build off of each other’s strengths and incorporate your own experiences with language!!!

Your Task… (10 mins.) What are ways you can meet the needs of ELL students and enable success through… What are ways you can meet the needs of ELL students and enable success through… Daily Classroom Assignments (in any content area) Daily Classroom Assignments (in any content area) Assessments (in any content area) Assessments (in any content area) Standardized Tests/MCAS Preparation (ELA and Math) Standardized Tests/MCAS Preparation (ELA and Math)

Daily Classroom Assignments Assign a buddy Assign a buddy Repeat directions and check for understanding Repeat directions and check for understanding Teach key words along with visual aides Teach key words along with visual aides Read and reread aloud Read and reread aloud Utilize available resources Utilize available resources Technology (computers, calculators) Technology (computers, calculators)

Assessments Varied, such as including hands-on activities and experiments Varied, such as including hands-on activities and experiments Provide directions in their own language or orally and allow use of a translation dictionary Provide directions in their own language or orally and allow use of a translation dictionary Avoid the use of jargon or unnecessary complex sentence construction Avoid the use of jargon or unnecessary complex sentence construction Extended amount of time with frequent breaks Extended amount of time with frequent breaks

Standardized Tests/MCAS Give language learners many opportunities to read and write in meaningful contexts Give language learners many opportunities to read and write in meaningful contexts –Practice communicating complex ideas Integrate technology to support writing instruction and motivate students to use written language to communicate Integrate technology to support writing instruction and motivate students to use written language to communicate Direct instruction on how to use calculators, dictionaries, thesauruses Direct instruction on how to use calculators, dictionaries, thesauruses Help students recognize patterns and learn test-taking skills Help students recognize patterns and learn test-taking skills

To Conclude… Reflection Reflection –How can “your” language benefit your teaching? your teaching?

References Focus on Effectiveness: Current Education Challenges. (2005). English language learners. Retrieved from Shore, K. (2005). Success for ESL students. Scholastic. Retrieved from article.jsp?id=4336 Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. (n.d.) Giving your students the best experience possible. Retrieved from supplement/giving-your-students-best-experience- possible