1. Helping English Learners Be Successful!

2. One question that I have is… The biggest challenge that I have…
Turn to your elbow partner and use the following sentence stems in your discussion:
I am hoping to learn…
One question that I have is…
The biggest challenge that I have…

3. My Notes
Recommendations for Creating a Welcoming Environment for English Learners
Accommodations for English Learners
I wonder…

4. What to do First: Creating a Welcoming Environment for English Learners

5. Review Recommendations
Smile
Pronounce names correctly
Learn a few simple words in their language
Introduce the student to the class
Ask students in the class to help students
Assign a buddy (student who speaks their language, if possible)
Establish clear goals and expectations for the students
Rules, routines, and structure are important
Posted class schedules and routines
Vocabulary posted in the room
Items labeled in the room

6. Review Recommendations
Create a Language Rich Classroom
Total Participation
Active Student Engagement
Use hand gestures
Well stocked library with several titles on different topics at several reading levels
Label items in the classroom
Word Wall
Opportunities for peer assisted learning
Be open to the student’s culture
Allow students to share their unique experiences and culture
Connect content to the students’ culture

7. One thing that I can do to make English Learners feel more welcome in my classroom is…
I intend on sharing this with…
I would like to learn more about…

8. Accommodations Sort Physical Room Arrangement Lesson Preparation
Assignments/
Activities

9. Oral Language Development Accommodations for Readers
Accommodations Sort
Oral Language Development
Accommodations for Readers
Accommodations for
Writers

10. Accommodations Sort
Assessment
Accommodations

11. Directions for Word Sort
Reader: Read aloud each of the general education accommodations.
Facilitator: Lead the group discussion regarding which general education
category to sort the accommodation in.
Runner: Place the strip of paper with the accommodation on the
appropriate category of accommodations.

12. Accommodations for English Learners
Physical Arrangement Room
Seat student near the teacher, positive role model, or learning buddy
Stand near the student when giving directions, use gestures, and write down assignment directions on board or paper
Seat students near Word Wall
Seat students near the white board

13. Accommodations for English Learners
Lesson Preparation
Plan for active student engagement
Incorporate Total Participation strategies
Pre-teach academic vocabulary
Incorporate repetitive academic vocabulary instruction
Consider giving the student a study guide for the entire unit
Incorporate Graphic organizers, videos, demonstrations, pictures, and relia
Incorporate oral language development activities throughout lesson

14. Accommodations for English Learners
Assignments/Activities/Worksheets
Allow extra time or modify the number of problems required
Simplify complex directions
Require one activity or hand out one assignment at a time
Reduce the reading level required and make more appropriate
Require fewer correct responses to achieve grade (quality vs. quantity)
Reduce writing demands to demonstrate understanding
Allow student to write in their native language.
Allow other supports: Picture dictionary, Bilingual dictionary, use of a word bank, picture supports
Use websites to build oral language:

15. Accommodations for English Learners
Focus on Oral Language Development
Incorporate many opportunities for the student to practice academic vocabulary
Teach vocabulary (front load prior to instruction)
Multiple opportunities to learn the vocabulary
Use visual aids
Use multisensory methods in conjunction with oral language
Allow for partner talk
Allow for processing time
Speak slowly
Peer rehearsal

16. Accommodations for English Learners
Accommodations for Reading
Use a Text to Speech Reader:
Modify reading levels/texts: and
Provide highlighted texts
Provide graphic organizers
Close Reading (repeated reading)
Pre-teach vocabulary
Teach small sections of text at a time

17. Accommodations for English Learners
Accommodations for Writing
Use visual exploration prior to writing to develop ideas
Start with an oral discussion prior to writing
Provide a graphic organizer prior to writing
Review key vocabulary to use in writing
Allow students to dictate
Provide sentence frames for students
Provide a word bank
Allow students to write in their native language
Do Shared Writing (Teacher writes, and student writes)
Reduce the amount of writing required

18. Accommodations for English Learners
Simplify Your Language, Maintain the Concepts
Speak slowly and enunciate words
Face the student while speaking
Use simple sentence and vocabulary
Emphasize nouns and verbs
Do not discourage use of the student’s native language

19. Accommodations for English Learners
Assessment Accommodations
Allow open book exams
Give exam orally
Give take home test
Reduce amount of written responses
Remove time constraints for testing

20. Articulate Three Accommodations That You Can Use Tomorrow in Your
Classroom to Help English Learners!
Action Plan 1. 2. 3.

21. Helpful Websites and Apps for English Learners
Visual Exploration:
Translation Resources:
: app
: text parents in their home language
Language Learning:
Reading Texts:

22. Can Do Descriptors

23. Can Do Desk Cards

24. Mid-Michigan Migrant & EL Program Director Office: (616) 794-4753
If you have questions, concerns, and/or would like to meet with me about how to help your English Learners in your classroom, then please contact me using the contact information below:
Kimberly Tanis
Mid-Michigan Migrant & EL Program Director
Office: (616)
Cell : (989)
Jennifer McAlpine
Instructional Coach
(616)