Decodable texts are a valuable tool for students still learning to decode in English. Decodable texts give students the tools that they need to be successful when they are reading. A connected theme allows students to build background knowledge as they read. They will be exposed to similar vocabulary words and be able to use their background knowledge to determine the meaning of new words. Here is a list of fall decodable texts. What makes a text decodable? A student…
Here is a collection of books for read-alouds and mentor texts during the fall season. These books feature diverse characters and have vivid illustrations. Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on an Amazon link and make a purchase. This does not cost you any extra money. Autumn Story Books Hiking Day– Follow a family as they hike up Hickory Hill and reach the summit. They see colorful fall leaves and…
An ELD (English Language Development) thematic unit combines content information with language standards. According to WIDA, Multilingual Learners are ” best served when they learn content and language together in linguistically and culturally sustaining ways.” Using themes to teach language standards helps students to organize new information. It provides content for students to speak, read, listen, and write about. As the unit progresses, all students have common background knowledge from earlier in the unit that they can build on. Themes…
Vocabulary folders are a convenient way to organize vocabulary pages. I used illustrated vocabulary sheets to help my English Language Learners speak and write about new vocabulary. They are also helpful for younger students with spelling. Some primary classroom teachers I supported had a set of these folders on student tables or in a writing center. All students had access to them. I also used them with small groups of ELLs. These folders are simple to set up. Vocabulary Folders…
Photographs are a simple yet effective tool to use with newcomer English Language Learners. They illustrate a vocabulary word in a way that a drawing can come close to but not quite achieve. Have you heard about the Science of Reading? Research shows that it is helpful to give beginning readers decodable passages so that they can systematically practice new phonics skills. For newcomers, including pictures to help with vocabulary development is also essential. I created a set of decodable…
ELD assessments (English Language Development assessments) are an important tool to help teachers determine how much language a student currently knows. You can use them to gain information about students speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Types of Assessments Summative assessments (formal assessments) happen at the end of the learning process. High-stakes testing such as the WIDA access test is an example of a summative test. The test gives a student a score, and the teacher is not allowed to assist…
Using sentence starters and sentence frames is one strategy to support students in speaking, reading, and writing. A sentence starter is when you give students the beginning part of a sentence and they fill in the rest. A sentence frame is when there are blanks inside a sentence that students fill in. Here are some ways to use sentence stems and frames as a scaffold to support your multilingual learners (MLs). Sentence stems are helpful for getting students started with…
Most Multilingual Learners (MLs) spend the majority of their day with a classroom teacher or in a content classroom. Often these teachers are not ELD specialists. Most of the strategies that support language learning for MLs will help all students improve their academic language and content knowledge. Visuals All learners will benefit from pictures, photographs, or other visual supports. Sometimes this means finding images before a lesson. Other times even a quick sketch is better than no visual support. For unit…
Encourage students to continue learning throughout the summer. Here are some summer learning ideas to help kids have fun and keep learning to share with parents or use in a summer school program. Practice Native Language It might seem counterintuitive, but the summertime is a great opportunity for ELLs to practice their home language. International trips this year might still be postponed. Students can practice speaking their native language at home, reading books in their native language, or learning how…
Sometimes at the end of the school year, teachers have a little more flexibility with lessons. It is easier to spend time on projects. At the same time, students are often full of energy and need highly engaging activities. Here are some activities for ELLs to try at the end of the school year. Play Board Games Many board games are great on their own as end of the year fun activities. If you still need to tie in more…