The beginning of the school year is a great time to read books about starting at a new school, culture, respect, names, and identity. Books with a diverse range of characters allow students to see their own and other cultures represented. It is especially important for MLs to read and listen to books where they see characters similar to themselves represented. Here are some great books to use a read aloud at the beginning of the school year. Many of…
All students have a range of emotions when they start a new school year. Often they are excited to meet their teacher and see old friends. They can also be nervous about having a new teacher, learning new classroom procedures, and having to get to know new classmates. This is especially true for English Learners (ELs) and Multilingual Learners (MLs). ELs can also have the added stress of not entirely understanding the instructions from their teacher. Many English Language Development…
Help students learn about schools around the world with this selection of books. Students can use the information that they learn to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between their own school and those that they read about. It is also a great opportunity for students that have attended school in other countries to share some of their own experiences. Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on an…
The beginning of the school year is an important time for creating a classroom community. It is also important to help students feel comfortable in the classroom. Here are some simple back to school activities that will help you support your ELLs and help them to get ready for a new school year. Art Collage The project can be as simple or complex as you wish, depending on the age of the students and materials that you have available. The…
Getting to Know Your English Language Learners Building a positive relationship is important for all students. For ELLs it can also have the added benefit of lowering their affective filter, making it easier for them to learn English. Learn about your students and then incorporate this information into lessons throughout the year. Learn About Your Student Interests Students love sharing about topics of interest. One way I liked to do this was to have students fill out a graphic organizer…
TPT Back to School Sale Teachers Pay Teachers is having a back to school sale and I am taking part! Everything in my store will be 25% off on August 1st & 2nd. Use the promo code: #BTSFRESH. Now is a great time to stock up on beginning of the year activities or those that you plan on using throughout the school year. Check out these materials to help get your school year off to a great start. Language Goal…