Teaching About Folktales to ELLs Folktales included fairy tales, fables, and legends. They were traditionally passed down by word of mouth. Folktales are great windows into the culture and values of the the group of people telling them. Fables have a lesson the the reader is meant to learn. Fairy tales and legends have more subtle lessons about good and evil. Cultures around the world often have their own version of a common folk tale. Here are some ideas for…
How to Prepare ELLs for Language Testing Each year ELLs take an annual language assessment. In many states this is WIDA ACCESS. I am not an advocate of extensive test preparation, but I do think that students should be exposed to the language of a test beforehand so that they are better prepared. WIDA has some tips on how to prepare for the ACCESS assessment. Here are some additional ways to help student become familiar with the language and formatting…
Teaching Phonics to ELLs Teaching phonics is an important aspect of a balanced literacy program for ELLs. Phonics is the relationship between sounds and the letter or letters used to write it. Phonics helps students learn the specific sounds in the English language. For newcomers that have a background in a language that does not use the Western alphabet, phonics is way to help them learn the letters and sounds of the alphabet. For older students it is important to…
Integrating the themes of gratitude and being thankful is a common practice around Thanksgiving. These themes are great to teach about throughout the year as well. Here are some ideas for teaching ELLs how to express that they are thankful, including a FREE writing activity. I am Thankful Writing Vocabulary This set comes with vocabulary words to help student tell what they are thankful for. This is a great opportunity to integrate basic vocabulary into a lesson for all…
Creating Vocabulary Folders for ELLs Vocabulary folders are a convenient way to organize vocabulary pages. I used illustrated vocabulary sheets to help my ELLs speak and write about new vocabulary. They are also helpful for younger students with spelling. These folders are simple to set up. Vocabulary Folders Set Up All you need are: file folders with brads (or a 3 ring binder) sheet protectors Vocabulary sheets At the beginning of the year I set up 6 folders, which was…
Retelling is an important literacy skill. For English Language Learners retelling a story gives them the opportunity to practice their oral language skills. Here are some ideas for incorporating retelling into your classroom. Retelling Center Create a retelling drama center. This works especially well for younger students. It can be as simple as printing out character pictures and gluing them onto popsicle sticks or a full blown play center with props. Have one book that you have recently read or create…
6 Fall Books for English Language Learners Here is a collection of books to use as read alouds or add to a classroom library during the fall season. These books feature diverse characters, have vivid illustrations, and many make great mentor texts when teaching ELLs. 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. Fall Books…
What is Oral Language? Oral Language skills are an important component of language development. It is made up of at least five key components (Moats 2010) including phonological skills, pragmatics, syntax, morphological skills, and vocabulary. Students need opportunities throughout the day to practice their speaking and listening skills. For English Language Learners this is particularly important so that students gain proficiency in speaking and listening in English. Research shows that ELLs need a low-anxiety environment, repeated practice, comprehensible input, and drama…
Speak then Write: Supporting ELLs Writing through Listening and Speaking For many children learning a new language they go through a similar progression of language acquisition. Listening skills come first, then speaking, then reading, finally writing. With this information in mind, I find it helpful to integrate language skills. This also has the added benefit of helping students generate ideas in multiple ways and helping children that learn in different ways to be successful. Here are some ideas to help…
Whether you are a summer school session, your school year is still going/already started, or you are looking for ideas to give to families to continue learning over the summer here are some summer learning tips to help you out. Summer Learning Tip- STEM Activities The summer is a great time to incorporate more hands on learning. STEM activities are engaging and great for language development. Stick Fort Building– Try using twigs and having students build forts for dolls/action figures…