Back to School ESL Tip:

If you're going to have a Newcomer in your class this year, a student new to the country who doesn't speak English, it's helpful to have a basket of materials ready the first day of school.  Include:
1.  Handwriting pages to start practicing the English alphabet.
2.  Books in their native language and books in English such as Science books with great pictures.
3.  Math practice pages.  Math crosses language barriers, so don't be surprised if it's their best subject!
4.  A journal to write in their native language.
5.  Bi-lingual dictionary
6.  Something to color for a brain break.  Listening to a language you don't understand for 6 hours can give you a headache!

Good luck to all the returning teachers!  Have a great year!

Increasing Oral Academic Vocabulary

Partner Sharing

NEP and LEP students, partnered together aren't good English models for each other. Thoughtful pairing will help students to practice oral language development. Native language support must still be used whenever needed.  Never tell a student they can’t speak in their own language!

Partner NEP and FEP Students Together

The FEP student will be able to translate and at the same time will model native-like English language.

The NEP student will acquire English faster because she will have more opportunity to practice.

NEP -Non-English Proficient

LEP - Limited English Proficient

FEP - Fluent English Proficient

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The Importance of Calendar Activities for ELL's

Early in my career, I had students pop into my ESL office one morning in a panic because they hadn't known they would need Valentine cards for their classmates that day.  We quickly cut 50 hearts out of red and pink construction paper. I realized then how important it is, not to just teach language, but to also teach the holidays, traditions and customs of the United States.  Using the calendar is an easy way to help ESL students acclimate to this new country and culture.

Go over the monthly calendar at the beginning of each month in order to frontload vocabulary and concepts for holidays, seasons and weather.  Discuss special days and celebrations coming up. This gives students a look ahead to what’s happening that month. When they  take the calendar home it reminds the parents of upcoming events. 

Check out my new Calendar Unit available on Teachers Pay Teachers!!

teacherspayteachers / School-Calendar-k-5

Catching Up, Catching Gaps

The job of the ESL teacher is to look for the gaps in education.  If the student has been in the country since kindergarten, it is almost certain that student will have kinder, first and second grade gaps later.  As they were learning to speak social English, they were missing academic vocabulary and content instruction.  I always find that my intermediate ESL students are missing concepts that were taught in primary grades.  

As you're teaching, make note of any gaps you notice and re-teach with a mini-lesson.  Stop, drop and deal.  Don't let too much time go by before the mini-lesson.  It's more effective if we take advantage of the "teachable moment."

For example, I'm working with a group of sixth grade LEP students in writing. While working on our writing, I noticed several students didn't know how to spell light.  The next day we started our group with a short mini-lesson on the ight word family.  We were then able to apply it to our writing.  It's important to tie it back to the main lesson in order to make content comprehensible.

Finished with ACCESS testing!!



Happy Valentine's Day!!!


Peace and love.

ESL Tip - Speaking Strategy

Pair and Share, Turn and Talk, Elbow Partners

An English learner's second language can only be as strong as their first language! Encourage them to use their native language!!  Pair together students that speak the same language, but are at different language levels. 

Pair limited ESL students with proficient 
ESL students.The proficient student helps to translate and model the language for 
the limited English speaker.

ESL Tip - Interpreters for P/T Conferences

Conducting Parent/Teacher Conferences with an Interpreter

If you are an ESL teacher or  a teacher with multilingual students in your classroom, it's a sure thing that you will need to have a conference with a parent who needs an interpreter. Here are a few tips:

1. Always address the parent, not the interpreter.  Have your attention on the parents and speak directly to them.  You can glance at the interpreter, because they are part of the meeting, but direct your conversation to the parents.  We never want to "talk over" the parents and make them feel excluded. 

2.  Have everything that is said in the meeting translated for the parents.  Never have a side conversation with other people in the room without letting the parents know what is being said.  After all, we are discussing their child.  

3.  Often times,  the parents may be ashamed, embarrassed or confused.  Even though they may not understand what is being said, they will understand a smile.  When you address them, soften your face and smile.  We want to assure them that they are welcome and wanted at the school.  They are not in trouble.  We are building capacity.

4.  Many other cultures do not shake hands.  If you extend your hand, don't always expect a hearty hand shake in return.  Be gentle. 

I'm writing a new unit!  It will be available on TpT soon!

ESL Tips and Strategies