Dedicated to equipping teachers like you and supporting success for your ELLs, we are here with 5 must-do practices for student success!
1. Let Them Take the Lead
Often, we have everything in the classroom set up, standards to meet, assessments to conduct, and lessons to teach. But let’s not forget that our students are at the center of it all. To boost engagement and motivation, give your ELLs a say in their learning. Let them choose reading passages or topics. When students have a sense of ownership, they become more motivated to learn.
2. Play More Games
Games are powerful tools for learning, and they’re often underestimated. They create a fun and low-pressure environment, making language learning less intimidating. Games can focus on grammar, vocabulary, or just building a sense of community in the classroom. Don’t hesitate to incorporate games into your lessons regularly!
3. Use Quality Literature
Quality literature can be a fantastic resource for language learning. Seek out books that resonate with your students’ experiences and cultural backgrounds. Also, introduce classic literature to build their language skills and offer fresh perspectives.
4. Provide Opportunities for Speaking
Reflect on your teaching style and ensure your students have ample opportunities to talk. Encourage group discussions, cooperative learning, and conversations that let them apply what they’ve learned in a comfortable setting.
5. Create “Word Detectives”
Language learning isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary words; it’s about discovering and connecting them. Instead of feeling the pressure to teach every new word, encourage your students to become word detectives. Focus on root words, prefixes, suffixes, and cognates. Make vocabulary exploration exciting and something they actively participate in.
By implementing these 5 practices, you’ll foster an engaging learning environment that benefits your students and sets them up for success! Listen to the full episode above!
Resources:
- Join the Equipping ELLs Membership (We have everything you need for your school year!)
- Shop our TpT Store for Hundreds of ELL Resources
- Games for Growing Vocabulary & Grammar Skills
- Tell us how Equipping ELLs has helped you to be featured on our 100th episode!
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More about Equipping ELLs:
We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.
Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.
