As we continue in our series called Small Steps to Success for ELLs, we are encouraging every person in our schools, from the front office to the cafeteria, to take small, but vital steps to help support our English language learners. We know when each person does this, you will see a positive change happen in your school!
Modifying is part of the day-to-day for any teacher of ELLs.
Sometimes it comes as second-nature. Other times, we wrack our brains: “How do I make this particular content unit accessible to my ELLs?” or “How do I meet the needs of the majority, while still giving adequate attention to the newcomer?” The fact is, you probably don’t have the time to plan OR teach a separate lesson to each of your students.
In this guest episode, I interview two ELL teachers, working within the same school district in Virginia. Betsy Conyers is a K-5 ELL teacher, and Hannah Simmons teaches ELL in grades 6-12. Listen in as they share how they modify on the fly.
Our conversation is packed with wisdom gained from experience and usable information for any teacher!
Topics Discussed in this episode:
- Modifications vs. Accomodations
- How this Virginia school district went from single digits to triple digits in the number of ELLs they serve
- How to modify on the fly in an elementary classroom
- How to modify on the fly in a secondary setting
Resources:
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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.
