ESL Strategies – Grades K-8

Presented by: Shelly Misenheimer, Katherine Perry, & Anna Carrie Flynt

8 Things Your ELs Need but Won’t Tell You

Please give me more time to answer questions. I am processing between TWO languages and sometimes THREE. Wait time is important!

Sometimes the work is overwhelming. Can I work with a partner or group?

If we have to take notes, can I have guided notes? That way, I can focus on learning the content versus trying to listen, process, AND take notes.

I don’t understand many of the words I’m hearing. Pictures, translations, and concrete items help reinforce new vocabulary.

Please focus on my content rather than my spelling/grammar errors. I’m learning content and language at the same time.

Tests are really hard for me. Can you simplify the words and phrasing so I can understand? Ex: car instead of automobile

Making eye contact sometimes makes me uncomfortable. In many cultures, this can be a sign of disrespect.

I don’t like being put on the spot. Can you check on me after the lesson during independent work? I don’t want to make a mistake in front of my peers.

Culture & Home Support

Many times, ELs do not have any academic support at home. Keep this in mind when assigning and grading homework.

CULTURE Each culture has different

aspects that affect ELs’ learning styles, social behavior, academics, and background knowledge.

The ESL teacher in your building can be a great resource for you – ask questions!

Proficiency Levels

Modification – is any change made to the curriculum that enable a student to be successful in a gen. ed. classroom.

Modifications are always made BEFORE the assignment or assessment is given.

Accommodation – is any supports/services a student receives to be successful in a gen. ed. classroom.

Accommodations tend to happen DURING or AFTER the assignment or assessment.

Modifications vs. Accommodations

*Modifying tends to be more beneficial to both the student and the teacher.*

Instructional Strategies

Assignments

It is OKAY to give English Leaners (ELs) different assignments that measure the same skill. Shortened reading passages High utility, high frequency words Narrow the focus – MAIN IDEAS & CONCEPTS

Model – Show the student how to do the assignment and provide an example of mastery.

Any projects to be done at home? Please notify your ESL teacher.

Guided Notes:-Cover main concepts -Are made directly from the assessment -Support language functions

-Cuts down on student writing -Allows student to focus on content/not language

Visual & First Language Support-Supports Vocabulary Acquisition -First Language acts as bridge

-Visuals build schema

Sentence/Paragraph Frames-Provides language structure -Use across content areas

-Gets them started on writing tasks -Allows student to focus more on content

Paragraph Frames*If you google paragraph frames, you’ll find one for about any content & language function.*

Sentence Frames continued…-creates a language rich environment -helps students participate orally and in written assignments

-reinforces language functions -can easily be differentiated

Language Functions in Textbooks-great way to integrate language instruction into content -ELs need language instruction in all classes

-use sentence frames for student responses to text

I can conclude __________ because _______ and ____________.

The evidence suggests that ____________.

Based on ________, I infer that _________.

I know ______ because __________.

I noticed __________. Therefore, _______ is __________ because __________.

Assessments

The following slides will provide examples of how to modify assessments for ELs.

Remember to match expectations with language ability. It’s not a crime to:

Give clues Change questions to yes/no answers Divide word banks into portions Tailor the test to your students’ language level

Word Banks-break up matching or fill in the blank questions into shorter sections

-can easily be created from guided notes

-helps direct the EL to key words

-makes the test more manageable

-helps EL focus on content over language

Highlighting Key Words

Example of Modified Assessment

Spelling/Vocabulary Tests Select words with highest utility &

frequency Academic vocabulary is more

important than content vocabulary for beginners

Grades 1-2 – sight words over story words for beginners

Please don’t just give the student an arbitrary grade – We must have expectations for ELs!

Break the words down into sections -groups significant information together -modify “on the fly”

-makes the test much more manageable for intermediate ELs

English Linguistically Simplified Assessment

TCAP ELSA

Why is all of this important?

Research has shown it take 6-8 years for ELs to acquire academic language.

It’s better for ELs’ language acquisition to master main concepts in content areas and experience success in their classrooms.

The law requires modifications for ELs.