ELL

In my two years teaching public school, I have not had the ELL (English language learners) class. Last year, I had three students who tested out after one year. Both years, I have had several students who are learning English. Almost all of my students are bilingual. This is something I need to keep in mind. Their vocabularies are limited. I like to read aloud to my students, and I will often stop and define new words. We also study vocabulary, which is tied to our weekly readings, in a variety of ways. Each week, we start by defining our words and making a gesture. We focus on 4 words a week. On day 2, they draw a picture of the word. Later in the week, we do word work and use the words in sentences. My language learners are often slower learners, which is totally understandable. They are learning a new language! Because of this, they can get overwhelmed and discouraged. Sometimes I modify their assignments and allow an oral, pictorial, or spoken response instead of a written response. I also demonstrate and show directions, rather than just telling them what I need them to do. It is exciting to see these students grasp both the language and our difficult standards. They know I'm proud of them.