Supporting ELLs: Strategies & Activities
- 1. Supporting English Language Learners: Effective Strategies and Activities Carolina Yanez University of Phoenix: TESOL/571 - Instructional Techniques And Methods
- 2. Why Focus on ELLs? • Over 5 million English Language Learners (ELLs) in U.S. public schools (NCES, 2022) • ELLs represent diverse language, cultural, and academic backgrounds • Equitable access to content and language development is critical • Academic success depends on inclusive, intentional instruction Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 3. Importance of English Language Standards • English language development standards ensure balanced growth in reading, writing, listening, and speaking • Language is essential for content comprehension and classroom participation • Standards guide instruction and provide assessment benchmarks • SIOP Model emphasizes integrating language objectives into all content areas "Students must have opportunities to develop academic English in all domains" (Echevarria et al., 2023, p. 95)
- 4. Strategy 1 – Vocabulary Development • Pre-teach high-frequency academic vocabulary • Use visuals, gestures, and realia to reinforce meaning • Create content-rich word walls and glossaries • Apply graphic organizers like the Frayer Model and semantic maps Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 5. Vocabulary Activity Example • Activity: Vocabulary Charades • Students act out academic words without speaking • Peers guess the word and explain its meaning • Reinforces comprehension and encourages speaking • Connection to Standards: Speaking and Listening Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 6. Strategy 2 – Ensuring Content Understanding • Chunk texts and use guided reading supports • Incorporate visual aids: timelines, maps, graphs • Use graphic organizers like KWL charts and Venn diagrams • Scaffold content using think-alouds, modeling, and check-ins "Comprehensible input is the foundation of effective instruction for ELLs" (Echevarria et al., 2023, p. 127)
- 7. Content Activity Example • Activity: Jigsaw Reading • Divide reading into segments assigned to small groups • Students become "experts," then teach peers in new groups • Promotes comprehension, collaboration, and speaking practice • Connection to Standards: Reading, Speaking Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 8. Strategy 3 – Supporting Discussion • Provide sentence starters (e.g., "I agree because…") • Model academic conversation norms • Use Think-Pair-Share, small group discussions, and peer interviews • Display language objectives to guide the purpose "Interaction is essential to language development and should be planned intentionally" (Echevarria et al., 2023, Ch. 5)
- 9. Discussion Activity Example • Activity: Opinion Corners • Pose a statement (e.g., "Recycling should be mandatory") • Students move to Agree, Disagree, or Neutral corners • Use sentence frames to justify opinions • Connection to Standards: Speaking, Listening Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 10. Strategy 4 – Promoting Interaction • Collaborative learning groups with structured roles • Partner activities with accountable talk • Use of technology (e.g., Padlet, Flipgrid) for interactive responses • Tasks that require negotiation of meaning Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 11. Strategy 5 – Hands-On Practice • Use manipulatives and real objects to demonstrate concepts • Engage students in experiments, simulations, role plays • Project-based learning with visual, tactile elements • Promote learning through movement and exploration "Meaningful application is key to long-term learning" (Echevarria et al., 2023, Ch. 9)
- 12. Hands-On Activity Example • Activity: Math Vocabulary Sort • Match terms with visuals and definitions • Practice explaining matches in pairs using sentence stems: “This matches because…” • Connection to Standards: Reading, Speaking, Listening Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 13. Embedding Language Objectives • Include explicit objectives for reading, writing, listening, and speaking • Display and review language objectives daily • Provide targeted instruction and guided practice • Assess both content and language skills "Language objectives must be taught explicitly, just like content objectives" (Echevarria et al., 2023, p. 95)
- 14. Assessment Considerations • Formative assessment: oral checks, exit slips, response cards • Summative assessment: presentations, visual projects, written responses • Allow varied ways for students to show learning • Use rubrics that evaluate both content understanding and language use Citation: Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023)
- 15. Final Thoughts • Strategies designed for ELLs improve instruction for all students • Collaboration with ESL teachers strengthens support systems • Use the SIOP Model as a consistent, research- based framework
- 16. Resources • Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (Echevarria et al., 2023) • State English Language Development Standards • WIDA and TESOL frameworks