Most schools and classrooms in the United States have
ELL students. Now is the time for you to begin thinking
and planning for what you will do to make sure
ELL students in your classes are successful learners.
Make your top ten list of steps to take to ensure ELL
student success
My answer: Use visual aids as often as you can. Visual aids can consist of posters, pictures, movies, graphs, charts, PowerPoint, or you can use yourself or other students as a visual aid. Another type of visual aid is handouts. They can be good and bad at times. Sometime they end up in the garbage or left behind. Many students learn better with visual aid just because you can see if first hand.
Incorporate hands-on activities to demonstrate concepts. A hands-on activity can be if you were to dissect an animal. (Frog, fish, pig, cow heart etc.) Many people learn better by doing hands-on activities but they also seem to remember the material better.
Have yes or no questions. (the answer would have a “yes or no”)
to use English to communicate in social settings,
Refrain from embarrassing ELL students with verbal correction in front of others.
Prepare outlines for lectures and distribute to ELL learners.
Encourage skim and scan reading strategies for textbook assignments. (Encourage them to just “scan” the material and not to read the whole thing.)
Avoid forcing language learners to speak
Encourage them to contribute when they are ready.
Prepare outlines for lectures and distribute to all learners
Pretty much what you would do for ELL students would work for all other students as well.
Encourage scanning text material? Good God, that would be a disaster in math, chemistry, biology, and physics. I can't imagine it helping in social studies.
Frankly, I would encourage text notes, and highlighting if allowed.
is the rest ok?
Delete this one: "Prepare outlines for lectures and distribute to ELL learners." It's contradictory with your last two.
Bobpursley is right -- consider the subject matter when deciding what to implement and how.
Better than "skim and scan reading strategies" would be to teach all your students to use SQ3R for reading textbooks of all types effectively:
http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm
To ensure ELL student success, here is a top ten list of steps to take:
1. Use visual aids: Incorporate posters, pictures, movies, graphs, charts, PowerPoint, or even yourself or other students as visual aids. Handouts can also be beneficial, although they should be used selectively.
2. Utilize hands-on activities: Use interactive activities and demonstrations to help ELL students understand and remember concepts. Activities that involve dissecting animals or objects can be particularly effective.
3. Include yes or no questions: This type of question simplifies the language and makes it easier for ELL students to participate and engage.
4. Create opportunities for English communication in social settings: Incorporate group work, pair activities, or discussions that allow ELL students to practice their English skills in a supportive environment.
5. Avoid embarrassing ELL students with corrections in front of others: Instead of correcting them publicly, provide individual feedback or correction during one-on-one interactions.
6. Provide outlines for lectures and distribute them to ELL learners: Outlines can help ELL students follow along with the main points and structure of a lecture, aiding comprehension.
7. Encourage skim and scan reading strategies: Teach ELL students how to quickly scan texts for important information instead of getting overwhelmed by reading every word. Focus on purposeful reading.
8. Avoid forcing language learners to speak: Allow ELL students to participate in class discussions at their own speed and comfort level. Encourage them to contribute when they feel ready.
9. Encourage contribution from ELL students: Create a positive and inclusive classroom environment where ELL students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
10. Apply strategies for all learners: Many of the strategies that benefit ELL students can also be beneficial for other students in the class. By incorporating diverse teaching techniques, you can create a more engaging and effective learning environment for everyone.
Remember, these steps are meant to guide you in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment for ELL students. It's important to adapt and personalize these steps based on the specific needs and abilities of the students in your class.