Teachers

Teaching English Language Learners (ELLS) can at times feel overwhelming due to the required standards, objectives that need to be met, and of course the language barrier. There are some ways to make this process less daunting.

1. Remember to use body language and motions when teaching.
2. Allow time for the student to think after teaching a concept.
3. Repeat yourself and check for understanding.
4. Use pictures or real objects to assist your lessons.
5. When possible have the student connect a concept to their life. 

The following website has some helpful tips and links on adjusting lessons for ELLS: Adapt-a-Strategy.

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Each Month I will post a picture of a game or activity a teacher can make to use with a non-English speakers in their classroom.  Here is this month's featured item: So Sorry!

Supplies: A cup, Popsicle sticks, and a Sharpie.

Directions: Pick a topic you want students to study (sounds, sight words, vocabulary, multiplication facts, etc).  This game for example I placed a letter of the alphabet on each Popsicle stick. I also wrote So Sorry! on five sticks.  Students can play with partners or in a small group.  Students take turns pulling out a stick.  In order to keep the stick they must be able to identify the correct letter name or sound (whichever you prefer).  If they say the correct letter name or sound, they can keep the stick.  If a child pulls a So Sorry! stick they throw the stick in the middle and lose a turn.  When the cup is empty the students count their sticks to see who has the most!

Variation: You can be creative and adapt this game for higher grades or different content areas.  I also put sight words on the sticks.  I place a star on the back of half of the sight word sticks and students are required to use that sight word in a sentence in order to keep the stick.