Strategies for Supporting ELL Students

In order for ELLs to comprehend what they are reading, they must have

• intrinsic motivation

• background knowledge relating to the text

• conversations with native speakers

• connections with students within the classroom

To be culturally responsive, teachers must

• not allow cultural exceptions for school rules

• discourage discussion in their native language

• embrace a student's culture from outside the classroom, creating a welcoming environment

• allow students to speak in their native language

what are effective ways to boost comprehension among ELL students?

• exclude them from literacy activities

• using practical demonstrations (ex: science experiments)

• use pictures and graphs

• discourage any conversation in their native language

How can we encourage ELLs to want to speak English?

• tell them how important it is for them to understand English

• encourage ALL English speaking even if it is not correct

• correct any mistakes they make by telling them they are wrong

• build up their confidence by acknowledging their hardwork/

  improvement

what are ways ELLs students can practice English-speaking in the classroom?

• assign partner work centered around discussion

• ask the ELL student questions that relate or have meaning to them specifically

• scaffold the student during conversation through question asking

• all of the above