Teaching+Tips+for+ESL+Classrooms

Teacher Tips As a classroom teacher it is important to understand that you are a language model for all students. It is essential that you speak clearly and keep language constant while enhancing your language with gestures to help capture the meaning of what you are saying. Gestures allow children the opportunity to make a visual connection with words. There are many ways in which a teacher is able to help English Language Learners succeed. The following is a list of tips that will help you help these children.

Encourage…
 * the use of students L1 as an occasional support, however, avoid using the L1 in every situation
 * students to read about certain topics in their own language before you teach it
 * students to ask for help when something is not clear to them
 * parents to become active in their students’ academic career
 * English speakers to learn the language of non-English speakers

Provide…
 * diagrams, charts, pictures, and picture books when available
 * texts that can be used for ESOL students, modify materials when necessary
 * listening activities for students
 * opportunities for students to talk about their cultural background and how it differs from ours here in the United States
 * a safe environment where NO student feels threatened by peer pressure, where ALL students take risks
 * comprehensible worksheets and tests
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">pictures to help build vocabulary and support questions

<span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">When teaching lessons…
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">allow and encourage ESL students many opportunities to speak, read, and write in English
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">focus on high frequency words and phrases in order for the students to master these phrases and their meaning
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">be aware of the language barrier. When planning all lessons make sure to allow opportunities for ELL’s to experiment with new words and phrases
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">let students know why they are reading different passages
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">ensure they have enough background knowledge about written passages, if they do not however, you can talk to the class about the topic or to the student individually
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">introduce key vocabulary words and phrases and expose all students to a rich vocabulary

<span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">One more tip…
 * <span style="color: #ff0079; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">have students keep a daily journal in which students are able to express their thoughts and feelings and express these thoughts and feelings on paper

<span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Why texts are difficult to understand: <span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">÷ Illegibility- texts that have been poorly printed or copied or uses small type-face. <span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">÷ Unfamiliar words <span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">÷ Lack of background knowledge <span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">÷ Complex syntax and noun groups <span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">÷ Poor writing <span style="color: #bd14bd; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">÷ Difficult concepts

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Additional Resources
 * Colorin Colorado ||< Everything ESL || Dave's ESL Cafe || ESL Reading || Additional Resources || Reading Rockets || ESL Gold ||

Works Cited  Heny, F. (1997). Syntax: The Structure of Sentences. 191-227.    Holmberg, B., & Allen, S. (2005). //Processes and Acquisition of Reading.// Pearson Custom Publishing.  Nancy Cloud, F. G. (2009). //Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners.// Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.  Shoebottom, P. (2000). //Helping ESL Students Understand Written Texts//. Retrieved October 4, 2010, from http://esl.fis.edu/teachers/support/commun.htm