Carrie Adams

1
Teaching ELL Students in the Classroom

• Carrie Adams
• November 24, 2013

2
Some ELL Facts

• In 2010-2011 school year there were an estimated
  4.7 million students in public education
• States in the West had the highest number of ELL
  enrolled in a public school system
• In Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, New
  Mexico, Nevada, and California 10 or more of
  public school students were ELL
• Reading scores for non-ELL 4th to 8th graders
  were higher than their ELL peers
• This is called an achievement gap
• In New Mexico about 15 of the student population
  participated in an ELL program in the 2010-2011
  school year
• In 2007, 36 of New Mexicos population aged 5 or
  older spoke a language other than English at home

3
English Only Programs vs. Bilingual Programs

• Studies have shown that immersing students in
  only the English language do not score well in
  reading comprehension
• Bilingual programs give ELL students the
  opportunity to practice their first language and
  English
• These students score higher in reading
  comprehension

4
Who Are ELL Students?

• ELL students can be present in classes from K-12
  although ELL classes are more readily available
  in elementary school
• ELL students do not represent just one language
• Over 400 languages are spoken by ELL students
• 79 of the ELL students speak Spanish as their
  first language

5
What Can Teachers do to Help ELL Students?

• Allow students to speak in their first language
  in the classroom
• Pair a new ELL student with a buddy who has been
  in the program for a longer period of time
• Ensure classroom is a safe and welcoming
  environment
• Encourage ELL students to write about their
  learning in their first language
• Have signs, posters, and books in the classroom
  written in the first and secondary languages
• Encourage students to teach the class about their
  culture and language

6
Useful Theories Piaget

• Provide real world experiences for students to
  practice speaking, reading, and writing in both
  primary and secondary language
• Allow students to explore, discover, ask their
  own questions, and search out answers with fellow
  students
• Understand how children learn to help ELL
  students learn English
• Stages of Cognitive Development
• These stages pertain to every learner, no matter
  their first language

7
Useful Theories Krashen

• Five hypotheses to promote secondary language
  learning
• Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
• Monitor Hypothesis
• Natural Order Hypothesis
• Input Hypothesis
• Affective-Filter Hypothesis
• Free voluntary reading gives students the chance
  to increase literacy and develop vocabulary
• Students learn through reading with pictures and
  holding discussions
• Could help ELL students close the achievement gap
  with non-ELL students

8
Useful Theories Dewey

• Give ELL and non-ELL students the chance to
  interact and work with each other and with the
  teacher
• Base lessons on students interests and keep in
  mind the backgrounds of all students
• All cultures should be reflected in the classroom
  and lessons
• Students should be learning how to live in
  society and their individual communities

9
Teaching Methods for ELL Students

• Allow students more time to think about and
  answer questions
• Allow ELL students to speak their first language
  in the classroom
• Students who continue to learn their first
  language have an easier time learning and
  understanding English
• You only learn to read once! Students should be
  reading in first language and English
• Use pictures and models to help ELL students
  understand new words and ideas
• Give hands on and real life experiences for ELL
  and non-ELL students

10
Teaching Method Cont.

• Ask open-ended questions and give students the
  chance to ask their own questions for
  higher-order thinking
• Present one idea at a time
• Use formative assessments to check for
  understanding
• Pair new ELL students with ELL students who have
  been in the classroom longer
• They can practice both English and first language
  skills
• Present all lessons with audio and visual to help
  ELL students bring together written and spoken
  words

11
Works Cited

• National Center of Education Statistics. US
  Department of Education. Fast Facts English
  Language Learners. https//nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/d
  isplay.asp?id96
• Center for Public Education. The United States of
  Education The Changing Demographics of the
  United States and their Schools.
  www.centerforpubliceducation.org/You-May-Also-Be-I
  nterested-In-landing-page-level/Organizing-a-Schoo
  l-YMABI/The-United-States-of-education-The-changin
  g-demographics-of-the-United-States-and-their-scho
  ols.html
• Welcome ELLs How to Make Your ELL Students Feel
  at Home. http//www.scholastic.com/teachers/articl
  e/welcome-ells

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Works Cited Continued

• An Introduction to the Works of Stephen Krashen.
  http//esl.fis.edu/teachers/support/krashen.htm
• Mooney, Carol G. Theories of Childhood An
  Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson,
  Piaget, and Vygotsky.
• Hakuta, Kenji. Key Policy Milestones and
  Directions in the Education of English Language
  Learners. http//www.stanford.edu/hakuta/www/arch
  ives/syllabi/Docs/rockefeller/Rockefeller.htm