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Blogs on English-Language Learners

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Free Apps to Support Vocabulary Acquisition by ELLs

Monica BurnsMay 8, 2013

Tags 1:1 Implementation, English-Language Learners, Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts

One of my favorite aspects of integrating technology into instruction is the availability of resources to support students with different learning needs. Students who are struggling can benefit from the excitement and engagement offered by a tool like the iPad. Teachers of English-Language Learners (ELLs) can use technology to promote growth in their students. Developing a strong vocabulary is an important area of focus for ELLs who are building their reading comprehension. Educators use a variety of strategies to grow readers in their classroom, and there are many free iPad apps that support vocabulary acquisition.

Eight Ways to Use Video With English-Language Learners

Larry FerlazzoOctober 10, 2012

Tags English-Language Learners, Lesson Plans, Online Learning, Technology Integration, English Language Arts

This blog was co-authored by Katie Hull Sypnieski. This post is excerpted from their new book, The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools, and Activities for Teaching English Language Learners of All Levels.

Using Photos With English-Language Learners

Larry FerlazzoOctober 4, 2012

Tags Common Core Standards, English-Language Learners, Lesson Plans, Online Learning, Student Engagement

"A picture is worth a thousand words."
-- Unknown

Though the origin of this popular adage is unclear, one thing is clear: using photos with English-Language Learners (ELLs) can be enormously effective in helping them learn far more than a thousand words -- and how to use them.

Seven Tips for Building Positive Relationships with English-Language Learners

Larry FerlazzoApril 17, 2012

Tags English-Language Learners, Lesson Plans, Teacher Development, English Language Arts

Positive relationships are the foundation of any successful classroom and particularly one that includes English-Language Learners (ELL). Teachers must learn about their students' experiences and backgrounds in order to connect them to new learning. Teachers also need to know what their students are interested in and what their goals are in order to create lessons which engage them and are relevant to their lives. When teachers get to know their students, they can make better decisions about the curriculum, instructional strategies, classroom management, assessment, pacing, and the list goes on.

Neuroscience and the Bilingual Brain

Judy Willis MDMarch 22, 2012

Tags Brain Research, Comprehensive Assessment, English-Language Learners, Global Education, Parental Involvement, , English Language Arts, Math, World Language Learning

A selective attentive focus and the ability to block out distraction are seminal executive functions that are minimally developed in youngsters. These functions gradually become stronger throughout the years of prefrontal cortex maturation, which last into the twenties. It is with regard to these executive functions that research about the "bilingual brain" is particularly exciting.

A selective attentive focus and the ability to block out distraction are seminal executive functions that are minimally developed in youngsters. These functions gradually become stronger throughout the years of prefrontal cortex maturation, which last into the twenties. It is with regard to these executive functions that research about the "bilingual brain" is particularly exciting. Read More

Do's & Don'ts For Teaching English-Language Learners

Larry FerlazzoMarch 12, 2012

Tags Achievement Gap, Best Practices, Comprehensive Assessment, Differentiated Instruction, Diversity, English-Language Learners, English Language Arts, World Language Learning

The number of English-Language Learners in the United States is growing rapidly, including many states that have not previously had large immigrant populations. As teachers try to respond to the needs of these students, here are a few basic best practices that might help. We have found that consistently using these practices makes our lessons more efficient and effective. We also feel it is important to include a few "worst" practices in the hope that they will not be repeated!

10 Tips for Teaching English-Language Learners

Ayanna CooperJanuary 25, 2012

Tags English-Language Learners, Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8)

Classrooms across the United States are becoming increasingly diverse with increasing numbers of students whose primary home languages are not English. State-reported data in 2008-09 estimated 10 percent of the US school-aged population (PreK-twelfth grade) as students identified as limited English proficient. Terms more widely accepted and used are English-Language Learners or simply English Learners (ELs).

Using Blogs to Engage English-Language Learners

Jon SchwartzJuly 14, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Digital Divide, English-Language Learners, Literacy, Online Learning, Parental Involvement, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts, California

Jon Schwartz teaches fourth grade in Oceanside, CA. He is also a writer and a professional photographer. You can learn more about his blogging program at Kids Like Blogs.

"Robbie doesn't write," his mom told me. When he first came into my fourth grade class, asking him for 20 words was like pulling teeth. He actually scribbled a number on top of each word to keep track so he wouldn't write any more than the absolute minimum. Four months after I introduced him to blogging, he's consistently writing more than 100 words per post. Not only that, Robbie turned from a shy, introverted kid to a source of inspiration and information for his peers. He sees himself as a writer.

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