English Language Learners (ELL)

English Language Learner (ELL) are found in increasing numbers in small schools. The Internet has numerous resources that you can access to help these students Learn English while learning subject-area content. Take advantage of opportunities to validate the heritage and diversity of your students.

Some basic ideas to remember for classroom instruction are:

1. Label the items in your classroom in predominant Languages, i.e., place a tag on the door that says "door-   
2. Use visual aids.
3. During small group or partner work, pair ELL students with native speakers.
4. Use techniques that employ multiple intelligences.
5. Use music to help students memorize basic facts.
6. Use Multimodal Learning and Total Physical Response (TPR) teaching techniques to deepen understanding.
7. Integrate many hands-on activities.
8. Find an individual in your local church or community who would be willing to volunteer some time helping ELL student in the classroom.
9. If students are literate in their native language, allow the first draft of work to be written in their native Language and use dictionaries or online translation tools to produce the finished product.

It is good to keep in mind that ELL students may come from cultures vastly different from your community. Success for these students depends in part on the time you take to learn about and show appropriate sensitivity to their culture.