Strategies for English Learners

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Our schools are full of students with beautiful customs, traditions, and histories. Not only can we ensure our selected readings in class mirror the diversity and experiences of our students, we also need to make sure we add supports that help our Multilingual Learners navigate the intricacies of English text. In my presentation, Unlocking the Power of Comprehension: Effective Reading Strategies for English Learners,  I've outlined strategies and included tips and resources to help you support your multilingual learners. Through these strategies and personalized approaches, you can help multilingual learners bridge language gaps and provide a supportive environment for students to develop robust reading skills. Scroll or click here to access the bookmarks and resources. 

Tips

Strategies to Support English Learners
✔ Culturally Responsive Teaching
  • Culturally Responsive Teaching- “Culturally Responsive Teaching is a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning (Ladson-Billings,1994).” 
  • Differing communication styles
  • Use of multicultural examples
  • Cultural diversity knowledge
  • Culturally relevant curricula
  • High expectations
✔ Multiple modalities- Students can demonstrate knowledge through writing, drawing, speaking, etc. 
✔ Nearpod
✔ Peardeck 
✔ Flip
✔ Learning management systems (Google Classroom, Seesaw, Schoology)
✔ Annotation
✔ Interactive journals
✔ Integrate technology
  • ✔ Show support features on tools you already use 
  • ✔ Turn on live captions
  • ✔ Use translation apps
  • (Class Dojo, Remind, Seesaw)
  • ✔ Digital dictionaries
  • ✔ Microsoft Immersive Reader
  • ✔ Diffit.me
✔ Chunking
✔ Sentence frames and stems
✔ Visuals
✔ Activate prior knowledge
✔ Collaborative peer learning
✔ Graphic organizers
✔ Explicit vocabulary instruction
✔ Small group instruction
​​English Learner Reading Strategies
  • Build Background Knowledge
  • Enhance Vocabulary
  • Teach Reading Comprehension Strategies
  • Use Reading Support Tools
  • Use Visuals
  • Annotate
Build Background Knowledge
  • Picture Word Inductive Model
  • Virtual Field Trips
  • AI Image Creator
  • Videos
  • Realia and Artifacts
  • Graphic Organizers
  • Maps and Diagrams
PWIM (ValentinaESL) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hqb0nU1J64
  • Present a relevant image
  • Label image together
  • Categorize words
  • Ask for possible titles
  • In small groups, discuss, and come up with sentences
  • Individual writing of sentences
Use AI to Visualize (Setting, Characters, Descriptions)- Bing.com/create
  • Enhance Vocabulary
  • Flashcards
  • Dictionaries (visual, digital)
  • Word Lists and Journals
  • Flashcards
  • Games
  • TPR
  • Online Tools (Quizlet, Readworks)
Vocabulary Websites
  • Visuwords.com
  • WILD Kids.wordsmyth.net
  • Quizlet.com
  • Students Need to Document the Acquired Vocabulary
  • Slidesmania.com/building-vocabulary-foreign-languages
Annotation
  • To comment on, highlight, label, mark, notate, and provide feedback on a text.
  • Many platforms and programs have annotation tools!
  • Google Docs, Testing Sites, Readworks and more!
  • Kamiapp.com
Encourage students to use the reading support tools available on different digital platforms!
  • Microsoft Immersive Reader - Microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/learning-tools
  • Rewordify.com
  • Readworks.org - Annotate, Interactive Vocabulary, Question Sets, Read Aloud!
Introduce Various Reading Strategies
  • Graphic Organizers
  • Sketchnoting
  • Making Inferences
  • Summarizing
  • Retelling
  • Prediction
  • Canva.com/Education - Diagrams, Graphic Organizers, Templates!
    • Canva.com/p/brolga-education
Get them to read often even in their own language!
  • Independent Reading Time
  • Family Literacy Workshops
  • Diverse Book Lending
  • Reading Challenges
  • Newsletter / Website of Resources
  • Share Reading Events
  • Read to Others
Other Resources

Bookmarks

Find the tools listed above and many more resources in the bookmarks below.