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Six Strategies to Do Now for Your ESL Classroom
As an ESL teacher you may be wondering what can you do RIGHT NOW to prepare for the upcoming school year. Before the school year starts is a great opportunity to get prepared and gather yourself for the upcoming school year. I would like to share with you six strategies that you can do right now to get your school year off to a successful start. Taking time for self-care The past school year has been so hectic for me as a teacher. I tried to prepare for EVERYTHING and in doing so I simply overwhelmed myself. There were also some instances where it was the exact opposite. I should…
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How to Support English Language Learners in Math
Something magical happened at my school three years ago that opened my eyes to one of the true needs of English Language Learners. Our school piloted a program that was completely unheard of in our school district. I had the honor of being a part of this life changing experience. Our school took part in the first newcomer program. During the day 50 newcomers in grades 6-8 we a part of sheltered instruction. In our school setting, newcomers had a science, social studies, and an ESL class from an ESL teacher. Math was taught to by grade level math teachers, who had an interest and desire of supporting English Language…
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Increasing the Rigor in an ELL Classroom (Plus a Giveaway)
Increasing the Rigor What is rigor in a classroom? Rigor is challenging your ELLs in their work and thinking. Even with our ELLs we want our work to be rigorous. There was once a time in my classroom when I had students rushing through assignments and not taking the time to give me their best work. I thought the problem could be solved with an early finishers assignment. I quickly realized that no matter how many early finisher assignments I put in place, my students were not being challenged enough with their assignments. Here is what I did to increase the rigor in my classroom. Mindset Change I realized my…
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My Favorite ELL Resources
There are some tools that I simply cannot live without in my classroom. They make my life in classroom so much easier, and creates independence with the students. Here are a few of my favorite things (in my Sound of Music voice)… Anchor Charts Oh the power of anchor charts in a classroom. I simply love anchor charts. An anchor chart is a tool that you can use in your classroom to support instruction. This is important for English Language Learners because it provides a visual for learning. Recently my students were struggling with writing conclusion sentences. I created an anchor chart that they used throughout the school year to…
- New ELLs Checklist
When new English Language Learners arrive at the school, we complete a checklist to ensure that the students have everything they need to succeed. We also want to be compliance.
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Tips to Planning without an ESL Curriculum
When I first started teaching, I had no idea what to teach! Coming from a structured corporate background I was confused by what were the expectations. I searched high and low and could not locate a curriculum for my English Language Learners. It was so difficult because I did not have a roadmap for my students. I found myself aimlessly wandering around on the internet looking for worksheets. It also was a part of my on the fly planning. This lead me to be unprepared for many of my classes. I finally decided that something needed to change. Let’s dive in some ways you can plan for your ELLs without…
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Creating Independence in an ESL Classroom
We all love independence! Independence is weaved throughout our lives and with us everyday. How do you bring independence into your ESL classroom? In my first year of teaching that was one of my biggest struggle. I was literally running all over the place! All I heard during class was “Teacher!” After my first year , I vowed to search for the secret. I knew it had to be a complicated formula. What was the secret? The answer is so simple. Routines and consistency is they key to bringing independence in your classroom. Here are some tips that you can use in your classroom. Establish Expectations The first step…
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7 Effective Tips to Survive Testing Season with your ELLs
Surviving Testing It is here! Testing season…it is almost like it should get it’s own season. For English Language Learners this can be an extremely stressful time for your students. There have been many times that the ELLs burst into tears, anxiously clicked through the exams, and asked to take 20 bathroom breaks. I am not a strong believer of “survival mode” however I found myself there when it comes to testing season. This past month my students had a district Common Assessment, WIDA, IREADY, and MAP Assessments. They are also preparing for the upcoming state assessments. Initially I was going through the motions when this time of year came…
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Literacy Stations for ELLs
I simply love using stations in my classroom. The students are very engaged with the activity, and it is a great way to create independence in your classroom. The students, with the proper routines and procedures, are engaged and working efficiently. Here are some stations that I use in my classroom to promote independence and to encourage academic achievement. The first station that I use is vocabulary station. At the vocabulary stations I usually have different activities the students can do. For example, I have a vocabulary activity called Scrabble Tiles. The students use scrabble tiles to spell out vocabulary words. Then they use those words in sentences. Another activity…
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Getting My ESL Class Funded on Donors Choose (My Ups and Downs)
In the beginning I struggled with getting funded on Donor’s Chose. My students in my ELL classroom needed technology and new books. I would post a project for $1200, and let it sit there hoping it get funded. I didn’t realize at the time that I need to put in some elbow grease to get the project funded. Within a year I have had a total of 10 projects funded with Donor’s Chose! I have included some tips on how you can get your project funded on Donor’s Chose. Reach out to all your family and friends first. I always make them aware that I am trying to fund a…
