The ABCs of the ESL World
Here are some key vocabulary and facts you should know:
- LEP - Limited English Proficient, these are students who were shown to need extra English instruction from their intake assessment
- ESL - Program where students are typically "pulled-out" for extra instruction with an ESL teacher
- Waived - This is a student whose parents have signed a waiver and do not want them in the ESL program
- SIFE - Students with Interrupted Formal Education, These students may have gaps in their education or may never have attended school at all
- Newcomer - A student who has been in the United States for less than two years
- Language Survey - If parents write a language other than English on the school enrollment form, they are referred to the ESL Intake Center to be tested
- Refugee - a person who was forced to leave their country because of war or violence and has applied and been accepted into the United States
- KRM - Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Newly arrived refugees are given a case worker to help them navigate their new lives in the United States
- Catholic Charities - Like KRM, new refugees are given a case worker
- ACCESS - Test given every year to LEP students, students must score a 5 in order to test out of ESL services
- Affective Filter -
Language & Cultural Information |
Can't find Togo on a map? Didn't know Wolof was a language? If you are too embarrassed to ask or just want to learn more, click here.
|
Language & Picture Dictionaries |
Picture dictionaries are especially helpful with newcomers. Use these language dictionaries for translating.
|
Help! I need strategies! |
Don't know where to begin? Click here for a list of strategies to use with English Language Learners
|
Rewordify |
Cut and paste text into this website and then you can adjust the readability of the text.
|
Phonetics: The Sounds of English |
Not sure how to teach one of the 44 sounds of English? This website will show you how the mouth should be formed.
|
NewsELA |
Current event news articles taken from major newspapers. The lexile level can be adjusted for each article to fit student needs.
|
K12 Reader |
A variety of English worksheets
|
More Than English |
A blog with a wealth of ESL resources
|
Vocabulary Instruction |
10 Dos and Don'ts for Vocabulary Instruction
|
Reading Strategies |
25 Reading Strategies that work for all content areas
|
Vocabulary Games |
21 Digital tools for vocabulary
|
Academic Language |
8 Strategies for teaching academic language
|
Instructional Strategies for ELLs |
A ton of instructional and cooperative learning strategies that are beneficial for ALL students
|
Day One with a Newcomer |
Tips and materials to have for the first day with your newcomer student
|
Supporting ELLs in Reading Instruction |
A quick list of strategies for working with ELLs in reading
|
Help! I have newcomers! |
Help! Where do I begin? Take a look at this article!
|
5 Myths about ELLs |
Debunking the myths about English Language Learners
|
Talking to Learn |
An article about oral language learning
|
Facts about ELLs
|
Did you know that more than half of ELLs were born in the United States? Learn more with this article!
|
6 Ways to Scaffold Writing for ELLs |
Need help getting your ELLs to write?
|
Essential Tips for Mainstream Teachers with ELLs |
Children's Books with Math |
Tips for ELL parents and lists of books on math topics
|
Working with Newcomers |
Everything you need to know about working with newcomer students
|
New ELL student - What do I do first? |
12 tips if you have no idea where to begin
|
LanguageGuide.org |
Interactive picture dictionary with audio
|
ELL Toolkit |
Dozens of instructional strategies
|
Picture Dictionary Template |
Graphic organizer for students to write a word and draw a picture of it
|
Strategies to Support Newcomers |
Strategies with examples for intermediate elementary ELLs (especially newcomers)
|
Classroom Labels |
These visual labels with simple language help new students to learn essential nouns
|
Online Picture Dictionary |
Use this online picture dictionary to provide your students with plenty of visuals
|
Teaching ELLs How to Navigate a Textbook |
Learning how to navigate a textbook can help ELLs find and understand content
|
Get to Know Your ELLs |
Things you should know about your English learning students
|
Read, Write, Think |
Interactive graphic organizers to use with English Language Learners
|
Working with ELLs and Newcomers |
Tips and strategies for classroom teachers
|
How to Support SIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Education) |
Introduction to SIFE
|
Video about working with SIFE Students |
While showing mostly middle and high school SIFE students, the video interviews teachers and other staff who work with these students
|
School Challenges for SIFE |
Things to consider when teaching SIFE students
|
United Nations High Commissioner
|
Teacher Toolkit to learn more about refugees and other migrants
|
Amnesty International |
Teaching materials and videos about refugees
|
Strategies for Young ELLs |
Suggested strategies for teaching young English Language Learners
|
Visual Supports |
Using Boardmaker to create visuals
|
Create a Supportive Learning Environment |
What is a supportive learning environment for ELLs?
|
Supporting ELLs in Kindergarten |
Teacher toolkit for kindergarten teachers of English learners
|
Working with Young Learners of English |
Tips for working with young learners
|
Activities for Newcomers |
Don't know where to start? Here are some ideas.
|
Survival English for Newcomers |
A list of what newcomers need to know to function in the school setting
|
Simple Strategies for ELLs |
Strategies for each level of English Language Learner
|
Word Wall Activities |
Vocabulary is so important for ELLs. Here are different activities you can do with your word wall.
|
Math Charts & Graphic Organizers |
Visuals for teaching math
|
Fraction Visuals |
It is so important to use visuals
|
100 Noun Picture Cards |
100 Fry picture nouns
|
Science & Readers Theater |
Readers Theater is an excellent way to build reading fluency. Ever tried it for science?
|
Science Reading Passages |
Sorted by grade level
|
Interactive Graphic Organizers |
Graphic organizers are essential for ELs
|
Unlocking Language |
Article about gradual release of responsibility
|
Academic Word Finder |
Cut and paste a reading passage into the website and it will give you a list of the necessary Tier 2 Academic Vocabulary that students will need to know so you can pre-teach the vocabulary before the lesson
|
Factors in Second Language Acquisition |
Why doesn't my student talk yet?? This chart answers that and other questions.
|
SIFE: Students with Limited Formal Education |
What is SIFE and how do I deal with them?
|
Advocating for ELLs |
Suggestions for advocating for your ELLs and making sure they receive an equitable education
|
Frontloading for
|
Watch this video about teaching vocabulary with young ELLs through movement
|
The Multilingual Classroom |
Watch this video for teaching strategies to use with ELLs
|
Support ESL Students
|
"You have a new student, and he speaks no English. His family has just moved to your town from Japan, and though he receives English as a Second Language (ESL) support, he will also be sitting in your room every day to give him more exposure to his new language. How can you be a good teacher to someone who barely understands you?"
|
73 Go-To Strategies for ELLs
|
Need ideas of strategies you can use? Here are 73 strategies researched and compiled by the Center for Applied Linguistics.
|
Cooperative Learning Activities for ELLs |
Cooperative learning is essential for ELLs in the classroom.
|
Children's Books about Refugees |
List of books from the New York Times about refugees, written for children.
|
Ways a Mainstream Teacher can Support a Newcomer ELL |
Getting a new student who is new to the country? Read this!
|