A comprehensive reading program has many
aspects that allow for differentiation and individual time. It would be important
to allow the new ELL students to be in the same group, if they are in the same
academic area, so they can help each other if they speak the same native
language. I believe peer support can help a lot for ELL students. Guided
reading time and individual time would be important for these students to build
on content they need to know to become fluent readers.
It would be important to assess these
students regularly throughout the school year, along with your other students,
to see if the appropriate amount of progression is being made. Assessments tell
you where the students are struggling, and what needs improvements. The
feedback from the assessments help the ELL support teachers and the regular
education teacher. Sometimes ELL students struggle because they need even more
support, but teachers believe it is just a language barrier. These assessment
help show you what areas the student is struggling.
If extra ELL support is needed, that
usually allows for a lot of growth. I have seen great success with students
first spending much time in the ELL classroom, to have the basics for the
English language. Then they will come to the regular education classroom to
apply their skills to the regular education classroom. Rosetta Stone can be
used for extra English language support. As far as scaffolding, many assignments
are scaffold because they need guidance on how to complete basic skills, and
much further, learn the content we are teaching. I think it is important for
students new to the country to have spent time in the ELL support classroom
before trying to teach them in a regular education setting.
Jaclyn, you make some excellent points, some of which relate to my post as well. Allowing ELL students to support each other is a great idea, as long as it doesn't become a crutch whereby they avoid getting to know other students who could help them improve their knowledge of English simply by speaking it on a consistent basis. Similarly, I completely agree that ELL students should utilize ELL classrooms to master the basics, but I also advocate for inclusion in most cases. With appropriate scaffolds and accommodations provided by teachers, ELL students should be afforded the opportunity to experience inclusive classrooms. Finally, your point about the need for frequent assessments is well-taken. As teachers, though, we need to ensure that we're assessing meaningfully and purposefully so that the data we receive are actually relevant and useful for helping ELLs become more proficient readers and writers.
ReplyDeleteJaclyn,
ReplyDeleteI also found that guided reading/writing and individual reading/writing conferences would be some of the most important times for the ELL students to have more individualized instruction to develop their literacy skills. I think your idea of placing ELL students in guided groups together to foster peer support is a great one. I had several ELL students in my class last year. I also found that their time in a pullout ELL classroom was important for their literacy development. The ELL teacher and I worked together to plan scaffolded lessons based on the skills I was focusing on in my classroom. We also worked together to pull books that would be on the students level and that would be of interest to the students.
Jaclyn,
ReplyDeleteI did not mention conferences in my response but they would be an effective tool in gauging where the student is as far as comprehension and language development. I also agree that the ELL teacher is a valuable resource for the student and I would advocate for the ELL teacher to come in to the classroom rather than pulling the student out for instruction whenever possible. It is so much easier to share common goals and stay on the same page when you see their support regularly. As I said to Jayson, I feel that whatever the literacy activity the most valuable components for an ELL are: modeling, support, motivation, and differentiation. I feel that if you include these components and provide engaging resources and activities, their language and literacy will develop naturally.