Top 10 List of Strategies to Help ELs Succeed

1. Allow students to demonstrate learning non-verbally. Students should have the

opportunity to draw out their thoughts, write in bullet point format, or even organize
thought process in a graphic organizer. By having non-verbal requirements, student
can demonstrate their understanding to the best of their ability without having
language barrier intervene.
2. Ask questions with single word answers, and repeat the answers in short sentences.
Students will grow to understand how the language is used by the teachers short
sentences after one word answers. As the language is continuously demonstrated,
student will become more familiar with language and eventually progress to being
able to answer open-ended questions.
3. Use think-aloud and think-pair-share when asking questions. By doing this, it allows
student to have enough time to process the question. Students are able to see how
the English language is used during informal conversation. Students can contribute to
the group in order to practice their language development.
4. Use graphic organizers. When students receive information from the reading
passages or the video segments, they complete a graphic organizer. The graphic
organizer allows students to organize the key points and formatted in an organized
way that is not overwhelming.
5. Access prior knowledge. Usually in the beginning of a lesson series, students are
asked a series of questions in order for them to involved their prior knowledge and
become engaged in the lesson series. This allows the students to look back on their
own knowledge or experiences and apply it to what we will be learning.
6. Use of vocabulary charts. With the prominent vocabulary that is throughout the
lesson series, students can become more familiar with the meaning by completing
vocabulary charts. They write the vocabulary word. Next they write the definition
from their textbook or lesson source. In addition, they write their own personal
definition in their own words. Students also include a picture and sentences to display
the meaning of the vocabulary word. Students are given multiple opportunities to
grow in understanding the meaning of the vocabulary words for that particular unit.
7. Have consistency in your classroom routine. If there is consistency with how the units
are organized and presented to the students, it gives them an opportunity to grow in
understanding the content rather than focusing more of their attention on how they
are supposed to complete the task.
8. Include hands-on activities. Kinesthetic learning allows students to be involved in the
learning process. It engages all students and permits them to collaborate with others.
They are able to take what they know and apply it to the activity without having
language as a barrier. Students manipulate objects in order to display their
understanding.
9. Giving opportunities for journaling. Students are able to practice the English language
and vocabulary they have learned throughout the unit when they are given time to
journal. A teacher asks an open-ended question and the students can response to the
best of their ability. Their English language and use of vocabulary terms will progress.
10. Give students opportunity to demonstrate their ability to understand reading
passages. Giving students passages that support the topic being learned gives
students the opportunity to demonstrate their level of comprehension. Students will
become more familiar with finding the key ideas and being able to apply that
information to comprehension questions.