1. Effective Strategies to Support English Learners
Livier Hernandez
There are some strategies that I have used to support English Learners in the classrooms. First, I
have taught lesson using the Realia strategy. Realia is used to provide experiences on which to
view and to give students opportunities to use all the senses in learning. It allows students to see,
hear, feel and even small the object been explored. It is an effective strategy because it is based
on real events that English Learners understand because they have experienced.
The next strategy that I have used is called, Webbing or Mapping. This strategy is a great one
because as teachers, we have students do Mapping in a whole group, small group, or
individually. Students connect the words in a circle to related ideas, imagines, and feeling which
also are circled. It is also known as a prewriting activity in which English Learner are able to get
preview knowledge for the concept that is going to be taught.
I am very familiar with the Think-Pair-Share strategy that is a collaborative learning technique
allowing English Learner to be assisted for English speakers. Students work together in pairs to
solve a problem or answer a question about an assigned topic. First, students think individually,
being in pairs, they then talk about their ideas, and they finally share their ideas each other or
with the class. Discussing an answer with a partner helps to maximize participation for the
English Learners, and engage them in comprehending the reading material.
Using Visual aids is another strategy to support English Learner to understand the concepts in an
effective way. Teachers show illustrations or photos to help students learn vocabulary. Posters
describing the parts of speech and how to write narratives or expository passages are of great
help for English Learner. They hear the language or instructions when teacher is teaching and
make connections with all these visual aids acquiring knowledge.
The fifth strategy that I have used in the classroom is Scaffolding. Scaffolding gives students a
context, motivation, or foundation from which to understand the new information that will be
introduced during the coming lesson. During scaffolding instruction, teachers model the process
for students through a think-aloud talk. They offer also hints to problems, or use verbal cues to
prompt student answers. I also like this strategy because it facilitates students engagement and
participation.