5 strategies and 5 activities for teaching English Language Learners at the 5th grade level (can be modified for other grade levels as well).

1. Strategies and Activities for
English Language Learners
Stephanie Kaefer
TESOL/571
July 10, 2017
Donna Hogard

2. What is included in this presentation?
-Part One: Strategies
-Part Two: Activities
-English language standards
-References

3. Note
The author of this presentation is a
teacher in a fifth grade classroom and
the strategies and activities are
designed for this grade level.

4. Note (continued)
Strategies and activities can be
modified to fit many other classroom
settings.

5. part one:
strategies

6. 1. Assess student background knowledge
There are many techniques that can be used to determine
the background knowledge possessed by members of the
class.
Use images, Quick Checks, or short non-graded quizzes
before a new unit to learn more about your students.
This strategy is meant to support vocabulary development.

7. 2. Implement in-class formative
assessments
Assessment should occur before, during, and after
instruction. In addition to paper-and-pencil or electronic
assessment tools, ask a simple “thumbs up/thumbs down”
question. Ask students to put their heads down and ask a
question for anonymous feedback (i.e. “Who is having
trouble converting fractions still?”)
This strategy is meant to ensure that students understand the content.

8. 3. Do Not Have a Silent Classroom!
“The only opportunity many students have for quality talk
around texts and topics is in the classroom (Echevarria et.
al. 2017).”
It is frustrating when students talk during direct instruction,
but every member of the class should have many chances
to communicate throughout the day. Plan lots of partner,
small group, and full class discussions.
This strategy is meant to support discussion in the classroom.

9. 4. Promote ample “wait time” to all students
While the amount of time between speakers will range in the
households of your students, encourage wait time when
classmates are having conversations so that everyone can
keep up with the pace and comprehend.
This strategy is meant to promote interaction during instruction.

10. 5. Provide feedback on student writing
at the beginning of a lesson/class period.
Research suggests that it is beneficial to present errors to
students in a prospective way. If students are to work on a
writing project for 20 minutes, go over potential mistakes
and corrections before the time rather than (or in addition to)
correcting student work at the end. (Abbasian)
This strategy is meant to give students hands-on practice.

11. part two:
activities

12. 6. The Frayer Model (4 Square Method)
Many teachers use this graphic
organizer-known as the Frayer
Model-to go over new words with
students. Author Marilee
Sprenger suggests having
students make their own by
folding a piece of paper, and
modifying the quadrant titles for
ELLs. (Ferlazzo) This activity is meant to support vocabulary development.

13. 7. Post-Lesson Writing Prompts
Writing prompts encourage students to practice their
language skills while providing helpful information to the
teacher. To increase the level of practice, students may be
asked to share with a partner.
In Reading, a student may be asked to write a character
diary (Echevarria). The resulting piece may reveal the level
of comprehension the student has in the story.
This activity is meant to ensure that students understand the content.

14. 8. Think-Pair-Share
1. Students think about their personal response to a
question (usually open-ended)
2. With a partner, students say their response out loud and
compare ideas.
3. From the partner discussion, students choose one or two
points to share with the whole class.
This activity is meant to support discussion in the classroom.

15. 9. Games !
In many cases, a lesson or topic can be transformed from
dull to exciting with a game. Present a game that
encourages students to work together, practice teamwork,
and of course develop language skills.
Many resources exist to help you find the perfect game-
such as the book 99 Ideas and Activities for Teaching
English Learners with the SIOP Model (Echevarria).
This activity is meant to promote interaction during instruction.

16. 10. Magnetic word cards
This is an activity that can be used to practice a variety of
different skills.
Make word cards and ask students to sort them into parts of
speech. Use them to illustrate the concept of a “root word”.
Sort words into sentences.
This activity is meant to give students hands-on practice.

17. Why include English language standards in
lessons and assessments?
1. It’s the law!
[English language] standards are a requirement of the
federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA,
1965) within the policy of the No Child Left Behind Act
(NCLB, 2001).

18. Why include English language standards in
lessons and assessments?
2. Standards help to guide teachers in writing objectives.
As teacher Sarah Russell explains, “If you don’t have content
and language objectives, that means that you probably don’t
know where you’re going (University).”

19. References
Abbasian, G., & Bahmani, P. (2014). Retrospective vs. Prospective Corrective Feedback Impacts on Developing EFL Learners'
Writing
Ability and Learner Autonomy. Theory & Practice In Language Studies, 4(6), 1243-1250.
Echevarria, J., Vogt, M., & Short, D. (2017). Introducing the SIOP model. Making Content
Comprehensible for English Learners, Chapters 5-7, 9.
Ferlazzo, L. (2017). Author interview:”101 strategies to make academic vocabulary stick.” Education Week.
Morita-Mullaney, T. (2017). Borrowing legitimacy as English learner (EL) leaders: Indiana's 14-year history with English language
proficiency standards. Language Testing, 34(2), 241-270.
Peregoy, S., & Boyle, O. (2017). Classroom practices for effective english learner instruction.
Reading, Writing, and Learning in ESL, Chapter 3.
University of Phoenix Media. Sarah Russell’s lesson preparation. Retrieved from
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/pls/us/phoenix/1323497730/Lesson_Prep_PowerPoint_Hi_i