The Pocket Mentor is guide to teaching ELLs - questions and answers about English Language Learners. The book has been broken down into groups of information to help teachers really know their ELLs and how to teach them.

1. The Pocket Mentor
Straight Answers to
the (Sometimes) Tough
Questions You Have
about Teaching ELLs
©2008-17 Anne Swigard
*Part I

2. The Pocket Mentor is a
series for smart
teachers who want to
be in the know, improve
their craft, and work
smarter, not harder..
The series will cover
many aspects of
teaching – information,
strategies, and more -
that are too good not to
share!
©2008-17 Anne Swigard

3. Getting to Know Your ELLs
Understanding the Who, What, and Why

4. “The quality of our
thoughts is bordered on
all sides by our facility
with language.”
J. Michael Straczynski

5. Starting at the Beginning
Questions we get asked a LOT
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How do schools determine a student is an ELL?
What is the difference between a migrant, an
immigrant, and a refugee?
I think one of my students might be an ELL.
How can I find out for sure?

6. • A migrant student has a parent or guardian that is a
migratory (seasonal) agricultural worker or fisher.
• He or she has moved from one school district or
school administrative area to another during the
regular school year in order for their parents to find
temporary employment.
• The child must have had his education interrupted as
a result of this move.
What is the difference between a
migrant, an immigrant, and a refugee?

7. • An immigrant is someone who leaves one country to
settle in another, usually permanently.
• With respect to schooling, eligible children and youth
include those individuals who are aged 3 through 21
who were not born in the United States and who have
not been attending one or more schools in any one or
more states for more than three full academic years.
What is the difference between a
migrant, an immigrant, and a refugee?
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

8. • A refugee is an individual who is outside his/her country
and is unable or unwilling to return to that country because
of a well-founded fear that she/he will be persecuted
because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or
membership in a particular social group.
What is the difference between a
migrant, an immigrant, and a refugee?
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

9. • Upon registration, a student’s parent or guardian is asked
to fill out a Home Language Survey. It’s designed to learn
about the student’s language influences outside of school.
• If there is a language other than English mentioned on the
form, the student is tested to measure English proficiency.
• If s/he scores ‘fluent,’ the student wouldn’t be designated ELL.
• If the test indicates that he or she is not yet fluent, by Federal
law, the student should receive whatever language acquisition
services are available at the school or district.
How do schools determine who is an ELL?
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

10. An ELL Designation:
Two things you should know
Fluent isn’t always
fluent – at least
how we think of
fluency. Students
will still need
language support
for at least two
years.
Some parents opt
out of ELL
services for their
child. That means
that students can
be placed in your
classroom with
little to no English
skills.
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

11. I think one of my students might be an ELL.
How can I find out for sure?
Go to the student’s cumulative file and see if s/he
has been identified as an ELL or is a former ELL.
Ask the district/school Title I/III coordinator about the
student, giving specific reasons for your inquiry.
If your school a) does not differentiate between ELLs and
native English speakers (common in private schools that
don’t receive federal funding), (b) currently provide services
2-3 times a week, or c) does not offer language services at
all, you will be responsible for ensuring that your ELLs are
learning your content while learning English.
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

12. Need some help understanding how to best
teach English Learners?

13. 78% of teachers surveyed did
not feel adequately prepared to
teach the Common Core to
English Language Learners!
(source: Education Week Research Center)
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

14. We have helped many thousands of
teachers succeed with ELLs, through…
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2
3
In-District workshops, such as Intro to Teaching
ELLs and Advanced Strategies for ELLs.
Go to https://training4teachers to discover
courses like our online ELL strategies course.
Teacher professional development on 40+
topics
©Educational Training Specialists, LLC

15. https://training4teachers.com
@Train4Teachers
anne@training4teachers.com
Anne Swigard, MA Ed
Creator of Professional Development,
Consultant, Trainer
Still have questions? Contact us!