This document summarizes a presentation on best practices for English language learners (ELLs). It discusses the diversity of ELLs, including different types like foreign-born, gifted, or long-term ELLs. It also covers the main stages of second language acquisition and important things for teachers to know about instructing ELLs, such as how assessments and content can be challenging. The presentation demonstrates strategies like anticipation guides, write-pair-share, and using technology. It emphasizes involving ELLs cooperatively, allowing processing time, using clear language, and connecting to their backgrounds.

1. Best Practices for ELLs
Presented by Dr. Shajaira López
March 31, 2017

2. Anticipation Guide
Please take out your cell phones, laptops or ipads!

3. Agenda Diversity of ELLs
Language Acquisition Stages
Things to Know
Strategies & Best Practices

4. Diversity of ELLs
What are the types of ELLs that you are familiar with?

5. There may be more than just these categories
Diversity of ELLs
● Native U.S.-born ELLs
● Foreign-born ELLs
● Special Education ELLs
● Gifted and Talented
ELLs
● Transnational ELLs
● Long-term ELLs
● Reclassified ELLs
● Newcomer ELLs
● Highly Schooled
Newcomer
● Refugee ELLs
● Students with
Interrupted Formal
Schooling (SIFE)
SOURCE: Wright, W. E. (2015) Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. PA: Caslon

6. Lets describe students using
the various types of ELL
classifications and our best
judgments

7. ❖ 9 years old
❖ 1.5 years in Florida
❖ Attended a bilingual private
school from PK-1 in the
Dominican Republic
❖ Doing well in the bilingual
program in Florida
DIVERSITY OF ELLs
What type of ELL is he? What else can you infer about him?
Andres
❖ Foreign-born ELL
❖ Highly schooled newcomer ELL
❖ Parts of Florida are very diverse, perhaps minimizing
culture shock
❖ If he attended a bilingual private school back home,
perhaps his family received formal education (high
school or college)
❖ Andres’ race and academic performance may cause
teachers to forget that he is an ELL

8. DIVERSITY OF ELs
What type of ELL is she? What else can you infer about her?
❖ 11 years old
❖ Born in Chicago and
travels to Mexico (her
parents’ home) every
winter, spring, and summer
break
❖ Exceeds academic
standards in math, but is
not meeting in reading
Sofia
❖ Native U.S.-born ELL
❖ Gifted and talented ELL due to her math performance
❖ Could be considered a Transnational ELL because she
travels frequently between Mexico and the U.S.
❖ Mexican culture and language is highly visible in
Texas, which can benefit her cultural identity and
self-esteem as a learner
❖ The fact that she is partially meeting in reading could
be because of her English proficiency level or a
learning disability. Teachers must assess correctly!

9. Write-Pair-Share:
Why is it important to know
about the diversity of ELLs
that we may encounter?
Information about Write-Pair-Share can be found on the New Teacher Center website: http://old.newteachercenter.org/collaborative-discussions/write-pair-share

10. Second Language
Acquisition Stages

12. Self-Assessment: Second Language Acquisition
1. Approximately, how many stages of second language acquisition are
there?
2. What are two differences between students in different stages?
3. On a scale of 0 to 4, how would you rate your overall understanding of the
stages of second language acquisition? (0= no understanding, 4=full understanding
of the five stages)
Number a sheet from 1-3

13. Things to Know

14. Things to Know About Instruction for ELLs
1. ELLs have background knowledge and home cultures that sometimes differ from
the U.S. mainstream
2. Most assessments measure language proficiency as well as actual content
knowledge
3. Most ELLs are used to being allowed to use their native language in the classroom
4. ELLs need instruction that will allow them to meet state content standards
5. Mathematics has its own language and representational system, and ELLs struggle
to understand math concepts in this language
6. The density and complexity of social science textbooks and other texts can be
particularly challenging for ELLs
7. Some ELLs bring background knowledge that differs from what is assumed in
textbooks
8. Social studies courses require sophisticated and subject specific uses of language
SOURCE: Deussen, T., Autio, E., Miller, B., Lockwood, A. T., Stewart, V. (2008) What teachers should know about instruction for English language learners. Center for Research, Education, and Assessment.
Education Northwest. Retrieved from: http://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/resources/what-teachers-should-know-about-instruction-for-ells.pdf

15. 3-Minute Essay:
Write or draw an explanation
of ONE of the points that you
strongly agree with

16. Things to Know About Instruction for ELLs
1. ELLs have background knowledge and home cultures that sometimes differ from
the U.S. mainstream
2. Most assessments measure language proficiency as well as actual content
knowledge
3. Most ELLs are used to being allowed to use their native language in the classroom
4. ELLs need instruction that will allow them to meet state content standards
5. Mathematics has its own language and representational system, and ELLs struggle
to understand math concepts in this language
6. The density and complexity of social science textbooks and other texts can be
particularly challenging for ELLs
7. Some ELLs bring background knowledge that differs from what is assumed in
textbooks
8. Social studies courses require sophisticated and subject specific uses of language
SOURCE: Deussen, T., Autio, E., Miller, B., Lockwood, A. T., Stewart, V. (2008) What teachers should know about instruction for English language learners. Center for Research, Education, and Assessment.
Education Northwest. Retrieved from: http://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/resources/what-teachers-should-know-about-instruction-for-ells.pdf

17. Strategies & Best
Practices for ELLs

18. Where are we in terms of Best Practices?
Let’s take a poll

20. TURN & TALK:
What were some of
the things that
Moises struggles
with in school?
30-60-90:
What are some things
that the teacher could
have done differently
to help Moises?

21. Some Strategies to Use With ELLs
1. Interactive Technology: Kahoot and PollEverywhere
2. Anticipation Guides
3. Agendas
4. Write-Pair-Share
5. Make Information Visible: Videos
6. Self-Assessments
7. 3-Minute Essays
The strategies we used today!

22. Best Practices for ELLs
1. Involve ELLs in cooperative Learning: Number Heads Together
2. Allow enough processing time: Chunk & Chew → give 2 minutes of
information processing for every 10 minutes of instruction
3. Use multicultural material → pictures, scenarios, words, text, etc.
4. Simplify your language without dumbing it down
5. Connect new concepts to students background knowledge
6. Use sentence frames to support speaking and writing
7. Allow ELLs to complete tasks that they CAN DO!

23. Review Diversity of ELLs
Language Acquisition Stages
Things to Know
Strategies & Best Practices

24. Thank you for the
wonderful work
that you do!