To me, the most important ESOL strategies is using visuals, cooperative learning and manipulatives
Examples of visuals such as hand gestures, and showing visuals while speaking orally are effective for students because they are able to connect the word or phrase tangibly with what it is. Another form of visuals that are good for ELL students are graphic organizers, flow charts, and story maps. These activities allow the students to connect to the material easier and aquire the information easier. Power Point presentations are also a good idea.
Cooperative learning is another important strategy. Coming to a new country, or not being able to understand or communicate language well must be very hard. Cooperative learning will first give the students a sense of belonging. It helps with students achievement, and gets students used to working together for future careers. Students are able to help each other and ELL students are able to see how the other students are doing the assignment.
Manipulatives are the most effective strategy in my opinion. Not only are they engaging, they allow the students to make a kinestetic connction to the lesson and deepens their understanding of the content. The manipulatives become concrete objects for students to think about and think with. Manipulatives can be altered to fit all subjects at all grade levels, even math.
This is a very useful website that I found:
http://www.netc.org/focus/challenges/ell.php
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These are great strategies to use for ELLs! Not only will they benefit, but each student will gain from these strategies in your classroom. I would like to say that being a visual learner myself, I agree to incorporate visuals into every lesson. The ELL students is already struggling with the language, providing pictures can help them construct meaning and connect it to what they know. A context-embedded classroom will succeed.
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer in cooperative groups. That is my strategy that I videotape for the TSL class, and it works wonders! Having heterogeneous groups and allowing the ELLs to work with their peers is beneficial. It is amazing to see the students collaborate with each other and then when they present their information the ELLs feel confident and will present as well. You chose a great article :)