ELL - How does it look? (Secondary)

Your GOAL is to provide context so that EB learners can make sense of what is being taught and to build self-confidence to become interactive in the classroom.

Did you know?

Speaking is considered the most crucial skill in an ESL secondary classroom because it allows students to actively practice communication in real-life situations, build fluency, develop confidence, and effectively express their thoughts and ideas in English, which is essential for academic success and social interaction in a globalized world; making it a fundamental component of language acquisition.

Ensuring Academic Success

👇 How does it look in the Secondary Classroom? 👇

Academic Language and Vocabulary

Explicit vocabulary instruction:
Pre-teach key academic words with definitions, visuals, and real-life examples before introducing new content.
Sentence frames and scaffolding:
Provide sentence starters and structures to help students formulate complex ideas in academic language.
Graphic organizers:
Use visual aids like diagrams, charts, and timelines to support understanding of complex concepts and vocabulary.
Frequent repetition and practice:
Incorporate academic language into daily classroom discussions, writing prompts, and presentations.
Differentiation and adaptation:
Tailor instruction to individual student needs by providing additional support like bilingual dictionaries or simplified text.
Connect to real-world context:
Relate academic vocabulary to students' personal experiences and relevant situations to enhance understanding.

Background/Prior Knowledge

Reading widely: Encouraging students to read diverse texts related to the topic to expand their knowledge base.
Visual aids: Using images, videos, and multimedia to support understanding.
Class discussions: Facilitating open conversations to share and build upon existing knowledge.
Field trips and guest speakers: Providing real-world experiences to enrich understanding
Discussion prompts: Asking questions to spark conversation and uncover existing knowledge.
Visual aids: Using images, diagrams, or videos to stimulate prior knowledge.
Anticipation guides: Having students predict what they might learn based on a few statements about the topic.
Think-pair-share: Students individually reflect on their prior knowledge, then discuss with a partner and share with the whole class.

Make it Visual

- English: character sketches from literature; storyboard visuals; literary analysis diagrams; visual representation of metaphors
- Science: microscope images of cells; labeled diagrams of the human body; chemical structure models; weather maps; video of scientific experiments
- Math: geometric shapes; number lines; data tables and graphs; probability simulations; visual representation of equations
- History: historical photographs; political maps; timelines of key events; primary source documents with visuals
- Social Studies: satellite images of geographic regions; population density maps; political cartoons; cultural artifacts image

Hands On Activities

Geography:
Create a 3D model of a country or continent using materials like clay or cardboard, then present information about the region to the class.
Science:
Conduct a simple science experiment and have students record their observations using visual aids and basic vocabulary.
Vocabulary building:
Create picture dictionaries where students draw images to represent new vocabulary words.

Storytelling:
Act out scenes from a story using props and costumes, or create a comic strip to retell a narrative.
Cultural sharing:
Have students create presentations showcasing aspects of their culture using pictures, food, music, or traditional clothing.
Current events:
Use visual representations like timelines or posters to discuss current events and related vocabulary.
Math:
Utilize manipulatives like counters or blocks to visualize mathematical concepts and practice problem-solving.

Picture Cards

Vocabulary development:
Show a picture of a character from a novel and have students brainstorm descriptive words to describe them.
Figurative language:
Use pictures to illustrate metaphors or similes, asking students to explain the connection.
Literary analysis:
Display pictures related to key themes in a text and have students discuss how the image connects to the story.
Writing prompts:
Use a picture as a starting point for creative writing exercises