Background Knowledge

Resources for Understanding ELL Students

Students come to us from many countries and with varying backgrounds, experiences, and competencies. Addressing the needs of any EL student is complex. One size will not serve all.

The profiles in this document, written by Sarah Powley and Amy Sturgeon, are fictitious, but representative of ELLs at MHS.

This article suggests six steps to understanding your ELLS and illustrates the diversity of the EL students in our classrooms.

Helping ELL Students Acclimate to the US School System

EL students entering school in the United States and joining our local community will face many challenges. This document provides some suggestions for easing their transition into the school culture. Some of these suggestions are designed for teachers of ELL English; others are actions classroom teachers of any discipline can take.