Using subject pronouns is key to forming sentences and making the English language flow naturally. This is why one of the absolute first ESL grammar skills that newcomers need to learn is subject pronouns. However, teaching subject pronouns does not need to be boring! It is so important to involve students in a variety of ...
ESL
Teaching the Verb To Be in English to Newcomer ELs (ESL)
The verb “to be” is the most commonly used verb in the English language. However, it is an irregular verb in that it does not follow the same grammar rules as regular verbs (in all forms of the present or past tense). This can make it a tricky verb for ELs/MLLs to grasp. Because of the verb’s irregularity, it is important ...
What to Look for in ESL Grammar Worksheets and Activities for Newcomers and Beginning ELs
All too often, grammar worksheets for newcomer and beginner ELs are way too similar in format to grammar worksheets for native speakers. They lack visuals and are just pages filled with language that our ELs may not have yet. Without supports, students just regurgitate a new grammar skill without applying it to exercises that they can actually ...
The Power of Picture Dictionaries for Newcomer ESL Students
The start to the school year for newcomer ELLs can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking. It is our job to set them up with tools to help them feel comfortable exploring a new language in a totally new environment. One of the most powerful tools you can provide a new ELL student is a picture dictionary. Picture dictionaries are a powerful tool ...
DIGITAL ELL NEWCOMERS VOCABULARY FOR TEACHING ESL
Whether you’re trying to eliminate tons of prep time, save paper, or support ELL students in distance learning, using digital vocabulary units can be extremely helpful activities for ELL newcomers. These digital units target reading, writing, and listening (audio) domains. Included are 20 Thematic Vocabulary Units that cover important ...
TEACHING ESL DISTANCE LEARNING: WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE FOR YOUR ELLS VIRTUALLY
Whether you are virtually teaching, or teaching ESL in distance learning, it is important to differentiate for ELLs just as you would in the classroom setting. Without the face to face interaction of an ELL student, teacher, and their classmates, learning English in authentic ways can be much more challenging. It is important that we keep ...
10 Steps to Build Reading Comprehension in ELLs: Part 2
The first part of this blog post focused on how to set your English Language Learners (ELLs) up for success BEFORE reading. In Steps 1-5, we discussed previewing vocabulary, building background knowledge and providing helpful visuals. Now, we are ready to dig into how to support students during reading and after, in their response to reading. ...
10 Steps to Build Reading Comprehension in ELLs: Part 1
It can be overwhelming to prepare a reading lesson in a way that supports English Language Learners' (ELLs) reading comprehension alongside their non-ELL peers, but it doesn’t need to be. Research shows that best practices for building reading comprehension in non-ELLs also works well for ELLs. Some instructional practices just need to have a ...
3 Ways to Create a Welcoming Environment for Your Newcomer ELLs
Entering a brand-new classroom is nerve-wracking for most of our English speaking students. For our newcomer ELLs, it can be a very intense and scary experience. Providing them with a welcoming, thoughtful environment from the moment they enter your classroom is the key to breaking down their walls and making them feel comfortable exploring ...
5 Tips to Help Your ELLs Succeed in Your Content Area Class
Are you struggling to make content area instruction accessible to your ELLs? Here are five tips to help your ELLs be successful in your content area classroom. Any teacher that has had a beginning ELL student in front of them during a science, math, or social studies lesson, knows that it can be disheartening to see them stare at you during ...
