Blog Post #3

What strategies does the teacher use to support students who are English learners?

I currently work at at title one elementary school, and there is a high population of Hispanic kids. I am blessed enough that I know Spanish, but I also know how difficult it can be for the students to who are learning English. At one point in time I was on the other end learning Spanish..In general English is a difficult language to learn. Students need to become familiar with the words, recognizing the picture, and using it everyday. In the school there is also the program ELL which is specifically designed to help the students learn English. Which it is an amazing program, but the students need those specific skills everyday all day in the classroom. Then the responsibility relies on the teacher. It becomes a much better process when you can work together as a team together to know the needs and skill level of each student. Its important to understand that each child is going to be on a different level. For example I know some kids in are school where there parents specifically come in say that they don't know English. One student specifically his mom mentioned that he had been in Mexico for the past few years, and was still learning English. Other situations the only chance they have to speak English is at school because they primary language in home is Spanish. At my particular school the majority of the kids have that Spanish background, and that's why the examples I have are with that particular language.

 In my different experiences and research I have come up with a few Strategies
Some strategies that can be used are:
1. Having a consistent routine
2. Being able to track progress-Helping the students understand that they are learning. I know it can get frustrating learning a language, and not being able to understand. They need that encouragement, and they need to see what they have accomplished.
3. Picture Glossary- so students can put them both together
4. Being Repetitive-Having you say the word helps them understand how it should be, and then having them repeat it lets them work on saying the sounds, and doing it correctly.
5. Speaking Clear and Slow
6. Letting the students write the words- to help them recognize when they are reading a word
7. Reading the words- to understand pronunciation


In this particular module we have talked about the importance of putting ourselves in their spot. Its not easy to learn a new language, and they need that encouragement. Just like in the class room we have to know that each student has strengths and weakness. They are also unique in there learning style, and they want to learn it!