The struggle to get kids speaking in an ELD classroom is real. Communicative activities and resources can make the job easier. However, maximizing their effectiveness hinges on creating a language-rich environment where multilingual learners feel comfortable iterating their way to proficiency. This requires expertise, but fear not, there are practical strategies that can be leveraged to make the magic happen.
Create a Language-Rich Environment
Creating a language-rich environment is essential for fostering language development and engagement. Authentic resources, classroom labels, and music can immerse students in the target language.
- Authentic Resources: Materials like newspapers, magazines, and videos expose students to real-world language. Search for an appropriate resource that holds their attention and relates to the theme.
- Labels: Label objects around the classroom in both English and students’ native languages. This helps them make connections between the two languages and reinforces vocabulary.
- Music: Music enters the brain on a different pathway than the spoken word. Multilingual learners will grow in confidence and feel like they fit in when they can sing along with the latest hit! Learning a song activates three language modalities, is a fun way to differentiate instruction, and engages students.
Foster Collaboration and Connection
Fostering collaboration and connection among students enhances their language skills and social interactions. Think-Pair-Share activities, debates and discussions, and video virtual chats can all contribute to this goal.
- Think-Pair-Share: Have students do daily activities where they think individually, discuss with a partner, and then share with the class.
- Debates and Discussions: Encourage students to express opinions and engage in meaningful discussions. These are rich opportunities to build social skills, such as listening to understand rather than to respond, and disagreeing respectfully. Sentence stems can teach these skills while developing language.
- Video Virtual Chat: Learners can practice listening and speaking skills in a safe learning environment using video virtual chats in resources like Vista’s Newcomer and ELD programs. Multilingual learners seem to connect with these virtual “friends” and tend to repeat these activities on their own, doubling down on essential practice without prompting from the teacher!
Incorporate Authentic Assessment
Incorporating authentic assessment methods helps track students’ progress and encourages higher-order thinking. Projects, portfolios, and exit cards are effective tools for this purpose.
- Projects: Showcase language development and encourage higher-order thinking by implementing meaningful projects throughout the school year.
- Portfolios: Encourage all learners to build their own portfolios. Student-created portfolios encourage self-directed growth and pride.
- Exit Cards: Use creative prompts to make exit cards fun! Students can write, draw, or share their thoughts on a topic related to the lesson, use vocabulary, and/or practice grammatical structures they’ve learned. Ask them what was easy or difficult that day. Have them set goals for the next lesson to encourage ownership.
Celebrate Students and Their Success
Celebrating students and their success fosters a positive learning environment and motivates them to continue improving. Positive reinforcement, celebrating small and big wins, and non-contingent praise are key strategies.
- Positive Reinforcement: Praise students’ efforts.
- Celebrate Small and Big Wins: Recognize progress.
- Non-Contingent Praise: Noticing what makes each learner special and letting them know fosters deep connections. It communicates that they are seen, heard, understood, and valued: “Your smile makes our classroom a happy place,” “I appreciate your sense of humor.” Powerful!
Cultivating an environment where students are immersed in the language and feel comfortable using it is where the science and art of teaching ELD converge. With these communicative activities and resources from Vista’s Newcomer and ELD programs, it is possible to step into that space with confidence. The classroom will be one where language acquisition flourishes, empowering both the teacher and the students to blaze a trail to high achievement!
By Debbie Simoes
Also read:
Defining Literacy for Newcomers & SLIFE Students
Translanguaging: Defining and Describing Its Use with Second Language Learners
