While good teaching practice impacts all learners, specific supports are necessary to enhance instruction for MLs/ELLs.
8 Traits of a ML Supportive Lesson
The arts naturally create an environment where students are highly supported while engaging with challenging content. Making strategic choices in instruction can help MLs increase comprehension and maximize language production.
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Activity Before Content
When students begin their process by doing an activity rather than listening to a verbal explanation, they have an experience that language can be built upon.
Change how you teach, not what you teach. Age-appropriate content should not be modified (what), rather the way it is presented should be adjusted as needed (how).
Expectations should be challenging, yet realistic, based on the students’ proficiency level. Consider how supports can enhance student production at the various levels.
Consider how language is being used to achieve the goals of the lesson. What language is essential in the moment? (Hint: It may not just be vocabulary.)
Demonstrate how language and concepts addressed in the lesson are relevant to real-life, other content areas or a larger context. This makes the learning authentic and meaningful.
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Repeat and Reinforce
When concepts and vocabulary are used in context, they are more apt to be understood and remembered. Include multiple exposures to key concepts and language throughout the lesson.
If students do not immediately use new concepts and language points independently, they may not retain them. Provide time for students to try out and get feedback on new ideas.
8 Traits of an ML Supportive Lesson
For a detailed breakdown of language supports, download a PDF of the 8 Traits of an ML Supportive Lesson chart developed by Language and Literacy Specialist Jennifer Stengel-Mohr.
MLs can get lost in a sea of words when language is the only modality. Visual supports are used to teach a word, concept, abstract idea or can be an inspiration for artmaking.
How do you effectively structure small group collaboration to give MLs the confidence to take risks, develop new ideas and work cooperatively with the support of their peers.