USE WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM

SIOP TRAINING IF YOUVE HAD IT

What do I do with my ESL students?

ESL=English as a Second Language

Seat the student in the middle towards the front of the room.

You can:

Assign a buddy to assist with social and academic needs. The buddy may speak
the student's language.

simplify
vocab.

Slow down your speech. Simplify your vocabulary and don't use idioms. Just
because the student nods his head and says "yes" doesn't mean that he
understands.

allow
wait time

Involve the student in activities even though his/her English is limited. Use the
WIDA Can-Do Descriptors for guidance.

Pre-teach vocabulary providing some word association, a picture, etc.

Modify your assignments when it is not easily comprehensible. Allow your

students to do illustrations/projects for assignments, to label, to complete only the
computation portion of math sheets, to make dioramas, to make posters, etc. Put
word banks on assignments including tests. Although the student may not be
able to do the assignment exactly like the other students, he/she can complete a
project or portion in such a way to demonstrate that learning has taken place.

Student can:
label
illustrate
make a book
diorama
poster
point
act it out
retell
sequence
demonstrate

Have high expectations for your ESL students. Although they will go through a
silent period (when they are taking it all in), they should not sit idly. They can do
some kind of work (even if only copying). Use sheets from the Newcomer
Notebook and websites on the list that I gave you.

Assign a parent volunteer or student to read with and work with the ESL student.
Have the student attend Title I Math or Reading classes if eligible. Give the
student extra computer time working on math and reading skills when applicable.

listen

Work with your ESL students in a small group when possible (ask your assistant
to work with the ESL students in a small group).

graphic
organizer

Use concrete objects, realia (the real thing), photos, illustrations, picture books,
graphic organizers, charts, etc. when presenting information.

Assume nothing. Some ESL students have many educational experiences, yet are
limited because of the new language that they are learning. Others have limited
schooling and do not know basic concepts in their native language. We must also
remember that the educational levels of our students' parents vary greatly (from
illiterate to advanced college degrees).

copy
color
match
compute

use code
such as
"look" or
"watch"
to get
attention

talk
slowly

use
concrete
objects

not
correct
English
errors
all of the
time
help
student
feel
secure