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Key Components to Successfully
Teaching ELL’s
Presented by: Meghan Roberts Magruder
Fall 2012

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What does ELL
mean?
ELL stands for English
Language Learner.
ELL’s are students who are
exposed to another language
in their homes and are
learning English.

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Key Components in Teaching ELLs
 Be Understanding
 As an educator, it is important our focus is on making ALL students
feel safe and secure in their learning environment.
 Be Patient
 Just as all students learn differently and at different paces, so do
ELLs.
 Be Positive
 When working with ELLs be sure to focus on the positive – focus on
what the child does understand.

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Key Components in Lesson Planning
 Defining key vocabulary
 Remember that academic language can be more difficult to learn than
social language.
 At the beginning of each lesson, be sure to define key vocabulary
words.
 This is helpful for all students not just ELLs.
 Scaffold Lessons
 It is important to scaffold all lessons. Focus on a small portion of the
unit/skill at a time and build onto it as the students master each small
portion.
 Build in Review
 ELL students need repetition of new material.
 Be sure to incorporate a myriad of instructional strategies and tools
for each unit/skill.

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Tips I Have Found Helpful
 Engagement
 Successfully incorporating technology into lessons will help engage
your students and keep them participating in the lessons.
 Share Time
 Students learn so much from their peers.
 It’s important that as teachers, we allow our students time to share
and talk about what they have learned.
 Sharing with peers allows students to catch information they may
have missed as well, clarify any questions they may have, and
process further what they have just learned.

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Helpful Resources
 http://www.colorincolorado.org/
 Provides resources for parents and educators
 Brainpop Jr – www.brainpopjr.com
 Provides quick, simple, and educational videos on topics in all
subject areas.
 Word Their Way
 Written by Donald Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, and
Francine Johnston.
 Includes lots of picture sorts used to help students gain a greater
understanding of phonics and vocabulary.