Words may be our main focus for teachers of  ELLs but when students do not know the English language we need to go deeper. Nonverbal clues and body language are extremely important. Some researchers claim that 60-90% of our communication comes from paralinguistic, that is beyond the words.  Teaching absolute beginners can be a tough task, but with a little know-how and the right attitude, anyone can succeed.

1. Be friendly and welcoming. It is not necessary to speak in a louder...

You have a new ELL student in your classroom ...NOW WHAT!!!!!

These ten strategies are simple, easy to use and best of all good for all students.

VISUALS: Vision TRUMPs all senses. According to Dr. John Medina, author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School http://www.brainrules.net/ 

Vision is by far our most dominant sense, taking up half of our brain’s resources. We learn and remember best through pictures, not through written or...

 Teachers need a Wide Range of assessment strategies to discover the true extent of an ELLs learning.

The PURPOSE of assessment is to identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students, adjust instruction to build on students’ strengths and alleviate weaknesses, monitor the effectiveness of instruction, provide feedback to students and parents and make decisions about program planning (LearnAlberta.ca).

INITIAL ASSESSMENT GETTING IT RIGHT!

When English language learners...

1. The “SPARK”

A move towards more authentic, powerful learning often times requires a “spark”, and in the case of the Net-Zero Sustainability project, the spark for teacher Mark Schweitzer and co-leader Leslie Larson came in 3 parts: 

• A presentation by Peter Gamwell, where educators were asked to think of their own story and what “extraordinary” thing they wanted to have happen in their classes. http://www.petergamwell.com/site/

• Mark’s...

Have you ever been completely immersed in a project that inspires, challenges, and keeps you constantly learning and engaged to accomplish your purpose?   In this series we will follow some orchestrated learning experiences that do this.  They are varied, but we will mention a few to give you the flavor. 

We will follow the work of students focused on a sustainability endeavor that includes, to begin with, a particular focus on net zero buildings.  We will spend time...

Relationships, relationships, relationships! No matter whether or not you share the same language, building a relationship is still key to future learning. Reach out, welcome them, and help them become connected to their peers. This may require some “match making” special activities, to communication aids such as apps like Google Translate. In this episode teacher, Wendy Williamson, clearly expresses the importance of building relationships even among the new...

Ah, the wonderful animated music of multiple languages… Canada is a place where people from all over the world are welcome either as immigrants or for shorter periods of study or work.  The 2011 Cenus of Population indicated that there were more than 200 mother tongues or languages including Canada’s two official languages (English and French).  That variety is part of our special flavour but to learn and communicated there is also the need for a common language, and...

New tech, old tech, digital this, digital that. Technology is everywhere and there is no question that it is constantly changing how we live, work and play. But do you ever think or even care about how technology influences education? Do you embrace it or deplore it? Whatever the answer, there is no way you can ignore it. So, take advantage of a session with someone who understands technology, education, and teachers using technology in education, all while having fun and being...

New inventions or tools have impacted our lives in many ways. Think about how the wheel changed transportation and how the arrival of the steam engine began the era of the Industrial revolution. The printing press documented stories and information, increasing access to knowledge. Refrigeration affected our diet and eating habits. Consider all the ways the telephone, telegraph, radio and television affected how we think, communicate, entertain ourselves, share information and how far reaching...