2. Some ELL Facts
In 2010-2011 school year there were an estimated
4.7 million students in public education
States in the West had the highest number of ELL
enrolled in a public school system
In Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, New
Mexico, Nevada, and California 10% or more of
public school students were ELL
Reading scores for non-ELL 4th to 8th graders were
higher than their ELL peers
This is called an achievement gap
In New Mexico about 15% of the student
population participated in an ELL program in the
2010-2011 school year
In 2007, 36% of New Mexico’s population aged 5 or
older spoke a language other than English at home
3. English Only Programs vs.
Bilingual Programs
Studies have shown that
immersing students in only
the English language do not
score well in reading
comprehension
Bilingual programs give ELL
students the opportunity to
practice their first language
and English
These students score higher
in reading comprehension
4. Who Are ELL
Students?
•ELL students can be present in
classes from K-12 although ELL
classes are more readily available
in elementary school
•ELL students do not represent
just one language
•Over 400 languages are spoken
by ELL students
•79% of the ELL students speak
Spanish as their first language
5. What Can Teachers do to Help ELL
Students?
Allow students to speak in their first language in the classroom
Pair a new ELL student with a buddy who has been in the
program for a longer period of time
Ensure classroom is a safe and welcoming environment
Encourage ELL students to write about their learning in their first
language
Have signs, posters, and books in the classroom written in the
first and secondary languages
Encourage students to teach the class about their culture and
language
6. Useful Theories: Piaget
Provide real world experiences for students to practice
speaking, reading, and writing in both primary and
secondary language
Allow students to explore, discover, ask their own
questions, and search out answers with fellow students
Understand how children learn to help ELL students
learn English
Stages of Cognitive Development
These stages pertain to every learner, no matter their first
language
7. Useful Theories: Krashen
Five hypotheses to promote secondary language learning
Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
Monitor Hypothesis
Natural Order Hypothesis
Input Hypothesis
Affective-Filter Hypothesis
Free voluntary reading gives students the chance to increase
literacy and develop vocabulary
Students learn through reading with pictures and holding
discussions
Could help ELL students close the achievement gap with non-ELL
students
8. Useful Theories: Dewey
Give ELL and non-ELL students the chance to interact
and work with each other and with the teacher
Base lessons on students’ interests and keep in mind the
backgrounds of all students
All cultures should be reflected in the classroom and
lessons
Students should be learning how to live in society and
their individual communities
9. Teaching Methods for ELL
Students
Allow students more time to think about and answer
questions
Allow ELL students to speak their first language in the
classroom
Students who continue to learn their first language have an
easier time learning and understanding English
You only learn to read once! Students should be reading in
first language and English
Use pictures and models to help ELL students understand new
words and ideas
Give hands on and real life experiences for ELL and non-ELL
students
10. Teaching Method Cont.
Ask open-ended questions and give students the chance
to ask their own questions for higher-order thinking
Present one idea at a time
Use formative assessments to check for understanding
Pair new ELL students with ELL students who have been
in the classroom longer
They can practice both English and first language skills
Present all lessons with audio and visual to help ELL
students bring together written and spoken words
11. Works Cited
National Center of Education Statistics. US Department of
Education. Fast Facts: English Language Learners.
https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=96
Center for Public Education. The United States of Education:
The Changing Demographics of the United States and their
Schools. www.centerforpubliceducation.org/You-May-Also-BeInterested-In-landing-page-level/Organizing-a-SchoolYMABI/The-United-States-of-education-The-changingdemographics-of-the-United-States-and-their-schools.html
Welcome ELLs: How to Make Your ELL Students Feel at Home.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/welcome-ells
12. Works Cited Continued
An Introduction to the Works of Stephen Krashen.
http://esl.fis.edu/teachers/support/krashen.htm
Mooney, Carol G. “Theories of Childhood: An
Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget, and
Vygotsky.
Hakuta, Kenji. Key Policy Milestones and Directions in
the Education of English Language Learners.
http://www.stanford.edu/~hakuta/www/archives/sylla
bi/Docs/rockefeller/Rockefeller.htm
