Harris Academy Morden Strategies to support EAL students

Agnes WolaninEAL Manager

Explain, model language

Instant Support StrategiesDraw pictures Listen

attentively

Use a bilingual or picture dictionary

Use visual aids

Use the internet

Simplify text and focus on key words

Highlight key words/phrases

Label diagrams

Pre-teach key words

Provide opportunities to practise key words in different contexts.

Develop bi-lingual key vocabulary lists

Classroom StrategiesMake eye contact Give time to plan and to

talk

Cue them in

Check understanding

Help them sequence

GEORGE

Examples of classroomtasks that engage and support EAL students’ progress

Envelope racePrepare a list of tasks, cut them into strips and put each strip into a separate envelope.

Prepare 1 set of envelopes for each group (the groups can have different tasks to complete – good for differentiation).

Students start on the first task. Once completed they need to race to you to get another envelope with another task. They continue until they’ve completed all the tasks. First team to complete all the tasks wins.

Kinaesthetic learners

differentia

tion

teamwork

motivation

Thesaurus Race

Students race each other to find 3 synonyms for the selected words/key words

Developing vocabulary

motivation

Pass the bomb!Students answer the question posed by the teacher as quickly as possible. The person who is answering holds the ticking bomb. Once they’ve given their response they need to pass the bomb to the next person.

e.g. - an adjective to describe a picture - a synonym for ‘say’ - the title of the book in which a character is … an orphan, rebellious….

competitionengagement

Market Squares

Students work in groups to become ‘experts’ in a given topic. One person from each table stays in their place to ‘trade’ their knowledge to members of the other groups.

Boosting confidence Kinaesthetic learners

Repetition aids internalisation

Colour dominationThe tasks/questions/quotes are written on the separate pieces of paper placed around the room.

Each student is given a different coloured pen. They walk around the room and record their answers on the sheets in a given time.

The person whose colour dominates the page wins.

Modelling languageindependence

Works well with creative tasks e.g. descriptive writing

Graphic organisers

• opportunities to explore vocabulary

• practice in explaining concepts

• visual organisers structure thinking

• you can reinforce the organisers with games

Sorting cards onto a visual organisersWhy it works:

Mind mapping• Visual• Encourage systematisation of

knowledge• Help in building associations• Useful revision tool

Fill the gap mind map

Mind mapping softwareLearning styles

Glogsters www.glogster.com

Glogster is a tool that allows users to create virtual posters combining text, audio, video, images, and hyperlinks and to share them with others electronically.

Glogsters Teach students to create a glog using a think-aloud approach; model the importance of selecting appropriate features, organizing the elements with the reader in mind, and developing ideas using multiple modes. Model for students how to use images and graphics to guide the reader.

Science

Math

Social studies