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Helping LEP Students Adjust to the Classroom
“What can I do to accommodate an ELL?” Here are some excellent techniques to use. LEP students are faced with the challenge of learning English as well as the school culture. Teachers can help them adjust to their new language and environment in the following ways:
Announce the lesson’s objectives and activities.
It is important to write the objectives on the board and review them orally before the class begins. It is also helpful to place the lesson in the context of its broader theme and preview upcoming lessons.
Write legibly.
Teachers need to remember that some students have low levels of literacy or are unaccustomed to the Roman alphabet.
Develop and maintain routines.
Routines will help LEP students anticipate what will happen (e.g., types of assignments, ways of giving instructions) without relying solely on language cues.
List and review instructions step by step.
Before students begin an activity, teachers should familiarize them with the entire list of instructions. Then, teachers should have students work on each step individually before moving on to the next step. This procedure is ideal for teaching students to solve math and science word problems.
Present frequent summations on the salient points of the lesson.
Teachers should (1) try to use visual reviews with lists and charts, (2) paraphrase the salient points where appropriate, and (3) have students provide oral summaries.
Present information in varied ways.
By using multiple media in the classroom, teachers reduce reliance on language and place the information in a context that is more comprehensible to the students.
Special Hint: Try Group Work!
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