Diversity In The Classroom: Article Analysis

3). Some ELL students may start school without any English language skills, while others may have “limited language proficiency or dual language deficiency in both their native language and English” (p. 3). Just as native English speakers, ELL students also have different levels of intellectual abilities; however, their struggle with school in English may be related to background knowledge and not solely on intellectual abilities (Short & Echevarria, 2004). Samson and Collins (2012), purposes if school districts, administrations, and teachers want to see improvements in achievement for ELLs, “greater continuity in how general education teachers are prepared by teacher-education programs, certified by states and evaluated by local education agencies, or LEAs, is essential. By making sure that the special needs of ELLs are addressed at multiple stages of the teacher preparation process, schools may gain higher quality

In the case of ELLs their culture and identity are considered constraining factors with respect to academic challenges, but scholars feel that these are due to non-recognition of native cultural dynamics (Gay, 2000; Ladson-Billings, 1995). However, if these aspects are utilized it can contribute to a better learning experience in terms of language and other academic areas. The native cultural background and its linkage has the capacity to motivate and ignite interest in ELLs and it can provide the platform which would facilitate learning new skills and academic content. Research has also shown that measures to improve language skills of ELLs often neglect the interconnected dimensions of the culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) student biography. In particular, understanding the sociocultural, linguistic, academic, and cognitive dimensions of ELLs is helpful for educators in order to attain higher standards of language proficiency and academic success (Perez and Holmes 2010). For instance, a teacher reflects on her personal experience in these words:

Teaching ELL's can be a very challenging aspect of a teaching job. Not only are teachers working with children who are scared, nervous and perhaps confused, but educators are working with students who may be encountering a great deal of culture shock. I believe that for me, this would be difficult. Honestly, I grew up a typical "white American girl" living the typical "white American life." I have not been exposed to many people who were not like me. Nevertheless, I am genuinely, looking forward to expanding my horizons and challenging myself to learn about other cultures and ways of life. Through the reading of chapter one, in Not for ESOL Teachers: What Every Classroom Teacher Needs to Know About the Linguistically, Culturally, and Ethnically

English language learners (ELL) are one of the fastest growing classifications of students attending schools in the United States today. They represent a diverse group of students typically coming from homes or backgrounds where English is not the primary language spoken. Additionally, ELL students experience difficulties communicating or learning academic instruction in English.

Selecting materials relevant to ELL’s experience or culture; strategically using students’ first languages to make the content delivered in a second language more comprehensible teaching word learning strategies that build on first language knowledge such as using cognates; and frequently using partner talk to give low-English-proficient students more opportunities to talk with more English-proficient

The fact that ELL student’s are given the exact same educational services provided to native English speaker, seem to be very unfair for the ELL student’s and instead of helping the ELL students to succeed academically we are preventing them from succeeding in their classes. When I was reading this section I couldn’t stop thinking about the video that we saw in class, the student was very smart but the fact that he couldn’t understand the material being taught, this was preventing him from showing how brilliant and smart he is. Just imagine how many brilliant ELL students can’t succeed in class because they don’t understand the language of the instruction.

English learners are currently the fastest developing student population in schools today. This makes it extremely important to provide these students with the programs and services they deserve. Providing a strong education for ELL students is what I personally believe to be an asset in America’s future. Today there are many challenges I believe teachers and students face when it comes to instruction and assessments.

There are many different strategies that an instructor can use in ELL classrooms or in classrooms in which ELL students have been mainstreamed. As always, instructors are called upon to constantly modify their curriculum and instruction in order to meet the needs of each individual learner. This is made more possible if the instructor has more knowledge of different teaching methods and strategies. There are many possible research sources that offer ideas, methods and strategies for everyday use in an ELL classroom. Several of the more common or functional strategies will be discussed here.

ELL continue to rise year after year. In EDUC 628, the class delved into the rise of ELL in America and how the best teaching methods to approach each learner with. Every ELL student is unique and has different learning process. Although the semester covered a wide variety of topics ranging from dialects to teaching methods, every module served its purpose in providing a framework for future ELL teachers. Learning about how to teach ELL was significant to me because when I first entered the school system in America, I was placed into ESL and I have gone through the process of many of these teaching methods. EDUC 628 main focus was preparing students whose goal in the future was to educate ELL. The articles and readings assigned in the class provided a funds of knowledge going into each new lesson. Coupled with the readings, hands on activities such as the mini lessons and designing lesson plans provided each student with experience that will reflect on their teaching abilities in the classroom. In my paper, I will be provided a step by step synthesis of what was learned and accomplished every week along with a brief summary of the readings. I will probe deeper into the modules and lessons that piqued my interest the most and that also challenge my mindset.

S. school system despite speaking, reading and writing English. The classroom environment was foreign. Not only did I need to learn academic content, I had to learn the cultural nuances as well. I remember feeling overwhelmed and sometimes overburdened. The use of pictures, artifacts, diagrams and video clips during lessons help to some extent, even so, the study “suggests three ways that teachers can enhance knowledge construction of ELL students: (1) Teachers should take time to understand the cultures of their ELL students, (2) Teachers should be open to new possibilities of meaning, and (3) Teachers should take time to listen to the storylines each ELL student brings into the classroom learning environment” (Strickland, 2012, pp.

This particular article starts out by introducing several numerical statistics in relation to the ever growing population of ELLs in the nation. For instance, one of the very first pieces of information you read states that 20% of the student population in the nation are ELLs. The article also states that many teachers consider themselves less-well are completely unprepared to work with ELL’s while only 12.5% of teachers have actually received 8 or more hours of training to be able to teach ELLs.

With the immigration population increase comes a language barrier increase. Therefore, English as a Second Language (ESL) tools in the classroom is essential. ESL was established in the 1970s when children of many mother tongues, crowded classrooms due to the immigration increase (Tomkins, G., 1981, p.

The large school district in this study is located in the suburbs of New York City. The problem is ELL students are underachieving in reading and writing on state assessments when compared to non-ELLs in this district (NYSED, 2014b). Based on New York State’s Blueprint for English Language Learners Success (NYSED, 2014a), school districts have to ensure that all teachers can teach ELL students, and address diverse learning needs, such as cultural, linguistics, and socio-economic status, including students with disabilities. In addition, this problem impacts classroom teachers who may be highly qualified to teach content areas but may lack training in addressing the diverse learning needs of ELL students, which might include bridging cultural and language barriers (NCTE, 2008). Teachers need to be prepared to address the problem of underachievement for ELL students.

In the 2014 October edition of the Education Update, authors, Kathy Checkley and Virgina Rojas discussed the topic of various ways that educators can provide support for the academic succession of ELL students. In their article Setting ELLs Up for Success, the authors stressed that along with the proper scaffolding techniques and student access, ELL students will thrive in a mainstream classroom. The objective of the article involves demonstrating the methodology in how to teach effectively for all and ELL students. Many times, language learners are looked upon as having a cognitive disability, when that is often not the case. The authors’ main purpose is to illustrate the significance of engaging ELL students in the class, providing good instruction, having high expectations, and building on students’ prior knowledge. Some of the essential features that were included in the article were ways to extend good practice for students which included expectations, assessment, and instruction. In order for ELL students to be set up for success, as included in the article, learning must also be socially and culturally connected.

There has been a very big jump in the number of immigrants coming into the United States. This has led to a rise in the number of English language learners in schools around the U.S.. However, this means that educators, administrators, and those apart of the education district need to work together to create more support for this growing population of ELL students. This article brings up five different lessons on creating support for ELL learners in schools. The first lesson is, “Make success for ELLs a central issue.” This involves the commitment of everyone involved in the school towards improving the education of these students. Educators need to develop and communicate in order to create a unified plan to improve education and instruction. This is the