George Lucas Educational Foundation

English Language Learners

Discover ways to optimize instruction to address the needs of students who are learning English.

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  • Using Station Rotation in PD for Supporting English Language Learners

    Professional development built around learning stations can give teachers an idea of what school is like for these students.
    Sarah Elia
    278
  • How Peer Teaching Assistants Can Support Multilingual Learners

    Consistent interaction with fellow students who know what it’s like to learn a new language can offer multilingual learners essential support.
  • Activating Learning by Milling to Music

    When students pretend they’re at a fancy party making small talk, a simple brainstorm for writing ideas becomes more lively, more cooperative—and more effective.
    9.5k
  • A group of high school students gathered at a table in a circle, doing a language game together

    12 Fun Speaking Games for Language Learners

    Every teacher has faced the struggle of encouraging students to speak. Here's a list of a fun activities to get your students to talking.
    97k
  • A diverse elementary ELL classroom sitting in a circle

    6 Essential Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners

    We interviewed educators with decades of experience in teaching ELLs and tapped a network of experts and observers to find the strategies that work.
    49.3k
  • 3 Strategies for Empowering ELL Students

    Here’s how using strategies that link linguistic effort with content can engage and encourage middle school English language learners.
    261
  • 5 Playful Strategies That Reduce Language Learning Anxiety

    We visited a classroom in Denmark to see how a playful learning philosophy can put students at ease and make language learning joyful and engaging.
    653
  • Supporting Multilingual Students in the Early Grades

    Five ways teachers can celebrate and extend the linguistic expertise of young students who speak two or more languages.
    10.2k
  • 60-Second Strategy: Double Circle

    With a simple discussion activity that gets every learner in the class speaking and listening, teachers can help students boost conversation skills—and develop their opinions.
    271
  • 10 Strategies That Support English Language Learners Across All Subjects

    Teachers of any subject can use these tips to help English language learners be more engaged and at ease in class.
    4.8k
  • Why Prior Knowledge Wins the Game

    Although schools have been prioritizing discrete skills in reading instruction for years, education writer Natalie Wexler says building rich background knowledge could lead to more successful readers.
    362
  • Teaching SEL Skills Through Stories and Poetry

    When social and emotional learning is integrated into language arts, elementary students gain a deeper understanding of concepts like empathy and self-awareness. And they’re more engaged in reading and writing, to boot.
    344
  • Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers

    How can teachers prepare for diverse classrooms? There isn't a definitive answer, but there is a wealth of resources online. Discover some helpful links for teachers.
    16.2k
  • Welcoming Newly Arrived High School ELLs

    These strategies can help English language learners feel like they’re an essential part of the school community.
    383
  • 8 Strategies for Teaching Academic Language

    Ideas for developing students’ capacity to understand and use discipline-specific terminology and the language used in instruction.
    22.6k

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George Lucas Educational Foundation

Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
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