4E) Academic and content-specific words
Select commonly used academic words (e.g., observe, demonstrate, cycle, evaluate, conflict, etc.) and content-specific words or phrases (e.g., energy, habitat, food chain, law, freedom) from texts/unit of study and incorporate them into instruction.
Strategy Overview: How to Use Picture Books (with math)
This resource offers guidance on how to use picture books to develop not only language, but mathematical content learning for Multilingual Learners. It includes prompts for before, during and after reading, along with booklists for five different areas of math.Read More
Video: Oral Language Analysis—K-3rd
In this video, the teacher gathers a small group of Multilingual Learners to engage in a brief discussion in response to structured prompts regarding an artifact from the class' ongoing content learning. The teacher records each child's oral responses, and then analyzes the record to identify follow-up instruction they can provide during upcoming Designated ELD time.Read More
Resource Guide: A Deeper Look at Early Literacy
This interactive guide offers a comprehensive approach to literacy for Multilingual Learners. It is an overview of the language and literacy skills and instruction that children need at different stages of development. Common literacy terms are defined, instructional strategies are offered, and a picture of instruction, aligned across the grades is explained.Read More
Blog Series: Shifting Towards a Multilingual View of Biliteracy
This series includes 4 blog posts that are useful for teachers and administrators who are new to biliteracy models for instruction. The posts include information to help understand and advocate for these models for instruction.Read More
Strategy Overview: Observation Pictures
When paired with open-ended questions, pictures can inspire analytical thinking and promote oral language through questioning and describing visual images. This strategy can be used as an open invitation into both language and content learning with Multilingual Learners.Read More
Video: Integrated Thematic Unit- PreK/TK
This video provides a rich opportunity to look inside a preschool classroom and note the intentional supports for oral language and content development in a thematic unit of study. The teacher implements various fun activities for students to explore and think deeply about the theme while developing both the home language and ELD skills.Read More
Strategy Overview: Fractions, Factors, and Functions, Oh My! Are My ELs Attaching Meaning to Math Words?
This guide helps teachers plan meaningful activities to make math accessible, hands-on, build on students' prior knowledge, and be language-focused. In these resources, teachers can read about the dos and don'ts of math vocabulary instruction for Multilingual Learners.Read More
Strategy Overview: Amplify and Facilitate Student Learning about Language
Attention and practice in the language of math is a critical part of instruction for Multilingual Learners. In these resources, teachers can read about the dos and don'ts of math instruction for Multilingual Learners.Read More
Video: Juicy Sentence Example with Butterflies (K)
This video is an example of a teacher facilitating a "juicy sentence" discussion with a group of kindergarteners learning about butterflies. The juicy sentence strategy helps Multilingual Learners access complex text through the study of a mentor sentence.Read More
Strategy Overview: Selecting and Using Academic Vocabulary in Instruction
This document reviews criteria for how to select academic vocabulary for instruction with Multilingual Learners and offers other supports for vocabulary instruction.Read More
Strategy Overview: Juicy Sentence Guidance
This document reviews a strategy to help Multilingual Learners access complex text through the study of a mentor sentence. After selecting a "juicy" sentence, the teacher facilitates explicit discussion about the language structure, word choice, and layers of meaning found in the example.Read More
Website: Teacher Interactions and Strategies to Support Speaking for Dual Language Learners
This resource provides a list of strategies that teachers can use to support Multilingual Learners’ speaking skills. For example: Repeating and elaborating on children’s talk, reinforcing words from the unit of study, using visual cues and gestures, and providing MLs with more time to process speech.Read More
Webinar: Supporting Dual Language Learners in the PreK Classroom
In this webinar, presenters discuss several strategies for supporting Multilingual Learners’ oral language and literacy development. Strategies include gathering information on children’s language and cultural background from families and talking with them about their language and learning goals for their children. Presenters also discuss how to display labels and functional print in multiple languages in the classroom, select content-specific words from texts and incorporate them into instruction, incorporate songs, and engage in interactive reading.Read More
Video: Draw & Label Strategy- 3rd grade
In this demonstration of the "Draw & Label" strategy, the teacher teaches academic and content vocabulary while drawing and creating a language resource for the Multilingual Learners in the class. This resource helps them engage with and practice content area vocabulary and concepts in multiple modalities.Read More
Video: Dialogic Reading Strategy- 2nd grade
The teacher demonstrates how multiple interactive reads of a key content-based text supports the literacy, oral language, and vocabulary development of the Multilingual Learners in the class. She explains academic and content-specific words and structures opportunities for students to elaborate on their thinking.Read More
Video: Dialogic Reading Strategy- Kindergarten
The teacher demonstrates how multiple interactive reads of a key content-based text supports the literacy and English language development of the Multilingual Learners in the class. She explains and reinforces target words and provides explicit instruction on book concepts and vocabulary.Read More
Video: Draw & Label Strategy- Kindergarten
In this demonstration of the "Draw & Label" strategy, the teacher teaches academic and content vocabulary while drawing and creating a language resource for the Multilingual Learners in the class. This resource helps them engage with and practice content area vocabulary and concepts in multiple modalities.Read More
Video: Shared Research Project- 1st grade
In this video, the teacher provides guidance on how to conduct research projects with Multilingual Learners to investigate a topic in which children are interested. The shared research project provides a hands-on, inquiry-based experience to help give content meaning and develop academic language and literacy skills.Read More
Video: Shared Research Project- 3rd grade
In this video, the teacher provides guidance on how to conduct research projects with Multilingual Learners to investigate a topic children are interested in. The shared research project provides a hands-on, inquiry-based experience to help give content meaning and develop academic language and literacy skills.Read More
Video & Video Guide: Integrated Thematic Unit – 3rd Grade
This video provides a rich opportunity to look inside a classroom and note the intentional supports for English language and literacy development embedded in a thematic unit of study. The teacher implements a Daily 5 structure, which allows Multilingual Learners to learn both academic language and content across multiple modalities and learning activities. The accompanying guide suggests moments in the video to pause to notice teachers’ practice, along with prompts for reflection and discussion.Read More
Video: Transfer and Integrated ELD in a Bilingual Classroom
The teacher in this bilingual classroom makes an intentional plan to develop literacy and oral language skills in two languages. She begins content instruction in Spanish to strengthen Multilingual Learners' understanding of key concepts, and then purposefully transitions to an integrated ELD block to offer speaking and writing practice in English.Read More
Video: Integrated & Designated ELD- Kindergarten
In this integrated ELD video, the teacher focuses on developing the academic English language that Multilingual Learners need to access content instruction. She uses chants, repetition, small group instruction, and numerous other supports.Read More
Strategy Overview: Vocabulary in Context
This resource introduces teachers to all of the ways that vocabulary can be introduced, reinforced, and practiced across multiple lessons and activities. This helps Multilingual Learners learn key academic and content words in context.Read More
Strategy Overview: Graphic Organizers
A graphic organizer is a visual map or diagram that displays relationships between facts, concepts, or ideas. For Multilingual Learners, this kind of visual display of information can lessen cognitive load and support transfer of knowledge across languages.Read More
Strategy Overview: Draw and Label
The teacher talks about a content concept while drawing and labeling an image with academic vocabulary. Through this strategy, the teacher uses oral and visual cues to help students develop and practice the language in context and learn key content.Read More
Video: Engaging Children with Text & Narrative
This video highlights the ways which books and texts can support literacy and oral language development for Multilingual Learners. For example, educators discuss how to introduce and explain new vocabulary words before, during, and after reading.Read More
Template: Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) Planning Grid
This resource provides a Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) planning grid template. The planning grid includes spaces for teachers to select words or phrases from a text and to plan on how they will use and reinforce the target words.Read More
Sample: Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) Planning Grid
This resource provides an example of a completed Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) planning grid. In this planning grid, the teacher has selected target words and has planned how to reinforce target words by using them throughout the day and across contexts.Read More
Video: Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) Using Planning Tools and Strategies
This video explains how to support Multilingual Learners’ oral language development by using a vocabulary planning document and a Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) planning grid. These tools help teachers select target words or phrases from a text and reinforce them throughout the day.Read More
Video: Intentional Message
In these videos, a teacher explains how to create an intentional message to use with Multilingual Learners. The intentional message helps teachers reinforce target words while they interact with children.Read More
Video: Anchor Texts
In these videos, teachers discuss the importance of having an anchor text and using target words throughout the day. The videos also show how to engage in interactive reading and explain vocabulary words before, during, or after reading.Read More
