8I) Small groups with English proficient peers
Provide children opportunities to work in pairs or small groups with English proficient peers who can serve as language models.
Video: Build on Opportunities to Promote English Language Development
This video shares the importance of using routines (circle time, clean up time) in the classroom to build rich language environments and help expand English language development for young Multilingual Learners.Read More
Video: Barrier Games
This video shows PreK students engaged in barrier games, a fun activity that builds speaking and listening skills.Read More
Video: A Boy and His Puzzle
As a boy plays with a puzzle, both an English-speaking peer and the teacher help him develop and practice English learning.Read More
Video: Soyul & Teacher Yvette—Sandcastles
This video is an excerpt of the intentional work Teacher Yvette makes to help Soyul, a Korean-speaking Multilingual Learner, ask a friend to build a sandcastle. It is an example of providing support to help build peer interactions so children can practice language in an authentic context.Read More
Resource Guide: Barrier Games
This is a list of resources for barrier games to use in the classroom. These games are designed to encourage oral language practice since one student is given information that another student needs.Read More
Digital Book: Developing Oral Language with Barrier Games
Barrier games are designed to promote oral language since one student is given information that another partner student needs. The lesson design encourages students to ask information of one another. This resource provides many example barrier games.Read More
Video: Model Curriculum for English Learners – Historical Perspectives (3rd grade)
An ELD teacher shares how she uses language objectives to design instruction for intermediate-level Multilingual Learners.Read More
Video: Oral Language Development Through Integrated & Designated ELD
This video showcases a series of ELD lessons in a kindergarten class, aimed at preparing Multilingual Learners to orally give and write an opinion. The teacher incorporates both direct instruction and multiple opportunities for students to work with peers.Read More
Video: Integrating ELD Instruction Using Text Reconstruction
This is a 2nd-grade lesson of the text reconstruction ELD strategy, designed to provide access and practice in both English and content instruction. This strategy encourages Multilingual Learners to communicate as they engage with informational text.Read More
Strategy Overview: Strategic Grouping for Home Language Supports
Small group instruction is a key part of instruction for Multilingual Learners. In this resource, teachers find guidelines and rationale for different strategic groupings.Read More
Website Article: 8 Strategies for Preschool ELLs’ Language and Literacy Development
This resource provides a list of research-based strategies to support Multilingual Learners in their language and literacy skills. Strategies include: providing systematic instruction, providing children with opportunities to use language with adults and peers, and designing instruction that integrates all early literacy skills.Read More
Website Article: Promote Peer Support and Interaction
This website article describes how teachers can intentionally structure social opportunities for Multilingual Learners (MLs) and explicitly teach children communication strategies. This article is one part of a multi-page resource about supporting MLs and ML children with disabilities.Read More
Video: Conferring with Young English Language Learners
In this short video, a teacher discusses strategies that support one-on-one conferring with Multilingual Learners, even when she does not speak the home language of the student.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
Strategy Overview: Collaborative Practice
This set of resources guides teachers in developing the structures and supports that learners need to engage in effective group work. This thoughtful setup can enable Multilingual Learners to engage in positive social and academic interactions with peers.Read More
Strategy Overview: Cooperative Strip Paragraph
This shared writing technique structures support for Multilingual Learners in content-based, academic writing. The cooperative learning structure offers students the chance to engage in the writing process in small groups with same language or English proficient peers.Read More
