Mod 9 Discussion of my English Language Learners

In an inclusive classroom, early literacy strategies that support both English Language Learners (ELLs) and native English speakers should focus on language-rich, culturally responsive instruction. Here are several strategies I’ve found effective and easily differentiated for cross-cultural communication:

1. Language Experience Approach (LEA)
   This strategy uses students' personal experiences as the basis for reading and writing. ELLs contribute orally to a shared story, which the teacher transcribes. Students then read the story together and independently. This validates students' backgrounds and builds fluency using familiar vocabulary.

2. Interactive Word Walls
   Create thematic word walls with visuals and student examples. Include common sight words, academic vocabulary, and words from students' home languages when possible. This supports vocabulary development and provides a daily reference tool for both ELLs and native speakers.

3. Picture Walks & Shared Reading
   Before reading, take students through the images in a book to activate prior knowledge and build background. ELLs benefit from visual context and oral discussion, which helps with comprehension and language development.

4. KWL Charts (Know, Want to know, Learned)
   These help students access background knowledge and set learning goals. It's particularly effective with ELLs when paired with visuals, L1 support, or sentence frames to help them express ideas more confidently.

5. Choral Reading & Repeated Read-Alouds
   These help ELLs with fluency and pronunciation while lowering the pressure of reading alone. Repeated exposure to vocabulary and sentence structures builds confidence and comprehension.

Each of these strategies is low-prep, highly effective, and allows for flexible differentiation. They foster a classroom environment where students of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds feel seen, supported, and capable.