ELL students

The reading and video this week had many elements from a course I took last semester. In our class we were taught that first and foremost the child's native language should be celebrated and used at home and that it is acceptable in the classroom as well (echoed in the video). I have had parents ask me if they need to speak English at home with their children and we always tell them to speak in their home language! As the video mentioned, students bring sophisticated literacy skills from their native language as well, and will help them in their acquistion of a new language and literacy skills in that new language. In the classroom we were encouraged to use strategies that supported the child's development of Literacy skills in the classroom. Many of these strategies (Print rich environment, speaking with gestures, repetition, fixed schedules) are best practice for all children this age. Like the video also discussed, it is very important to find out what knowledge your ELL students come in with (in their native language).

Another discussion that often came up in class was the importance of ELL services and that best practice dictates that those services are put to best use if they occur within the classroom ( a pushin rather than a pullout method). Some schools use a pullout method exclusively, which means the children are missing class time with their peers and teacher. One of my classmates last semester, an ELL teacher, worked in the classroom, co teaching lessons and modifiying plans so that the children stayed in the room! One of our classes was a meeting with some college aged students who had recieved ELL services in a pullout method while they were in school. They ALL thought that pullout classes were too easy, separated them from other classmates and created a divide between them. Those that had services while in the classroom felt more connected and did not miss aspects of the curriculum. It was very interesting to get a first hand account about what we get right and wrong regarding ELL services.