63 Supports For English Language Learners The Ultimate List

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 29, 2025, 4:41 PM

63 supports for english language learners the ultimate list

If you want to see the best supports for English language learners all in one place, then you’ll LOVE this (updated) guide. You’ll find 63 different support ideas in this massive list organized by category so that it is easy to reference. This could make a huge difference in the impact you have on your English learner’s experience at your school. This updated guide provides a wealth of ELL & ESL support strategies to help educators better support English language learners in the classroom. By applying these strategies, teachers can foster a more inclusive, engaging environment that ensures success for all ELLs in the classroom. In this section, we’ll cover resource supports for English language learners that can be printed for our students to help them learn target content or access grade-level content.

THE ULTIMATE ELL SUPPORTS DOWNLOAD 💗 Here are 63 different supports for English learners all in one place and organized by category. I'd love to know what you think! Did I miss anything? Teaching English learners can feel like climbing a mountain—exciting, a bit overwhelming, and definitely rewarding once you reach the top. Every student arrives with a unique story, language background, and set of dreams. But here’s the catch: a one-size-fits-all approach won’t cut it.

To truly support these learners, teachers need a toolbox filled with creative, flexible, and culturally responsive strategies. This article explores 63 creative ways to support English learners. From using visuals and gestures to tapping into technology, small-group learning, and even drama or storytelling, you’ll discover strategies that are practical, engaging, and backed by research. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, language tutor, or parent, these ideas will help you make English learning meaningful, fun, and confidence-boosting. So, ready to spark curiosity, build bridges across cultures, and give your students the tools they need to thrive? Let’s dive in.

When words fall short, pictures, charts, and diagrams can do the heavy lifting. Imagine introducing new vocabulary with a vivid image or breaking down a science process with a step-by-step infographic. Visuals cut through the noise, giving learners a clear anchor to grasp meaning. Even something as simple as labeling classroom objects or projecting a diagram on a document camera can transform confusion into clarity. According to Edutopia’s guide on supporting ELLs across all subjects, visuals don’t just aid comprehension—they also reduce anxiety and help students feel included. Words plus movement?

Now that’s a winning combo. Gestures and body language can reinforce meaning faster than translations alone. Think about demonstrating “jump” by literally hopping or pointing skyward to show “up.” That’s Total Physical Response (TPR) in action, and it works wonders, especially with beginners. This article provides classroom teachers with ideas for supporting their ELLs' language development. This article is part of our Strategies for ELL Success guide. If you are a classroom or content-area educator trying to figure out how to teach English language learners (ELLs), you are not alone!

You are off to a good start by looking for ways to support your students! There are many things you can do that will make a big difference to ELLs, and they often prove helpful for other students in the class as well. Here are some ideas to help you begin. Look for a few ideas you can try and one or two topics where you would like to learn more information. Note: This article also includes some research-based recommendations offered by Dr. Diane August in her 2018 American Educator article, Educating English Language Learners: A Review of the Latest Research.

In today’s diverse classrooms, it’s important to implement strategies designed to support multilingual learners (MLLs), also referred to as English language learners (ELLs), in the general education classroom. When considering instructional strategies to use throughout the day, choose the ones that engage students and leverage their strengths. Using a combination of whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 strategies to support MLL students creates a language-rich environment that encourages continued growth and builds an inclusive learning environment. This allows your MLLs to feel supported and confident in the classroom. To support MLLs in groups, it’s best to use simple strategies you can weave into the instructional strategies you’re already using in the classroom. These strategies shouldn’t be seen as “in addition to” or “in place of” what you’re already doing.

The whole-group strategies below are simple yet effective ways to further engage all students in language instruction without requiring extensive planning time. Visual aids, such as photographs, sketches, icons, data, artwork, and videos, are a simple way to make content easier for MLLs to understand. They help MLLs make connections between the English language and their native language. The wide range of ways that visual aids can be used helps ensure that your instruction doesn’t become too predictable or too boring for students while still providing them with engaging ways to learn... While you’re teaching each unit, keep your visuals posted around the room during your instructional unit so students can continue to reference and connect with the visual content. This provides students with a way to continue to reference language and access meaning without having to memorize everything in one single lesson.

Example: The word “colony” has different meanings depending on the context, and it might be a challenging word for your MLLs. If you’re teaching about colonies in social studies, a visual representation of the colonies or what a colony looks like allows your students to connect the word and meaning with their native language and... Imagine this: a classroom where all your learners, regardless of language level, are engaged and actively participating with one another and the content. Supporting English language learners in the classroom is a crucial step in creating an environment that is inclusive of all students. As educators, we strive to meet the diverse needs of all our students, which can often feel overwhelming. With curriculum demands and limited prep time, sometimes it feels impossible.

I’m going to share 5 strategies for supporting English language learners in the classroom in order to create a more inclusive, confident, and language-rich classroom. These strategies don’t create more prep, but do require a thoughtful approach to make each lesson more impactful for your learners. Our ultimate goal is a classroom where our English language learners feel safe, included, and engaged in the curriculum. To be honest, these strategies will also be supportive of all your students —a bonus! Why is it important to integrate students’ home language and culture into the classroom? It makes students feel seen, safe, and valued.

It sets the tone for an inclusive environment where diverse backgrounds are acknowledged and honored. Students who feel important are much more likely to engage with the content and take risks. In languages that reflect your student demographic: Finding ways to honor the culture of your students is crucial for supporting English language learners in the classroom. English language learners (ELLs) are diverse students who struggle to communicate or learn effectively in English as their second language. They often come from homes where English isn’t the primary language and require special instruction in both English and their academic courses.

The achievement gaps between ELLs and their non-ELL peers pose a significant challenge within the educational system. Bridging these gaps is crucial for ensuring ELLs have equal opportunities to succeed academically. Here are key strategies and responsibilities schools can undertake to support English language learners and narrow these achievement gaps. Supporting ELLs is crucial for schools as they strive to provide an inclusive and enriching educational environment. To achieve success, schools need to embrace the following key responsibilities: Schools should use teaching methods proven to be effective when teaching ELLs.

For example, teachers can use fun activities like games and pictures to help ELLs learn new words and concepts or encourage ELLs to practice speaking English by engaging in conversations with classmates. When creating lesson plans and classroom materials for an English learner, schools should rely on strong pedagogical principles and teaching practices. This means developing a high-quality curriculum that aligns with these principles and helps ELLs learn better. Dr. Christina Cipriano from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence explains why social-emotional learning for diverse language learners cannot simply be a translation of emotions, words, and terms since it wouldn't take into account the... To help learners from all cultures and backgrounds, the first and primary part of the SEL program approach includes full family engagement instead of considering it as an after-thought or add-on.

63 Supports For English Language Learners The Ultimate List

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