Top Techniques For Helping Ell Students Succeed In School

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 30, 2025, 4:07 AM

top techniques for helping ell students succeed in school

Boost ELL student success with differentiated lessons, visual aids, peer tutoring, and tech tools for inclusive classrooms. Imagine a classroom where students from diverse linguistic backgrounds are not only present but thriving. With the growing diversity in our schools, the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) is steadily increasing. But how can educators effectively support these students in mainstream classrooms? Supporting ELL students requires intentional strategies that address their unique needs and promote an inclusive learning environment. By integrating these practices, teachers can help ELL students succeed academically and socially.

This post explores various support strategies for ELL students, the benefits of these practices, and practical tips for implementation. Through real-world case studies and actionable advice, discover how schools can transform their instructional methods to better support ELL students. Join us as we delve into the powerful impact of effective ELL support in education. English Language Learners (ELLs) are students who are learning English in addition to their native language. These students often face unique challenges, including language barriers and cultural differences, that can impact their academic performance and social integration. Historically, ELL education focused on separate, specialized programs.

However, there has been a shift towards integrating ELL students into mainstream classrooms to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for all students. This evolution reflects the growing recognition of the importance of inclusive education and the benefits of diverse learning environments. Quick Answer: Looking for effective strategies to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom? We’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll share 20 research-based strategies that have been proven to increase ELL student achievement. From creating a welcoming classroom environment to incorporating visual aids and providing targeted language support, these strategies will help you create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for your ELL students.

Let’s dive in! As educators, it’s crucial to provide effective support for English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom. ELL students come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and they require specialized strategies to help them succeed academically and socially. In this section, we’ll explore research-based practices that have been proven to increase ELL student achievement. ✅ Strategy 1: Establish a Welcoming Atmosphere: Create a warm and inclusive classroom environment where ELL students feel valued and supported. Foster a sense of belonging by displaying multicultural materials, celebrating diversity, and encouraging students to share their cultural backgrounds.

✅ Strategy 2: Set Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate classroom rules, routines, and expectations to ELL students. Use visual cues, gestures, and simplified language to ensure understanding. Provide visual schedules and checklists to help ELL students navigate their daily tasks. ✅ Strategy 3: Use Visual Cues: Incorporate visual aids, such as posters, charts, and labels, to support ELL students’ comprehension. Visual cues can help ELL students understand instructions, vocabulary, and concepts more easily. 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. 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. (This is the first post in a two-part series.) What is the single most effective instructional strategy you have used to teach English-language learners? This series is part of a longer series of questions and answers inviting educators from various disciplines to share their “single most effective instructional strategy.” Last week, educators shared their recommendations when it came to teaching writing. Today, Valentina Gonzalez, Denita Harris, Cindy Garcia, and Deedy Camarena offer their responses.

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Teachers of any subject can use these tips to help English language learners be more engaged and at ease in class. While we bring the mental health needs of our students into laser focus this year, it’s still crucial that we keep the social and emotional world of our English language learners (ELLs) front and... Just like their peers, ELL students come to our classrooms with the burning need to be seen and acknowledged for their unique personalities, life experiences, and talents. But language challenges can obstruct all these amazing facets of their personalities. Additionally, the social pressures of suddenly being in person again and needing to communicate may make them feel anxious, isolated, and embarrassed. Because of the often-obvious communication difficulties, grade-level and subject-area teachers understandably often rely on ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers to step in and help these students.

However, even if you aren’t an ESL teacher, there’s a plethora of strategies you can use to help these incredible students feel comfortable sharing their strengths and unique perspectives on the world. 1. Closed captioning isn’t just for the hearing impaired. If you’re showing video content, turning on closed captioning supports ELL students’ comprehension as well as everyone’s literacy skills. According to a 2017 study, the simple act of using closed captioning improves learning, even for students without learning challenges. 2.

Voice typing in Google Docs (under the Tools menu) provides students with a voice-to-text option that can help learners who have some oral language but struggle with spelling and writing. By clicking the arrow next to the language, students can even dictate a text in their native language, if need be, and then use Google Translate to translate it. Learn how educators can support the success of their English language learners (ELLs). They will be useful for a wide range of audiences, including new and veteran teachers of ELLs, paraprofessionals, tutors, and administrators at the school and district level. See our ELL strategy library for great ideas, tips, and resources! You Are Welcome Here (#DearbornWelcome) is an award-winning 20-minute film from Colorín Colorado highlighting how the Dearborn, MI public school district is helping its immigrant students succeed.

The film features Salina Elementary School and Salina Intermediate School in the South End of Dearborn which serve large populations of families from Yemen.

Top Techniques For Helping Ell Students Succeed In School

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