I found the article created by the Ontario Ministry of Education to be interesting and concise in its information on Canadian-born English Language Learners (ELLs). I have not had the opportunity to work with an ELL in my classroom. There is one student in the other Grade 1 classroom who moved to our community from Asia four years ago. After reading this document, I am more intrigued to find out about her progress in the classroom next door.
Despite my limited involvement with English Language Learners, reading through the document I feel that the strategies outlined, while are specially meant to support ELLs, can be beneficial for all learners in the classroom. Explicit instruction, teaching word parts, focusing on phonological awareness, and more text exposure are strategies to support ELLs that will not hurt the average student. Incorporating these strategies will ensure students are receiving the high-quality classroom instruction they need. Separate intervention is not enough for ELLs, they must be exposed to a variety of effective practices in all of their classes. “Intervention effects quickly fade if regular classroom instruction does not extend and support language learning” (Capacity Building Series, 2013). Another area that this article got me thinking about is the need for more Indigenous materials in our Canadian schools. While none of my students speak Cree as their first language, it is an additional language that many families in the community are trying to engage in more frequently. The article discusses the need for inclusiveness and for students to “see themselves in the actual content of the classroom learning” (Capacity Building Series, 2013). I have tried to include Indigenous levelled readers in my classroom. While these books are still written in English, they are written about Indigenous characters and make references to Cree words such as regalia. I believe we have a duty to teach all students in our school in a safe, inclusive, and effective way. References: Ministry of Education (2013). Capacity Building Series: Canadian-born English Language Learners. Secretariat Special Edition #31. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/CBS_CBELL.pdf
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