So, you’ve got English Language Learners joining your social studies class this year, and you want to ensure they feel welcome and supported. Fear not! I’m here to share some killer strategies to help you create an inclusive and engaging learning environment for your ELLs. With these ells strategies, you’ll be set to kick off the school year with a bang!

Ells Strategies 1: Get to Know Your ELLs

Building connections with your students is key, especially for ELLs who might feel overwhelmed in a new environment. Take the time to get to know them personally. Learn about their backgrounds, cultures, interests, hobbies, and goals.

Engage in conversations with them to build trust and rapport. This will help you understand their unique needs and make them feel valued. The more connected they feel to you and their peers, the more confident they’ll become in expressing themselves in English.

Ells Strategies 2: Use Visual Aids and Realia

If you’ve read any of my blog posts, you know I’m always talking about visuals. You’re probably like, “Stop talking about visuals!” Okay, I know it’s redundant, but we can’t completely avoid visuals.

ELLs are visual learners. So incorporating visual aids into your lessons will work wonders. You can also use real-life objects (realia). Maps, charts, graphs, and images can help clarify complex concepts. This will make them more accessible to ELLs.

Ells Strategies 3: Simplify Your Language

Remember, you’re the English pro here! Use simple language when explaining new concepts. Avoid using complex jargon or idioms that may confuse your ELLs. Speak slowly and enunciate, but avoid sounding patronizing. It’s about finding balance and ensuring your ELLs grasp the content.

However, feel free to infuse your teaching with excitement and energy. This will keep everyone interested in the subject matter.

Ells Strategies 4: Incorporate Cooperative Learning

Group activities and cooperative learning are gold mines for ELLs. ELLs can practice their English skills in a supportive environment by working with their peers. Encourage them to speak. Also, don’t hesitate to mix and match students to ensure diverse language levels in each group.

Ells Strategies 5: Encourage Multilingualism

Many ELLs are bilingual or multilingual, which is a fantastic asset. Encourage them to maintain their native languages. This will aid their cognitive development and overall language skills. Additionally, this can create a more inclusive atmosphere where linguistic diversity is celebrated. It’s an excellent opportunity for everyone to learn from each other.

Use their home language in your lessons, directions, and worksheets. Also, let your ELLs respond in their home language. (You’ll want to have them answer on the computer, if possible).

Ells Strategies 6: Provide Scaffolding and Graphic Organizers

Offer scaffolding techniques to support your ELLs as they navigate the language barriers. Provide them with sentence starters, word banks, or graphic organizers. These will help structure their thoughts and writing. These tools can boost their confidence and independence in-class activities.

Ells Strategies 7: Foster a Language-Rich Environment

Create a language-rich classroom. You can do this by displaying essential vocabulary, sentence structures, and grammar rules. Additionally, use word walls, bulletin boards, and posters as visual aids. These can act as friendly reminders for ELLs. This consistent reinforcement of language elements will help them internalize new concepts.

You can even dedicate a “word of the day” corner to introduce new vocabulary and phrases. A language-rich environment will provide constant exposure to English and boost language development.

Grab my free lesson bundle for ideas for supporting the ELLs in your social studies classes! It includes vocab activities.

Ells Strategies 8: Model and Encourage Academic Language

ELLs often need help with academic language, which differs from everyday conversational English. Model and explicitly teach academic language used in your subject area. Encourage students to use these phrases in discussions and writing. This reinforces their grasp of subject-specific terminology.

Ells Strategies 9: Embrace Technology

Use technology to enhance your ELLs’ learning experience. Interactive language learning apps, language translation tools, and educational videos can all be valuable resources. Make sure the technology you use is accessible to all students.

Ells Strategies 10: Make History Relevant and Relatable

Social studies is about history but doesn’t have to be dry and distant. Relate historical events to your students’ lives and current events. Help them see the connections between the past and the present. This will make the subject matter more relatable and meaningful to your ELLs.

More Strategies:

Use Storytelling as a Teaching Tool

Storytelling is an age-old method of passing down knowledge. Plus, it’s an excellent strategy for teaching ELLs too! Create engaging stories that tie into your lessons. This will captivate their attention and make complex topics easier to understand. It will also enhance language comprehension.

Offer One-on-One Support

While group activities are great, ELLs might sometimes need one-on-one attention. Sit with them individually, address their concerns, and provide extra guidance. A little personal touch can go a long way in boosting their confidence and progress.

Cultivate a Culture of Inclusion

Above all, foster a culture of inclusion and acceptance in your classroom. Encourage all students, regardless of their language abilities, to learn from one another. Emphasize the importance of teamwork and empathy. Then watch as your students form a robust and diverse learning community.

Embrace this diversity and make it a cornerstone of your teaching. Explore different cultures together and encourage students to share their traditions and customs. This will foster a sense of belonging and respect for one another.

So there you have it, a bundle of “ells strategies” to help you kick off the school year with your ELLs in mind. Remember, it’s all about creating an environment where your students feel valued, challenged, and empowered to excel.

Don’t forget to Grab my 5 Foolproof Strategies to Support ELs in Your Social Studies Classes lesson bundle. It’s chock full of some of the strategies discussed in this post.

Like this post? Check out another one: Strategies That Matter: How to Use SIOP’s Building Background in Social Studies!