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English Language Learners (ELL) in the Mainstream

Part Three: Sample Teaching Models and Strategies

Model Two: Consultation Model
 

In this model, the ESL teacher does not regularly come into the mainstream content classroom. She/he may occasionally assist in the classroom on specific lessons, but this is not a planned or built into the schedule. The ESL teacher is available to provide information and suggest alternative instructional materials and/or assessments for ELLs in mainstream content classes.

Instructional Suggestions may include:

  • Use of alternative materials [e.g. ESL content materials]
  • Limiting the amount of content reading for the ELL
  • Providing visual representations of written content
  • Explanations and examples of how to visually demonstrate and/or explain content [e.g. pictures, realia, manipulatives, word walls, etc.]
  • Sharing the “Use a Variety of Instructional Strategies”

Assessment Suggestions may include:

  • Performance rather than score-based tests
  • Modified testing materials, which include word banks, modified wording of directions and questions, fewer questions, etc. Below are three versions of a current events quiz. The first is a quiz given to mainstream students, the second and third contain sentence vocabulary and structure modifications, as well as word choices for answers.

Regular . . .

Story E . . . An Update on Mars

1. a. The second rover landed safely! Its name is ____________________________.

    b. How near is it to the first one?

        ________________________________________________

2. a. And what was the name of the first rover? ______________________

    b. This one has had technical difficulties that are really quite serious.

    Describe these difficulties.

    _________________________________________________________________

Modified . . .

Story E . . . An Update on Mars

1. a. The second rover landed safely! Its name is…

___Discovery ___Spirit ___Opportunity ___Columbia ___Atlantis

    b. TRUE or FALSE? (circle one)
        The new rover is on the opposite side of Mars from the first one.

2. a. And what was the name of the first rover? ______________________
        (choose from #1)

    b. This one has had problems that are really quite serious . . .

__can’t send messages back to earth

__it’s running out of oxygen for the astronauts


Super modified . . .

Story E . . . An Update on Mars

1. a. The second rover to go to Mars is called…

___Discovery ___Spirit ___Opportunity

b. TRUE or FALSE? (circle one)
    The new rover is on the other side of Mars.

2. a. The name of the first Mars rover is…

___Discovery ___Spirit ___Opportunity

b. TRUE or FALSE? (circle one)
    The first Mars rover is doing fine.
  • “Think aloud” reflections on questions.
  • Observational checklists.
  • Use of rubrics with above modifications.