Ideas and resources for parents of ESL/ELL students
These reviewed resources offer information so share with parents of ESL/ELL students. Some are resources parents can use at home with children to reinforce language skills. Others include suggested activities ESL/ELL learners can begin in school and share with parents. Be sure to read the "In the Classroom" suggestions for ways these reviewed resources can build language skills both at home and at school.
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Storynory: Kids Audio Stories - Blog Relations: Matthew Lynn and Hugh Fraser
Grades
K to 5In the Classroom
Beginning readers will enjoy this site as much as more capable readers, listening intently to the high quality presentation. Share this site with parents in your class newsletter or from your teacher web page. Use it also when you read Alice in Wonderland, and when you teach the concept of "series" stories (try the "Bertie" stories). ESL/ ELL and learning support students will benefit from reading and hearingstories at the same time. Project the story on an interactive whiteboard or projector with small groups of readers so students can follow along and even highlight words during the audio reading.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Robert Munsch Poems & Stories - Robert Munsch
Grades
K to 5In the Classroom
Set up these recordings as a center with the book at hand and headphones for your students. Or play them for the whpoole class with your speakers turned up after lunch or at the end of the day. Include the link on your teacher web page and newsletter for parents, as well.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Elementary School Literacy - Thinkport
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): literacy (106)
In the Classroom
Preview the video clips before recommending them to students or using in class, since the quality of video and audio varies significantly. None is designed for full screen projection, though some will project about half-screen. Share a partial video with the class or as a center to inspire children to read a book or allow them to watch videos after they have read books. (A Dark, Dark tale would be great for Halloween week). Remember to turn up speakers for group viewing or provide headphones at your center. If you are ready to try podcasting, use these dramatic readings as models for students to record some of their favorite selections as a podcast (and possibly illustrate with student artwork). Share this link with parents on your web page or in your newsletter to encourage reading at home. Most of the books will be in our school library, so students can follow along. School librarians should know about this site as well! ESL students and weaker readers always benefit from listening to different voices read the same story as they follow along.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Little Critter World Wide Network - Mercer Mayer
Grades
K to 3tag(s): preK (254)
In the Classroom
Select items on this site to use as a center or whole-class activity after you read a Little Critter book to your class. Share this link on your teacher web page and/or in a parent newsletter for those who love these books. ESL students will enjoy listening to having the books read as they follow along on the pages of the book. You will want to be sure that students steer clear of the "store" section where Little Critter items are sold.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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KIDiddles Song Lyrics - KIDiddles
Grades
K to 3In the Classroom
Turn up your speakers, then share this site with the school librarian and parents for great times using songs with fingerplays, dances, and other activities. Sing along as a center by finding a song to fit this week's classroom theme or invent your own class set of words to a familiar tune once your students know the original. Students can write verses, and the entire class create a chorus!Use songs with elementary ESL/ELL students help perfect pronunciation, intonation, and memory of English phrases. Include this link on your teacher web page for parents to help speech or ESL/ELL students "sing along" at home.
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Colorin Colorado - WETA
Grades
1 to 10tag(s): hispanic (28), parents (60), reading lists (80), reading strategies (96), spanish (104)
In the Classroom
All classroom teachers who have ENL/ESL students should consider this a primary source of information about how to teach and help second language learners. Share this link on your teacher web page and/or in a parent newsletter for those who are concerned with the challenges of the increasing number of ENL/ESL students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Foreign Languages - South Carolina ETV and ITV
Grades
1 to 6In the Classroom
Share the videos as a whole-class lesson on a projector. You will need speakers for the audio portions of this site. Include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access as a reference. As you study different continents or cultures, include a little of the language to expose your students to the "sounds" of other places. If you have ESL students in your class, share a video for the native English speakers to better understand the experience of learning a new language.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Soaring High With Kites - everythingesl.net
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): poetry (188), vocabulary (235)
In the Classroom
Plan a kite day in the fall or spring and use all or part of these plans to learn new words, build kites, and even fly them before you write about them. This would be a terrific activity to include parents at school year's end.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Transparent Language: Hear Portuguese Survival Phrases - Transparent Language
Grades
K to 12tag(s): gifted (64), portuguese (22)
In the Classroom
Use the Portuguese "word-of-the-day" tool to help ELL students transition into an english speaking classroom. In addition to their daily lessons, use this translated word of the day to provide them with extra vocabulary. To help students overcome social shyness, have them teacher their classmates the word of the day in Portuguese and English - allowing them to practice speaking in and English as well as maintain ownership of their primary language.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ESL Teacher Handouts, Grammar Worksheets, and Printables - Using English.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): grammar (133), worksheets (70)
In the Classroom
ESL/ELL teachers may want to share this source with regular classroom teachers and with parents to help provide students with extra practice. Some of your larning support students may benefit from them, as well. Don't forget to print the answer sheet, as well!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tips for Parents of Third Graders - Reading Rockets
Grades
3 to 3tag(s): literacy (106)
In the Classroom
As students approach their first high-stakes testing, every little bit helps. Give these tips out at conferences, in backpacks, or as a link on your teacher web page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tips for Parents of Second Graders - Reading Rockets
Grades
2 to 2In the Classroom
Bring in the parents to help prepare children for third grade reading testing by getting them involved. Send home the printable, give it out at conferences, and/or include the link on your teacher web page. Everyone will win!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tips for Parents of First Graders - Reading Rockets
Grades
1 to 1In the Classroom
Send these home in the backpack parade or include the link from your teacher web page (or both).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tips for Parents of Kindergarteners - Reading Rockets
Grades
K to 0In the Classroom
Send these home in the backpack parade or include the link from your teacher web page (or both).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Word-to-Picture/Picture-to-Word Games
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): animals (278), geometric shapes (135), sports (78), verbs (27), vocabulary (235)
In the Classroom
Use these games to help students practice English in an ENL/ESL classroom. Pair students on classroom computers, trying to place students with comparatively achieving peers. Have students compete to see who can get the most words matched, or who has the best memory. This allows students to have fun with the games, especially if they get tired of playing some of these alone. Be sure to mark the site on classroom computers, making it easier for students to get there and to post a link on your classroom website for students and parents to use together at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Tale to be Told - Martha Sullivan/Missouri Schoolweb
Grades
4 to 7In the Classroom
Use this web-quest as a hands-on practice activity for students following a lesson on folk tales. Have students complete the activity in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Be sure to help your weaker readers and ESL students by sharing the vocabulary words prior to reading, either on a handout or by projecting on an interactive whiteboard and highlighting them in the text as you come to them. English teachers will like the interactive part of this site, and students always enjoy a chance to work on computers!To make it more interactive, have students create and illustrate their stories on an online book-maker, such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Teachers can post the stories on the class webpage, allowing parents to get to see the finished products!
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Aaron Shepard - Aaron Shepard
Grades
1 to 8tag(s): folktales (34), plays (27), readers theater (10), stories and storytelling (40), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Click on Aaron's RT Page to find scripts for plays and tales you can use in the classroom. Use this website to find hints on how to dramatize the literature or folklore you're studying in the classroom. ESL students will find using Reader's Theater particularly helpful as they can read, speak, and listen to the materials and have more chances at comprehension. Similarly, students who are visual or oral learners will benefit from the multi-sensory presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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