My students are kindergartners at a Title I public school in Queens, New York. These students are primarily English Language Learners (ELLs). For many of my students, this is their first time in school. Despite the language challenges they face, they are enthusiastic and eager to come to school to learn. Their hope and my goal is the same. It is for each child to meet with success daily. My kindergarten students are in need of many tools in order for them to further develop their physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language skills.
My Project
When planning lessons for English language learners, teachers must brainstorm various ways to make cognitively difficult academic language and concepts clear to second language learners. A great way to make information clear is to present pictures, drawings and visuals that will aid academic vocabulary development.
Colorful and realistic visual aids are perfect for the ESL classroom as they are extremely valuable with helping ELLs understand the material while learning important vocabulary.
When I am able to present a concept to my students using a visual aid, I am helping them build their visual literacy. My students are being provided with something they can connect with that concept, so that subsequently, when they try to recall it, all they have to do is bring up the picture I shared. Students at all levels of competence will benefit from the use of pictures or visuals that are provided using a color printer.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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