What should I keep top-of-mind as I teach the ELD instruction in the curricula?
Aug 08, 2025
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- Create a Language Learning Culture
- Center the inquiry approach. Encourage students to get curious: How does the English language work? Can you figure out why the author used this language feature? What happens if we remove the language feature?
- Use all of the Language Maker Routines. Don’t skip them. They are must-haves for all students to meet the standards.
- Focus on the meaning and purpose of language. Continue to hone your understanding of grammar in service of the meaning and purpose of language.
- Embrace success and failure. Celebrate when students use language effectively and accurately; normalize risk-taking and mistakes.
- Some lessons include suggestions to incorporate home language translations into various routines. When doing so, invite students to share what they know, but do not assume multilingual students are familiar with academic vocabulary in their home languages. Strategically identify phrases for translation that would support learning targets and guiding questions. Consult with school experts and families to ensure accuracy.
- Celebrate multilingualism. Begin to learn or continue learning another language yourself. Share your experience with your students.
- Center Conversation Between Students
- Create time and engaging experiences for student-to-student talk.
- Make sure students become skilled at using Conversation Cues with one another.
- Collaborate for Continuous Improvement
- Advocate for yourself: get the help and support you need to do this work well. It's hard, important, and rewarding.
- Plan-Do-Study-Act: Work with leaders and colleagues to observe classrooms and collect data on how well a particular Language Maker Routine is working. Identify a narrow area of need for the group and plan action steps to try. Then do the action steps, study the results, and act on your conclusions. Do this iteratively until you see the improvement you’re looking for.
