English Language Learners and Children at Risk

Chapter 7 of Fox this week talks about teaching ELL students and children at risk.  I enjoyed reading this chapter because I was once a ELL student long ago, and I was able to relate myself to many points Fox was making.  I found this chapter to be really helpful because in my main placement, there are about 4 ELL students I'll be working with in Spring.  Reading chapter 7 of Fox really helped me to better understand how ELL students learn and in ways I can help them. 

I remember going to to a ELL specialist in 2nd grade to learn phonics and read books together.  Back then, I didn't know that it was called "phonics," just doing the work I was told to do.  As a bilingual adult now, I realize how that short time of learning phonics with my specialist was crucial in my time of learning English.  I was able to learn quickly how letters together make sounds and how words are formed.  Because I understand how crucial it is to teach phonics, I hope to better assist ELL students by learning ways to support them. 
I found Fox's tips on teaching, reading, and sharing literacy with English Language Learners to be very helpful on pg. 230. 

1. Adapt instruction to children's English language proficiency, culture, and experiences.
2. Use culturally familiar text to assess reading ability.
3. Connect children's life experiences and home language with your classroom reading program.
4. Develop children's ability to speak their home language and English.
5. Use predictable books to practice and reinforce English language patterns and vocabulary.
6. Read aloud to children.
7. Have children write often and for a variety of purposes. 

Fox, B.J. (2008). Word identification strategies building phonics into a classroom reading program. New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.