Getting to Know Your Students (ELL)

I believe it is a mistake to group all English as a Second Language Learners together because they all come from different backgrounds even though they speak the same language. In the readings it states, “In many cases, ELL student are grouped together as though they have similar backgrounds, when the only common factor is that they are learning English.” How do educators expect these students to learn from each other when they don’t understand each other? Also it is not the student’s responsibility to teach and help understand other students. The article also states that,” Some students are only able to speak their primary language.” Many students may speak and understand the language but not be able to read or write in their native dialect. Educational history is also a big factor in dealing with these students. The article states that,” Educational histories are also an important distinction to make among students. Some may have little or no schooling because of lack of teachers in rural communities, family poverty, or frequent mobility.” These students all come from different places and should be treated as unique individuals instead of grouped together and isolated. They already feel different and isolated from their classmates because of the problems they have to overcome and the fact that they don’t speak the same language as the teacher and other students.

A student’s virtual backpack is the things they bring with them to class that they have prior knowledge about. The student’s prior knowledge, skills, resources, and values are all stored here. This information can come from family members, friends, community members, and past experiences. This relates to Funds of Knowledge because it’s important not to disregard the child’s virtual back bag. The virtual backpack can be used as a teaching tool to tie in news schemas to already existing ideas.

Resources:

Getting to Know Students: Developing Culturally Relevant Practices for Reading and Writing

Related Resource:
Family Member Activity