Mike’s Blog
Strategies, Ideas and Insights for Teachers and Leaders
Tag: eal learners
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Grab the mini-whiteboards out of their box and start using them to simplify the classroom for your EAL learners
‘Mini-Whiteboards’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale When it comes to EAL learners and mini-whiteboards, perhaps the greatest benefit is their provisional nature. Writing done on a whiteboard, unlike most writing…
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Two easy ways you can get your EAL learners focussing on the connections that underpin English language learning, no matter what you are teaching
‘Matching and Grid Activities’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale Language is built on connections. When learning a new word, we must learn its meaning. The connection between physical sound and…
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An incredibly simple, unbelievably easy way you can help your EAL learners feel more at home, more at ease, and more connected to your classroom, your lessons and your teaching
‘Culturally Relevant Images’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale Language is dependent on context. This relationship can take many forms. For example: Another key aspect in the contextualisation of language is…
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The number one strategy you can call on to help your EAL learners feel more confident using new keywords and vocabulary
‘Pre-teach Vocabulary’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale You need to know what something is before you can use it. When working with something for the first time, we often begin…
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Understand the crucial steps any teacher can take to support their EAL learners and create a successful, inclusive classroom
You are an English Language Expert In every lesson you teach, you are the most skilled user of English. We usually take this position of unparalleled proficiency for granted. Everything…
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How to use questioning to put your EAL learners at ease, draw them into the lesson and help them get more out of your teaching
Simple Questioning Techniques to Support EAL Learners: Explanation and Rationale Teachers ask thousands of questions every week. Learners try to provide answers. Some research suggests that in a thirty-year career,…
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Leverage the power of your classroom support to ensure your EAL learners feel engaged and connected to the lessons you teach
‘Using Learning Support Assistants to Support EAL Learners’: Explanation and Rationale Learning support assistants (LSAs), also known as Teaching Assistants (although some schools may employ people as both and differentiate…
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Instantly simplify any question for your EAL learners by giving them longer to think about what they know – even if it means accepting an awkward silence or two
‘Thinking Time’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale Good thinking takes time. Although some decisions can be made in an instant, with many of these leading to sound results, it is…
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One of the most important strategies any teacher can use to ensure their EAL learners feel a genuine connection to their lessons, the classroom, and school life in general
‘Creating Belonging’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale Psychologists have long known the importance a sense of belonging has for people. We have certain needs that must be met for us…
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Immediately make meeting the needs of your EAL learners easier by opening the door to their skills, knowledge and experience
‘Eliciting EAL Learner’s Prior Knowledge’ EAL Strategy: Explanation and Rationale Every learner arrives at every lesson with a wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding. The difficulty for teachers is twofold.…