English Language Learners bring much diversity to our classrooms.  In some cases, these students can be overlooked by teachers because they are quiet and well-behaved.  Many times, because of communication barriers, teachers are unsure how to approach these students and how to accommodate their instruction to meet the needs of these diverse learners.

 

In their text, Mastering ESL and Bilingual Methods: Differentiated Instruction for Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students (2005), Herrera and Murry note:

 

“…when CLD student differences are appropriately accommodated and classroom instruction is purposefully differentiated for diversity, these students not only match the academic performance of their native-English-speaking peers, but also their academic gains may actually exceed those of their grade-level contemporaries.” (p. 11)

 

This section of the website provides ideas, tips, and links that can be helpful to teachers seeking to adapt their lessons for their ELL students.