Many English-language learners have trouble reading cursive writing, so mainstream teachers can make life easier for them if they write on the blackboard in print letters. That’s one of ten tips for how mainstream teachers can make slight adjustments in their teaching that will help English-learners to follow what’s going on in the classroom, recommended by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (whose contract to operate has ended).
¡Colorín Colorado!, a bilingual Web site for teachers and families of ELLs, sent the list of ten tips out on a listserv yesterday. Among the other tips are reminders for teachers to present information in several ways and to avoid idioms and slang words.
I suppose some educators might feel they shouldn’t have to adjust their teaching for one particular group of students in the classroom. But it doesn’t seem to me that any of the tips suggested would lessen the quality of schooling for other students.
August 14 Clarification: The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory is still operating, but its name has been changed to REL Midwest.