4 Ways to Differentiate Reading Responses for ESL Students
Teaching students to write reading responses is already challenging, but differentiating for various English proficiency levels can turn it into a daunting task. In this blog post you’ll learn how to differentiate reading responses for those struggling ESL (English as a Second Language) students in our classes. We know it's not always easy, but with the right strategies and a little bit of patience, we can make a world of difference.
Tailoring for English Language Learners
Why is differentiating reading responses so important for our English language learners? Well, because we're dealing with a diverse group, each with their unique language abilities and background. The one-size-fits-all approach doesn't cut it here. Our goal is to make sure they comprehend the text before we expect them to write a response.
Let's break it down into actionable steps.
Discuss the Topic with ELLs Beforehand
Before you begin reading the text, give them a sneak peek of what's coming. Discuss the topic, show videos, or throw in some visuals related to the content. It's like setting the stage before a performance. This pre-exposure gets them ready for the reading ahead, making it less intimidating.
Comprehension: Guided Discussions and Reading Aloud to ESL Students
The most important step in ensuring your ELLs will write an accurate reading response is to make sure they understand what they’re reading. Without this step, any response is impossible. Hold guided discussions about the text before diving into reading it. This not only sets the stage but also gets those gears turning.
Read and discuss the text aloud. Make it feel like storytelling time, and our ESL students love it. The more we involve them, the better their comprehension. Reading aloud is like the secret sauce for ESL students. It's not just about the words on the page; it's about bringing them to life. When we read out loud, we help our English language learners grasp the language's rhythm, pronunciation, and juicy bits of vocabulary. It's like having a conversation with the text, and it makes everything click in their heads.
Connecting the Text to the Real Life of ESL Students
As you’re discussing the text, relate it to their real-life experiences. Discuss how the story, topic, or characters resonate with them personally. This connection makes the text more relatable and holds their interest. You can also connect informational text to their real-life experiences. Whether it’s science or history, always make the connection to something relatable to them. It’s so much easier and more fun when everyone knows what’s going on in your class.
Scaffold Using Graphic Organizers to Help ESL Students
Graphic organizers are like roadmaps for our thoughts. Give them tools like mind maps, Venn diagrams, or T-charts to help organize their ideas before diving into the writing. It's like giving them a blueprint for their responses. We have so many thoughts in our heads that it can be difficult to write them down in perfect paragraphs without some type of organization. Graphic organizers provide that organization.
Pre-teach Vocabulary:
English language learners need that vocabulary boost. Teach them the key terms and phrases related to the text beforehand. It's like handing them a treasure chest of words. The more they know, the better they can articulate their thoughts. Pre-teaching vocabulary works wonders on its own, but when you pair it with reading aloud while discussing new terms, you open a door to a garden of words full of understanding.
Extensive Modeling of Steps: An Essential Step for English Language Learners
Lead by example. Extensive modeling is like showing them the ropes. I’m talking about demonstrating the entire process of constructing reading responses with detailed examples. The idea is to let them see how it's done, step by step. It's like teaching them a recipe, and you're the master chef. This is scaffolding at its best. You’ll most likely need to do this more times than you want, as ELLs need repetition to internalize any concept, especially if they’ve never done it before.
The Benefit of Using Sentence Starters for ELLs
Some ELLs may be hesitant to start. That's where sentence starters come in. These prompts can help them kickstart their responses, and slowly but surely, they'll gain the confidence to express themselves. I’ve used this strategy with monolingual, on-level English speakers as well and it’s worked wonders. Sometimes they just need a way to get started and sentence starters are perfect for that.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Absolutely, providing sentence starters can greatly assist ESL students in formulating their responses to reading. Here are some examples for stating a claim, presenting evidence from the text, and reflecting on their findings:
Stating a Claim:
"In my opinion, the text suggests that..."
"From my perspective, I believe that..."
"It is evident from the text that..."
"The main idea of the passage is..."
"One key point the author makes is..."
Stating Evidence from the Text:
"For instance, in the text, it says..."
" According to the author, 'quote from the text'..."
"The text explicitly states that..."
"In paragraph [number], it mentions..."
"Evidence supporting this is found when the author writes..."
Reflecting on Findings:
“This makes me think that..."
"Based on what I read, I can infer that..."
"This information leads me to conclude that..."
"This connects to my own experiences because...
"After reading, I now understand that..."
Mastering Textual Evidence: Teaching ESL Students How to Use Important Textual Evidence
Now, for the heart of reading responses—textual evidence. Teach them how to pick those golden nuggets from the text. It's like teaching them how to find treasures in a hidden cave. They need to know how to select and cite the right examples from the text. This takes lots of practice and modeling.
Annotation is your reading buddy. Provide your ESL students with a highlighter, sticky notes, or digital tools. While you read together, underline or highlight important quotes, jot down questions, and comment on key passages. These notes will be their map to understanding and provide evidence when writing a reading response.
Start simple and then gradually introduce more complex texts. It's like climbing a ladder one step at a time. This scaffolded approach eases them into the world of challenging materials. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day!
In a Nutshell
There you have it, the toolbox of strategies to differentiate reading responses for our English language learners. The key takeaway? Patience, patience, and a bit more patience. Our ESL students are on a unique journey, and it's our role to guide them every step of the way.
In the end, it's all about ensuring comprehension and empowerment. These kids have the potential, and with these strategies, they can shine in their reading responses.
Need to practice reading responses? Check these out!
