Follow the Research

​Follow the research!

The first time I heard/read about Virginia P. Collier’s research on second language acquisition was during my first English as a Second Language course in college.
I was blown away by the research that language, culture, and academic development MUST be supported SIMULTANEOUSLY not in isolation.
Read “Promoting Academic Success for ESL Students” book to learn more about this research and more. 

As soon as I began working as an ESL teacher, I began practicing this research & sharing it with my colleagues.
I came to realize that to practice this research, collaboration with mainstream educators was IMPERATIVE.
My first co-teaching experience was intimidating but wonderful. We even ended up looping from 4th grade to 5th grade with our students — The best co-teaching years I've ever had at the elementary level with Ms. Culbreth.

Today, during a webinar (which I highly recommend) I was reminded of this important research— just look at the data in the image below. And though this well-known research across the US is on dual language education, I can't help but be drawn to the ESL pull-out services and its results.

Pulling students out of their mainstream classroom, beyond second-grade, to provide ESL services is detrimental & IT DOESN’T WORK.
I worked with elementary school children and from Kindergarten grades to 2nd grade, students didn't complain about coming to my ESL classroom. However, students in 3rd grade through 5th grade, would prefer staying in the classroom and working in small groups with me. They felt part of the classroom community. They knew they belonged and were different than their peers. 
As my co-teachers and I planned our small group instructions, we intentionally grouped our ESL students mixed in with all students. Our book clubs and group services were so much fun.

So, here're some of the strategies that have worked as I worked with ESL students in mainstream classrooms: 

• Encouraging our students to access content through home language use - This strategy is so powerful and it works. Find out the home literacy level to make sure that the student CAN do the work in his/her language.
• Collaborating with content teachers works! You cannot possibly be in every single one of your student's classrooms...therefore, collaborating with the content teacher is a way to support your students. You can attend PLC meetings (when possible). Before and after school quick chats are great to catch up with teachers about your students. Keep your website updated with helpful tips and resources. If you feel brave enough, blog and share the links with teachers. You could also send bi-weekly newsletters or post flyers with helpful tips. 
• Inclusion is better than EXCLUSION -- and let me just clarify here that we can very well have an excluded feeling in an inclusion classroom. Our students want to feel part of the classroom community. They NEED to feel a sense of belonging and not feel excluded from assignments or activities. If we go into a classroom to provide ESL services to multilingual students, please be aware of how you group the students assigned to you. They are capable to perform at the same level as monolingual English speakers with the appropriate support. 
• Trying to teach a second language in isolation doesn’t work - There is SO MUCH research that proves that second language acquisition occurs when we LEARN something NEW in the targeted language. If you have a stand-alone ESL class, be sure to be using grade-level standards and content to help your students develop the targeted language. You don't want students who are coming to you for ESL classes to feel like they are not worthy of high-quality teaching and learning. You want to be using research-proven practices and high-interest lessons. Check out my "ESL Lessons" category for several lessons I've blogged about. 

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Click image for more about the research

This is just my 11th year teaching ESL so I am still learning and practicing. I'd LOVE to hear from you! What are your thoughts? Are you familiar with this research? How are you practicing this research? What services do you find more effective and why?
Please, share your answers in the comments below and I'll be happy to reply to you.


Thank you so much for reading!