How do you balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs?

1 Know your ELLs

The first step to balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs is to know your ELLs well. This means understanding their cultural backgrounds, language proficiency levels, learning styles, strengths, and challenges. You can use various tools and assessments to gather this information, such as home language surveys, language proficiency tests, interest inventories, learning profiles, and student portfolios. Knowing your ELLs will help you set realistic and appropriate goals, expectations, and supports for them.

2 Adjust the content

The second step to balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs is to adjust the content of your lessons and activities. This means selecting and modifying the curriculum materials, topics, and concepts that are relevant, engaging, and accessible for your ELLs. You can use various strategies to adjust the content, such as pre-teaching vocabulary and background knowledge, scaffolding complex texts and tasks, using visuals and multimedia, and integrating students' prior knowledge and experiences.

3 Vary the process

The third step to balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs is to vary the process of your instruction and practice. This means providing different ways for your ELLs to interact with the content, express their understanding, and develop their skills. You can use various strategies to vary the process, such as grouping students flexibly, using cooperative learning, incorporating hands-on and project-based activities, offering choices and options, and differentiating the pace and level of difficulty.

4 Modify the product

The fourth step to balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs is to modify the product of your assessment and evaluation. This means allowing different ways for your ELLs to demonstrate their learning and progress. You can use various strategies to modify the product, such as using rubrics and criteria, providing feedback and guidance, using multiple and alternative forms of assessment, and allowing for linguistic accommodations and modifications.

5 Support the language

The fifth step to balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs is to support the language development of your ELLs. This means integrating language objectives, instruction, and practice into your content lessons and activities. You can use various strategies to support the language, such as modeling and teaching academic language, using graphic organizers and sentence frames, providing opportunities for oral and written communication, and promoting metacognitive and metalinguistic awareness.

6 Foster the culture

The sixth and final step to balance the linguistic and academic demands of differentiated instruction for ELLs is to foster the culture of your classroom and school. This means creating a positive, respectful, and inclusive learning environment that values and celebrates diversity, equity, and collaboration. You can use various strategies to foster the culture, such as building rapport and trust, establishing norms and routines, acknowledging and addressing bias and stereotypes, and encouraging cross-cultural communication and understanding.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?