Spelling and the ESL Child - Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
"It is critically important that teachers respect and understand
cultural differences," says Lilly Cheng. "Our job is to help
children understand that they are not rejecting their primary
language, but simply building on it to learn a new language."
Considerations for Children Whose First Language Is Spanish:
Medrano Children whose native language is Spanish use what they
know or have in their schemata about Spanish spelling to learn
and master English spelling. As learners they perceive
themselves as readers and writers in one language, and they
emulate the same awareness in other languages. We as teachers
need to help them see themselves as able to read, spell, and
write and to become sensitive to using words. ESL students need
to hear repetitive nursery rhymes and benefit from other
phonemic awareness activities. Since learning to spell requires
visual discrimination, it is crucial that teachers create print-
rich environments filled with post