February 05, 2003 If you’re working with an ELL student and are
having difficulty communicating with the child, here’s what I
suggest: Label everything in your room that he'll need to use.
From here on in, find pictures to fit as many concepts as you
can, and label those, too. Use them often during lessons.
Pictures/objects with labels shown together are the most
powerful tool you'll have for awhile. Put together a picture or
word dictionary of some type for him to add to as you go along.
Find a volunteer/peer/parent, anyone friendly who can spend some
ongoing time with him when he's not in ESOL -- or you, if you
have few minutes. The most basic technique is to consciously
slow down your speech and consistently control the vocabulary
you use, along with acting things out as much as you can. It's
work, but SO rewarding! At first you should just point and ask
him to repeat single words. Go on short walks to important
places around the room, building, and playground, getting
acclimated. Pretty soon, two words wi