Best practices are intended to support multilingual learners (MLs) in all classes, no matter their proficiency level. These strategies are expected to be used by all teachers within lessons, assignments, and assessments to support MLs and all learners. Best practices are strategies that educators can quickly implement within daily instruction, activities, and classroom assessments.
An accommodation changes how information and concepts are presented or practiced ensuring that each student has the opportunities and support needed to learn. Accommodations do not reduce the learning expectations and should be chosen based on the student’s individual needs and not applied arbitrarily to all MLs. Accommodations are not to be viewed as an advantage to the student; accommodations provide access to the content for the student.
Accommodations:
Provide access to grade-level curriculum;
Alter the environment, not the curriculum;
Do not change the learning outcomes;
Happen in the content-area classroom; and
Should not impact grading, though how learning is assessed may change.
*Provide Word Banks is also a best practice.
Description
A word bank provides core vocabulary to support writing, reading, and speaking. Providing students with a small group of core tier 2 and 3 words related to the learning task supports academic vocabulary growth and promotes expressive language. Frequent exposure of tier 2 and 3 words through word bank use also promotes reading fluency and comprehension.
Example:
Use the words below to help you write about the plant life cycle.
- grow
- absorb
- convert
- develop
- life cycle
- germinate
- embryo
- pistil
- stamen
- seedling
- pollinator
|
Teacher |
Student |
 |
The teacher provides core tier 2 and 3 words related to the content being covered. The teacher can model how to use a word from the bank in a sentence and cross it out once it used. |
The student uses the core vocabulary provided to to write or speak about a topic. |
|
Teacher |
Student |
 |
“Use the words in the box to help you write what you have learned about the plant life cycle.” |
“I don’t remember how to spell it. I can look in the box to find the word.” |
| Recommended Domain(s) |
Recommended Level(s) |
| Speaking, Reading, Writing |
All levels*
*accommodation is adjusted for levels 4-6 |
