Homework and PracticeHomework and PracticeChapter 8Chapter 8

Classroom Instruction that Works Classroom Instruction that Works with English Language Learnerswith English Language Learners

By Jane D. Hill and Kathleen M. By Jane D. Hill and Kathleen M. FlynnFlynn

Why Homework?Why Homework?

• Homework allows students to Homework allows students to practice, review, and apply practice, review, and apply knowledgeknowledge

• It is an effective way to extend It is an effective way to extend learning beyond the school daylearning beyond the school day

General Homework Guidelines General Homework Guidelines for ELLsfor ELLs• Provide students with concrete, Provide students with concrete,

nonlinguistic examples such as nonlinguistic examples such as photographs, real objects, visual photographs, real objects, visual organizers, graphics, organizers, graphics, demonstrations, notes, or outlinesdemonstrations, notes, or outlines

• Give students opportunities to ask Give students opportunities to ask questions and discuss assignments questions and discuss assignments orallyorally

• Provide native language support Provide native language support when possible (bilingual tutors, when possible (bilingual tutors, instructions, or materials)instructions, or materials)

More Homework Guidelines for More Homework Guidelines for ELLs ELLs

• Provide a method for peer support Provide a method for peer support with homeworkwith homework

• Give students modified or additional Give students modified or additional instructionsinstructions

• Teach students learning strategies Teach students learning strategies and tips they can use at homeand tips they can use at home

How Much Homework?How Much Homework?

• Amount of homework should Amount of homework should increase as the students progress increase as the students progress from elementary to high school.from elementary to high school.

• Tell students that homework is based Tell students that homework is based on their level, and it should take “X” on their level, and it should take “X” amount of time to complete amount of time to complete (example)(example)

Parental InvolvementParental Involvement

• All parents can help by providing the All parents can help by providing the place, time, and resources for their child place, time, and resources for their child to do homeworkto do homework

• Special issue with ELL’s parents: many Special issue with ELL’s parents: many do not understand the language of the do not understand the language of the assignmentassignment

• Encourage parents to use their native Encourage parents to use their native language when providing homework language when providing homework support and literacy developmentsupport and literacy development

The Purpose of HomeworkThe Purpose of Homework

• Make sure students know the Make sure students know the purpose of the homework purpose of the homework assignment: assignment:

to practice/elaborate on information to practice/elaborate on information they have already learned,they have already learned,

or to prepare to learn new or to prepare to learn new informationinformation

Feedback on HomeworkFeedback on Homework

• Important for student learning Important for student learning processesprocesses

• Does not always have to be feedback Does not always have to be feedback from the teacherfrom the teacher

• Peer feedback is also helpfulPeer feedback is also helpful

Homework PolicyHomework Policy

• Inform students and parents about Inform students and parents about the purpose the purpose

• Estimate amount of work students will Estimate amount of work students will receive and time they should spendreceive and time they should spend

• Discuss consequences for not Discuss consequences for not completing homeworkcompleting homework

• Suggest ways parents can helpSuggest ways parents can help

Adapting Homework Feedback Adapting Homework Feedback to Different Language Levelsto Different Language Levels

• Level 1: a peer helping with word selection Level 1: a peer helping with word selection (vocab)(vocab)

• Level 2: classmates model correct Level 2: classmates model correct grammargrammar

• Level 3: classmates model and explain Level 3: classmates model and explain how to expand or combine sentences or how to expand or combine sentences or other processesother processes

• Level 4-5: share their ideas with other Level 4-5: share their ideas with other students, using academic Englishstudents, using academic English

Other Tips for Adapting Other Tips for Adapting HomeworkHomework

• Level 1: find examples of items at home or Level 1: find examples of items at home or draw pictures of items studied, draw and draw pictures of items studied, draw and label parts of something, any other word label parts of something, any other word selection/vocabulary activitiesselection/vocabulary activities

• Level 2: also practice with words, but Level 2: also practice with words, but expand a bit to include adjectives, more expand a bit to include adjectives, more elaboration on ideaselaboration on ideas

• Level 3-5: Combine written explanations Level 3-5: Combine written explanations with graphics as appropriatewith graphics as appropriate

PracticePractice

• All of the above recommendations All of the above recommendations also apply to classroom practicealso apply to classroom practice

• English-dominant students need to English-dominant students need to practice a new skill at least 24 times practice a new skill at least 24 times to achieve 80% proficiency…to achieve 80% proficiency…

• So ELLs will need even more focused So ELLs will need even more focused practice to master the same skillspractice to master the same skills

Practice TipsPractice Tips

• If students are learning a complex If students are learning a complex skill or process, design practice skill or process, design practice opportunities to focus on only one of opportunities to focus on only one of the more difficult steps or aspectsthe more difficult steps or aspects

• Think-alouds will help ELLs to Think-alouds will help ELLs to understand the conceptual basis for understand the conceptual basis for skills and processesskills and processes

ILPs (Individual Learning ILPs (Individual Learning Plans)Plans)The ILP classroom accommodations that The ILP classroom accommodations that

correlate to these strategies are:correlate to these strategies are:• Assign LEP level-appropriate assignments, Assign LEP level-appropriate assignments,

homework, and assessments (modify length, homework, and assessments (modify length, allow extra time, alternate assignment, etc)allow extra time, alternate assignment, etc)

• Provide assignment instructions and other Provide assignment instructions and other important information in both written and important information in both written and oral formatsoral formats

• Assign a “buddy” to assist the studentAssign a “buddy” to assist the student• Allow use of supplementary materials in the Allow use of supplementary materials in the

student’s native language when availablestudent’s native language when available

• For more information, please use For more information, please use Classroom Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Instruction That Works with English Language Learners, Learners, available in your school’s professional available in your school’s professional library.library.

• If you have questions related to this presentation, If you have questions related to this presentation, please contact:please contact:

Matt Walsh – Director of Curriculum and Professional Matt Walsh – Director of Curriculum and Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

MWalsh@brownsburg.k12.in.usMWalsh@brownsburg.k12.in.us

Kelly Sumner – High School ENL teacherKelly Sumner – High School ENL teacher

KSumner@brownsburg.k12.in.usKSumner@brownsburg.k12.in.us

Casey Sutton – Middle School ENL teacherCasey Sutton – Middle School ENL teacher

CSutton@brownsburg.k12.in.usCSutton@brownsburg.k12.in.us

Adam Guthrie – Elementary School ENL teacherAdam Guthrie – Elementary School ENL teacher

AGuthrie@brownsburg.k12.in.usAGuthrie@brownsburg.k12.in.us

Lauren Davis – Elementary School ENL assistant Lauren Davis – Elementary School ENL assistant

laurendavis@brownsburg.k12.in.uslaurendavis@brownsburg.k12.in.us