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Everyone is talking about differentiation for EAL in whole class teaching, but how do we actually approach it consistently and effectively?
At Across Cultures we have been developing some systematic ways of approaching this in a structured, yet flexible format. In the downloadable plan you'll see a framework to support EAL teachers with planning for content learning alongside language learning. The plan is based about the theme of sea pollution and provides a writing frame for a persuasive text.
This lesson follow a particular format:
1. Pre teach vocabulary of the text type. There are many games for supporting learners with remembering new vocabulary.
2. Introduce the theme, text type and ensure comprehension of text.
3. Reproduce sections of the text day by day with support of writing frames, the vocabulary learnt and the text.
4. Recreate the entire text without support.
An EAL learner may be confident interacting with teachers and peers using everyday English, but the mathematics curriculum employs abstract academic vocabulary and, to access this, they need to be taught in a specific, intentional way. In addition, EAL students may already be highly proficient in mathematics and the English vocabulary in their maths problems may be a hurdle that can cause confusion, adding to their cognitive load and knocking their confidence. Consequently, there is a lot for an EAL teacher to consider.
Assessment is a natural and integral part of effective teaching, with teachers continually assessing learner progress and identifying next steps for teaching and learning (DfE, 2020). Teachers assess learners for multiple reasons but one of the most pressing tasks for teachers is to assess their newly-arrived EAL learners’ level of English proficiency.
Assessment in an EAL context takes many forms. It can be formal (e.g. tests and examinations), informal (e.g. teacher observations) or learner self-assessment.