Strategies to Increase English
Language Learners’ Classroom
Participation
Emily Limbrunner
Sara Levin
Patti Burke
What does your classroom look like?
Activity One: Splash Graph Low
Tech
Step One: Write your answer to the
following question on a sticky note.
What is the number one reason
students give for dropping out
of school?
Step Two: With your group members,
use your sticky notes to make a bar
graph of your responses.
Step Three: Combine with another group.
Compare/contrast your bar graphs.
Compile the information from your two bar
graphs into one.
Step Four: Share each response with the
whole group. (The teacher or another
student will copy.) Move your sticky notes
to the class bar graph.
Splash Graph-High Tech
iBrainstorm
Activity Two: True/Not True-Low Tech
Write True or Not True for the following
statement.
LEP students on an Entering level for Reading
will also be on an Entering level for Speaking.
Find someone who has a different answer.
Defend your answer to your partner.
Activity Two-High Tech-Socrative
You can use laptops, iPads, or Smart Phones.
• Teachers create an account by opening the
app, or by going to m.socrative.com/lecturer.
• You will see your room number.
• Students open student app or go to
m.socrative.com/student and enter the room
number
Activity Three: Multiple Choice Cards
What are three different meanings for the word
rock?
A. To move back and forth, a stone, a tool for
eating
B. A type of music, to move back and forth, a
stone
C. A type of music, a kind of food, a stone
D. To move back and forth, a kind of food, a
musical instrument
Activity Three: High Tech-Socrative
Use Socrative to respond to this multiple choice
question.
What is the capital of Uzbekistan?
A. Ashgabat
B. Jakarta
C. Tashkent
D. Khartoum
Activity Three-File Folder Flip-Low Tech
Materials: laminated file folders pre-cut into flip
“books,” dry erase markers
Steps:
1. Give first student a slip of paper with the
term.
2. First student writes term.
3. Second student reads term and illustrates.
Then second student closes the first flap and
passes the file folder to the third student.
• The third student writes the term he or she
thinks is shown. Then the third student closes
the second flap and passes the folder to the
fourth student.
• This process proceeds until all group members
have participated. Then the group opens all
the flaps, discusses, and evaluates the
accuracy of the illustrations, etc.
Activity Three-High Tech
Materials: iPads—Story lines for schools app
Use your favorite method for forming groups.
Steps:
1. Give the first person a slip of paper with a
term. The first person enters the term, clicks
the check mark, signs and clicks, and passes
the iPad to the second person.
2. The second person illustrates the term, clicks
on OK, signs it, clicks the check mark, and
passes the iPad to the next person. Repeat.
Closing Activity
Appointment Agenda:
Materials: notepaper, pencils
1. Write 9:00, 12:00, and 3:00 on separate lines
on your paper.
2. Make an appointment with a person for each
of the times. (You will sign each other’s
papers to make an appointment.)
3. Go to your first appointment. Take turns
discussing the questions on the next slide.
Go to your next appointment when time is
called.
Discuss the following questions
• Which strategy would you like to try in your
classroom?
• How will you use it? (in what subject area, for
what topic, etc.)
• (You can also create an Exit Quiz in Socrative.)
Resources
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Our e-mail addresses:
levins@pitt.k12.nc.us
limbrue@pitt.k12.nc.us
burkep@pitt.k12.nc.us
Resources
Himmele, P. & Himmele, W. (2011). Total
participation techniques: Making every
student an active learner. Alexandria, VA:
ASCD.
Helpful Apps
Socrative
Storylines for Schools