The SIOP Model
Teaching ENL Students
His orbs scintillant luminosity, while his
submaxillary dermal indentations gave every
evidence of engaging amiability. The capillaries
of his malar regions and nasal appurtenance
were engorged with blood which suffused the
subcutaneous layers, the former approximating
the coloration of Albion’s floral emblem, the
latter that of the Prunus avium. His amusing
sub- and supralabials resembled nothing so
much as a common loop knot, and their
ambient hirsute facial adornment appeared like
small, tabular and columnar crystals of frozen
water.
His eyes -- how they twinkled!
his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his
nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn
up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as
white as the snow;
What is the SIOP model
Sheltered instruction (SIOP) is an
approach for teaching content to
English learners (ELs) in strategic ways
that make the subject matter concepts
comprehensible while promoting the
students’ English language
development.
Echevarria, Vogt, and Short-Making Content Comprehensible for
English Learners, page 2
The Eight Steps of a SIOP
Lesson
1. Preparation
2. Building Background
3. Comprehensible Input
4. Strategies
5. Interaction
6. Practice/Application
7. Lesson Delivery
8. Review/Assessment
Ideas for Preparation
Write content and language objectives on
the board.
Create Outlines for notes, so that students
can just fill in the blanks while trying to
follow along.
Highlighted Text- If your department can
spare a few textbooks, highlight important
vocabulary and ideas in the text before
you teach that unit.
Ideas for Preparation
Marginal notes- As well as highlighting
text, you could also place simplified
definitions or notes in the margins. If you
can’t write in the text, use post-its.
Taped/Adapted text
Watching the films before the unit or
book. If you don’t want the rest of the
class to pre-watch, ask Mrs. Dunn or I to
let them watch it in our room during our
free times, before, or after school.
Building Background
Ideas
Try to link concepts to students’
background experience.
Have students create personal
dictionaries
Content Word Walls in classrooms
Concept Definition Map
Visual Vocabulary with pictures- I have
found Google to be useful for this.
Comprehensible Input Ideas
Use appropriate speech.
Small group instruction
At least 2 different grouping structures should be
used during a lesson.
Thumbs up/ Thumbs down- agree/disagree type
responses
Numbered wheels or fingers-Use for multiple
choice
Response boards- dry-erase mini boards. Students
can give answers in unison to avoid
embarrassment.
Ideas for Strategies
Hand out has a many wonderful strategies throughout
to use.
Strategy One: Preview and Predict
Step One: Students skim a text by looking at pictures,
bold words, and captions.
Step Two: Partners- In partners, students either write
a complete sentence or make picture of what they
believe will be covered.
Step Three: Regroup- Place pairs together to share
their ideas.
Step Four: Place ideas on board and discuss.
Ideas for Strategies
Strategy Two: GIST
Step One: Students read a selection
and pick 10 important words out.
Step Two: From words, students will
write summarizing sentence.
Step Three: Write statements on board.
Step Four: Read selection and cross out
summaries that don’t work and keep
ones that do.
Ideas for Strategies
Strategy Three: Graffiti Write
Step One: Each team is located next to chart
paper. A topic is then given by teacher.
Step Two: At the same time, teams will write
thoughts and questions on topic.
Step Three: Students will then rotate to new
station and try to answer other teams
questions or pose new ideas after reading
comments.
Step Four: Post interesting results.
Ideas for Interaction
Provide many opportunities for
interaction and discussion.
Use a variety of grouping configurations
Four corners
Roundtable
Writing headlines for summarizing
Jigsaw
Information gap activities
Ideas for Practice and Application
Lots of hands-on materials
Integrate reading, writing, speaking,
and listening into each lesson.
Small groups and partners
Reporting orally
Lesson Delivery
Clearly support content and language
objectives.
Engage students
Reduce teacher talk
Pace rate that you give information
according to levels in your classroom
Give enough time to accomplish tasks
Review and Assessment
Review key vocabulary
Review Key Concepts
Use a variety of quick reviews such as
the following:
Agree/Disagree
Thumbs up/ thumbs down
Numbered wheels
Response boards