Use Checklist 1 to analyze the material you are considering using with ELLs. Check the boxes in which the criteria are met, considering your specific students and their skills and needs. No materials will likely meet all the criteria.
If you decide the material you have selected needs to be adapted for your ELLs, refer to Checklist 2 for considerations for adaptation. Check the boxes to plan how you will adapt the material.
Checklist 1: Considerations for materials selection for ELLs
Determine whether these criteria have been met:
- Connection with content learning objectives
- Age appropriate, engaging selection
- Validates prior experience and knowledge
- Accessible reading level and language
- Multi-modality supports
- Home language support
- Skill-building
- Available for access beyond school
Checklist 2: Suggestions for materials adaptation for ELLs
Determine whether these criteria have been met:
- Select a short passage to start
- Make it immediately relevant
- Build on the experience and knowledge of your ELLs
- Scaffold readability
- Simplify language as needed
- Pre-teach of gloss vocabulary
- Reduce workload