This update is the third installment in our 3-part series on using innovation and entrepreneurship to provide differentiated instruction easily in your classroom.

Part 3: English Language Learners

English language learners (ELL) face unique challenges in the classroom and school environment. In many cases, ELL students come to the classroom with different lived experiences and cultural traditions than their classmates, which can make it challenging for them and their peers to connect. Of course, there is also the very real challenge of learning and practicing a new language, which also can be scary, embarrassing, and anxiety producing.

The inclusive, collaborative, and unintimidating nature of innovation and entrepreneurship provide easy-to-implement strategies you can use to support and welcome the English language learners in your classroom.

Culturally

Flexible

Students from different countries and cultural backgrounds might not always find it easy to relate to lessons based on the typical American experience. 

Open-ended innovation prompts allow students more opportunities to connect with lessons. They also allow students to express their ideas and thinking in a way that’s culturally relevant to them.

Small Group Collaboration

Innovation challenges are designed as group activities, with structure and support to encourage collaboration. These types of small group projects help students work on their language skills without the intimidation of a larger group.

The challenges also provide a collaborative environment where everyone gets support and feedback from their teachers and peers.

Language

Development

Teachers tells us students with limited English language skills demonstrate significant improvement when lessons are presented through the lens of invention and entrepreneurship. For example, the design and brainstorming activities let students express themselves in a more comfortable fashion (e.g., pictures, their own language, etc.). The iterative process that accompanies invention provides a framework for student to develop their ideas in English.

While all these strategies can be implemented with tools already in your classroom, the CreositySpace Makerspace Packs provide a variety of lessons that can be included in your instruction as appropriate and as time permits.

Tune in on May 2nd to learn how you can use innovation and entrepreneurship to foster creativity and collaboration in your classroom. 

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