Sheltered Lesson

When teaching English language learners, there are many things a teacher can do to help promote comprehension. In the sheltered lesson video, Mrs. Krauss is very intentional in the way she delivers instruction and with how she interacts with students. By engaging her students in activities that activate background knowledge and expand vocabulary, she was able to help them develop the reading strategies they need to become comprehensible readers. Some tools that Mrs. Krauss used are listed below:


Pre-Reading Strategies:
• State the directions/goals verbally and in written form
• Link to prior knowledge
• Preview key vocabulary by showing pictures, providing synonyms, and relating them to real life situations that students are familiar with. Also connect to student’s first language when possible.
• Preview the story by doing a book walk, looking at the pictures, summarizing the reading for students, providing them with pictures or graphic organizers.
• Relate the story to the student’s background knowledge whenever possible by using pictures, asking questions, and having them compare and contrast the story to their own culture.
• Provide students with opportunities for group work so they can learn from their peers and have the opportunity to clarify information in their first language


During Reading Strategies:
• Make sure students know the expectations and that they are written down
• Read the story aloud so English language learners can see and hear the words at the same time
• Explicitly teach and demonstrate reading strategies
• Scaffold for students by modeling, teaching, and reminding students of strategies
• Ask questions and give appropriate wait time to allow for more elaborate responses
• Use repetition throughout the lesson to reinforce vocabulary and skills
• Provide students with time to connect and interact with the text. This will increase their level of engagement


Post-Reading Strategies:
• Review key vocabulary words, reading strategies, content of what was read, and learning objectives
• Give students a chance to interact independently with the text
• Provide opportunities for clarification, for hand-on activities, and for group work