First Name:
Erin
Last Name:
Weaver
Major Department:
Elementary Education
Thesis Director:
Shanan Fitts
Date of Thesis:
May 2013
The purpose of this study was to gain insights about the academic and social struggles that ELL students face in schools, and practices that teachers and school personnel can employ to alleviate these struggles. Data was collected by conducting interviews with ELL students and school staff, observing classrooms, and surveying students using a Sociogram social survey. Several academic challenges faced by ELL students were found, which include difficulties with reading comprehension, academic vocabulary, and a lack of background knowledge. This study indicates that teachers can to help improve the academic achievement of ELL students by using concrete representations, interactive and collaborative lessons, explicit vocabulary instruction, and instruction in how to use morphology and cognates to improve reading abilities. The social challenges faced by ELL students relate to their home life, unfamiliarity of the school environment, and interactions with peers and teachers. Teachers can employ specific practices to help ELL students overcome these challenges, such as promoting cultural sensitivity, reaching out to the students’ families, and mediating student interactions. In general, the best way to help ELL students is to be cognizant of the challenges that they may potentially face and employ teaching practices to help mitigate or prevent these challenges.