Struggling with EAL students? Get these cards. Now.

More independence, more fun and another learning snack for the menu

Welcome to How to be a Teacher. Every week, I share the expertise of my colleagues and reveal what I’ve learned recently from their 70+ years of experience.

This week, I’m topping up the menu of independent activities I offer to an EAL (English as an Additional Language) student. If you have students making slow progress with their phonics or reading at a level below their age range, this post was written with you in mind.

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Ever taught an EAL (English as an Additional Language) student?

Not easy, is it.

Especially in the early days of their time learning in English.

So, what do you do?

The hardest thing about teaching an EAL student…

…is the fact that most of what you teach isn’t accessible to them.

I’m teaching my Year 6 students about subjunctive form and problem solving with percentages. We’ve started learning about the Civil Rights Movement in History. They’re exploring the impact of alcohol on our health (THEORETICALLY) and beliefs about death and life in Hinduism and Buddhism.

So how do I get my EAL student, who can barely read, to join in?

Yes, I have some ways of getting through to them. One of my colleagues nudged me to sit them with a peer who helps them with the logistics - writing the date, sticking worksheets in their book, that sort of thing. Conversationally, their English has become pretty good, too, so some of what I say goes in.

But nothing written anywhere can have an impact.

Because - although they’re making progress - they can’t yet read with confidence and independence.

What’s working?

Phonics is making a difference. Careful assessment and dedicated learning time means they’re getting what they need there and making progress.

But, when they’re back in the classroom with me, I can’t give them as much as I want to. That’s not just logistically impossible, it’s a wretched feeling knowing that someone really needs your help and you can’t always give it.

The reality is I have a whole class to teach. 28 other children who equally rely on me to instruct and support them. And some of them need careful, constant behaviour management, too.

What do I do when I can’t commit my time fully to an EAL student?

The biggest thing I’ve learned from my expert colleagues in these situations is to have a menu of learning activities that the student can work on independently.

This doesn’t mean leaving them completely alone; it means giving them appropriate challenges that they can attempt (independence is a vital skill here) and then checking in regularly with them to identify errors, misconceptions and gaps that need ironing out. When the rest of the class are working independently, I can give the EAL student more time, but when I can’t…

Which activities do I provide them with?

Well-known products like Spelling Shed and Phonics Shed can be useful.

Books that we carefully select to match the student’s phonics level.

Word-building and sentence-building worksheets that match their current level of understanding and allow them to refine it.

And, now, Got-it Learning cards.

Got-it Learning is a gorgeous company run by mother-son dream team Caroline and Joe Rennison.

Caroline has over 25 years of teaching experience, including years spent as a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and specialist dyslexia/learning difficulties teacher. She’s worked right across the primary school age ranges. In short - she knows her stuff like few others.

Joe is Caroline’s son. Throughout school, Joe found traditional learning systems and spelling schemes difficult because he is dyslexic. One thing that made a world of a difference for him was a simple intervention based around a card game that featured reading skills.

This helped propel Joe through school and on to university - no mean feat when faced with the challenges presented by dyslexia.

And, together, they’ve created my EAL student’s new favourite learning activity - Got-it Learning.

I’ll say that again - my EAL student’s new FAVOURITE learning activity.

Why do I use these card games?

• They’re a simple activity to teach. I’ve taught my student how to use them in a matter of minutes.

• The games can be played alone or with others. I can use them to help with their friendships and social skills or, when necessary, leave them to work through some of the games independently.

• They’re fun. Simple as that. They’re a game, they don’t feel like learning and I can see how much that engages my student from a mile away.

The best bit?

They’re built around existing phonics scheme structures.

That means that, whichever phonics scheme your school applies (we use Read Write Inc. where I work), your students can play these in little pockets of time through the day and Got-it Learning will supplement what they’re already learning.

Instantly, when given the choice, my student is mostly picking the Got-it Learning cards when I offer them their menu of independent learning activities. Yes, sometimes they fancy a break and choose something else - but that’s why you need a menu of choices. Having just one activity available means they’ll get bored of it.

To add to the choice, Got-it Learning have 5 sets of increasing difficulty. My EAL student is on set 1 but has - through just a couple of weeks’ practice with the cards - mastered the vowel sounds. Set 2 beckons already.

Having choice, though, prevents anything becoming boring.

Having choice gives them power over their learning.

Got-it Learning has increased choice - increasing my student’s feeling of power over their own learning.

Yes, but… do they work?

• Do they supplement existing phonics schemes? Yes. Caroline’s expertise in phonics and dyslexia teaching has helped her craft the perfect selection of sounds for learners of every phonics level. Your students will master the sounds quicker with these cards than without.

• Do they increase recall and reading speed? Yes. I’ve been timing my student in one version of the game and they’ve got quicker with every practice.

• Do they engage struggling readers? Oh my goodness, yes they do. My EAL student loves them, and has introduced them to peers as well.

Best of all - if your EAL student isn’t yet able to access large chunks of what you teach and need to be occupied another way while you instruct/manage your class, they’re the PERFECT resource.

I feel so guilty for not being able to give 100% of my day to the student in my class who needs it the most.

Now, they fill a large chunk of their independent time with these card games. These cards have gone a long way to eradicating that feeling and empowered me to feel like I’m finally going above and beyond for my EAL student.

If you have learners falling behind on their phonics, or you can’t dedicate as much time to support them as you’d like, and want to support a small business at the same time, look no further than Got-it Learning.

More from me

I’m fighting every day to give my EAL student what they need to master reading.

In fact, I try to champion those who need it harder than I do most things.

Here’s a story I loved writing and another teaching moment I’m seriously proud of.