WGU - Task 2
A1. The first group I will be discussing is the English Language Learners or ELL students. The Glossary of Education reform states that English Language learners or ELLs students are those who often come from a non- English-speaking homes and backgrounds typically these students are unable to communicate fluently or effectively learn in English. They require modified instruction in both the English language and in their academic courses (The Glossary of Education Reform, 2013).
According to the National Center for Education Statistics in 2015, the number of students in public schools that were ELL was 9.5 % and the percentage continues to rise (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018).
A2. One of the many challenges that ELLs students face in the school setting is the communication barrier. They may not comprehend the lesson being taught or what their classmates are saying. For example, if the students only speak their native language (being Spanish, Russian, Chinese, etc.) and the teacher and the classmates only speak English, the non-English speaking students may just stare at the teacher during instruction. This communication barrier also affects the ELL students during lunchtime or making friends, some of the students may go without eating because they dont know how to order their food, or they may isolate themselves because they are unable to make conversation with their peers.
A3. Some strategies that educators can use to help ELL students are using bilingual teaching materials. To do this strategy, the teacher must plan to add materials not just in English but in other languages or they could provide a device that translates from English to the students native language. Adding visual and bilingual materials to the instructions will help the ELL students to process the information they are being taught, some ideas to support ELL students are using websites, smartboards, PowerPoints, magazines, and photos to help provide more visuals (Learning Strategies for ELLs Nieto & Bode, 2008, pg.42).
A4. The second group of diverse students is children with ADD/ADHD. According to the Mind and Body article Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder that affects children and teens and can continue into adulthood. It is estimated to affect 3 to 5% of school-age children and affects 2 to 3 times as many boys as girls. ADHD makes it difficult to manage complex tasks that requ...
