When you think of English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, what comes to mind?
Perhaps you picture a teacher pulling students out of the classroom to practise English vocabulary or work on reading skills. While that can certainly be part of EAL support, the reality is that supporting EAL learners looks different every single day!
As an EAL designate at my elementary school, I work with students across a variety of grade levels, language backgrounds, and English proficiency levels. Some students are brand new to English, while others can communicate comfortably with their peers but still need support understanding academic vocabulary and classroom expectations.
My role is constantly changing depending on the students, their needs, and what's happening in their classrooms.
I wanted to share 7 practical ways I support EAL learners in my school because many of these strategies can be incorporated into any elementary classroom, even without a designated EAL teacher.
1. In-Class Check-Ins
Sometimes the most effective EAL support is also the simplest!
While the classroom teacher is delivering a lesson or students are working independently, I circulate and check in with EAL learners.
This might mean clarifying instructions, explaining or translating an unfamiliar word, helping a student get started on an assignment, or simply checking that they understand what they're supposed to be doing.
For students who are still developing their English language skills, even a small misunderstanding can make an assignment feel overwhelming.
A quick check-in can make all the difference between a student feeling stuck and feeling confident enough to get started.
2. Small Group In-Class Support
One of my favourite ways to support EAL learners is by working with a small group right in the classroom.
Rather than creating an entirely separate assignment, I often gather a few students at the back of the room and help them work through the SAME learning task as their classmates.
The learning goal stays the same, but I provide additional scaffolding to help students access the content.
This might look like breaking instructions into smaller steps, modelling an example, discussing ideas before writing, or helping students understand unfamiliar vocabulary.
I love this approach because students remain connected to what their classmates are learning while receiving the additional language support they need.
3. Visual Vocabulary Resources
If there's one thing I've learned through my years of working with EAL students, it's that visual vocabulary supports are incredibly valuable!
Academic language can be challenging for EAL learners, particularly in content-heavy subjects like science and social studies.
Words that seem familiar or obvious to fluent English speakers can create significant barriers for students who are learning both the language AND the subject matter.
That's why I spend a lot of time creating visual vocabulary resources for teachers to use during specific lessons and units.
These resources typically combine:
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Key academic vocabulary
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Student-friendly definitions
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Clear pictures or visual representations
Visual vocabulary cards can be displayed during lessons, referenced during discussions, and used by students while completing assignments.
And the best part? Visual vocabulary doesn't just benefit EAL learners. It's a useful support for ALL students!
4. Reading and Scribing Support
Sometimes students understand a concept but have difficulty demonstrating that understanding because of their developing English language skills.
When appropriate, I support EAL learners by reading assignment instructions or assessment questions aloud and helping scribe their responses.
This allows students to focus on communicating what they know rather than becoming overwhelmed by the reading or writing demands of a task.
Of course, the type of support depends on what is actually being assessed. If the learning goal is to demonstrate independent reading or writing skills, that needs to be considered.
The goal is to remove unnecessary language barriers without changing the learning outcome being assessed.
5. Group Project Support
Group projects can be especially challenging for EAL learners.
Not only do students need to understand the academic content, but they also need to follow multi-step instructions, negotiate roles, share ideas, and communicate with their peers.
That's a LOT of language!
When students are working on group projects, I sometimes join a small group to help them organize their thinking and break the assignment into manageable steps.
I might help students identify what needs to be completed first, encourage them to share their ideas verbally, or scribe their thinking so they can focus on participating in the discussion.
My goal isn't to take over the project. It's to help students develop the confidence and language skills to meaningfully contribute to their group.
6. Reading Intervention
When there's extra time in my schedule, I love using it to provide additional reading practice.
For students who are developing their foundational reading skills in English, this might mean listening to them read decodable texts and providing support with phonics and word recognition.
These short reading sessions give students opportunities to practise decoding, build fluency, and experience success with texts that match their current reading skills.
It's also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their progress!
Of course, not every EAL learner needs foundational reading intervention. Some students are already strong readers in their home language and need different types of English literacy support.
The key is identifying what each student needs rather than assuming that learning English means starting from the beginning.
7. Learning Through Games
This might be one of my favourite ways to support EAL learners!
Games are a fantastic way to practise academic concepts while also developing everyday conversational language.
During a simple game, students naturally get opportunities to practise phrases like:
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"My turn!"
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"Your turn!"
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"Good job!"
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"Can I try again?"
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"I got it!"
These little interactions might seem insignificant, but they're incredibly meaningful for students who are still learning how to communicate confidently with their peers.
Games create a relaxed environment where students can practise language, make mistakes, laugh, and build relationships.
Sometimes the most valuable language learning happens when students don't even realize they're practising!
EAL Support Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
One of the biggest things I've learned from working with EAL learners is that there isn't one perfect strategy that works for every student.
Some days, my focus is vocabulary. Other days, it's reading, writing, conversation, or helping students navigate classroom assignments.
And sometimes, it's simply helping a student feel comfortable and confident enough to participate.
EAL support doesn't always require elaborate lessons, specialized programs, or hours of preparation. Often, it's the small, intentional supports we provide throughout the school day that make the biggest difference.
At the end of the day, the goal is always the same: access, confidence, and belonging.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, an EAL specialist, or someone supporting multilingual learners in another capacity, I hope these examples have given you a few practical ideas to try in your own classroom.
And remember, you don't need to do everything at once. Even one small adjustment can make learning more accessible for a student who needs it.
Looking for visual vocabulary resources to support the EAL learners in your classroom? Explore the curriculum-aligned vocabulary supports available at 3 Peaks Classroom!
This is the resource I always recommend every classroom teacher provides to their EAL students to help them give one place for all their new vocabulary. If you carefully look at a lot of my in classroom support photos on Instagram, you might see these Personal Word Banks on my students' desks :).
