View Content #20107

From http://blog.tesol.org/the-benefits-of-play-in-the-education-of-young-els/

Karen Nemeth writes, “Several of the experts that contributed to my book, Young Dual Language Learners: A Guide for PreK-3 Leaders, emphasized the importance of child-directed, hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning for young ELLs. Here are some of the benefits provided by playful interactions that are especially useful in supporting ELLs in the primary years. How many of these activities are truly present in your classrooms?

  Social interaction with peers
  Oral language practice
  Using new words many times in different contexts
  Rich, spontaneous conversation
  Opportunities for discussion and debate
  Social/emotional learning through role play
  Problem solving
  Self-regulation such as turn-taking and compromise
  Imaginative pretend play—a precursor to symbolic reasoning
  Creativity and innovation
  Self-determination and initiative
  Exploration and observation
  Hands-on, multimodal learning
  Multiple media, including visuals and props
  Individualized learning that is not isolating
  Independent, child-directed learning experiences
  Constructive, collaborative activities
  Telling and retelling stories and play themes
  Vocabulary development in context of authentic experiences
  Opportunities for multi-age, multi-language, and multi-ability groups that expose children to needed language models”

Read her full article at http://blog.tesol.org/the-benefits-of-play-in-the-education-of-young-els/