Optimizing Reading Comprehension for MLLS: 6 Strategies

By Judie Haynes

In this article for the International TESOL blog, Judie Haynes summarizes the strategies that she wrote about in detail for previous blogs (linked from each point). She found these to be very effective in helping students with reading comprehension, and they could be used with MLLS of all ages and with any texts.

In order to optimize reading comprehension strategies, have MLLs do the following:

1. Visualize What Is Happening in a Story – Students can imagine what is happening and then draw or write about it.
2. Make Connections With Text – Learners connect the content of a text to their own experiences, to other information that they have read about, or to similar events in the world, often in their countries.
3. Ask Questions When They Read – MLLS learn to not only ask questions about the content, but also about what they do not understand. They also learn to predict what the text is about.
4. Decide What Information Is Relevant in a Nonfiction Text – Students need to be taught to look at more than just the text from beginning to end to be able to figure out what is important. Content such as headings, images, and graphs are helpful in this step.
5. Highlight Important Information to Summarize a Text – This can be accomplished through questions which will guide students in choosing what information belongs in a summary.
6. Learn How to Synthesize Information – Once the previous steps have been completed, MLLS can “learn how to add their own thoughts, experiences, opinions, interpretations, and connections and to go beyond the text.”

About Judie Haynes

Judie Haynes is a past-president of NJTESOL/NJBE. She taught elementary ESL for 28 years and is the author and coauthor of eight books for teachers of ELs. She was a columnist for the TESOL publication “Essential Teacher” and is also co-founder and co-moderator of the Twitter Chat for teachers of English learners #ELLCHAT.

Find out more about the what and how of these strategies.

A President For Immigrants

Essay by Adil Abdullah
2021 Pedro J. Rodriguez High School Scholarship Winner

While the presidency sounds very exciting, it comes with a lot of responsibilities. If I become president I will have to take care of everybody including immigrants. As president, I see two types of problems confronting immigrants. The first is before immigration, and the second is after immigration. There aren’t as many problems before immigration as there are after. Prior to immigration, people may encounter issues such as legality, the immigration process, and a lack of certainty. However, after arriving in America, people face serious issues such as lack of basic medical service, language barriers, housing finance, transportation issue, and child-raising. All of these problems must be solved in order to maintain harmony in society. To completely assist the immigrants, I must work on both fronts.

People come to America with dreams. We have to make sure we are making all their dreams come true. I will create a fair immigration system in which all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or other characteristics, can easily go through the process of entering the country with hope and peace. All people must have an opportunity to apply for immigration. Also, the people who cross the border should be under a system to enter, they all should be given their complete rights to say what they need to stay. After hearing them, if we believe it is reasonable for them to enter, then we should put them in process and allow them to live inside without harassment in the meantime.

Immigrants account for nearly 14 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Census Bureau. As a result, immigrants play a significant role in the economy and social life of the US. They must be as important as everyone else. I will ensure that all legal immigrants receive the same benefits as our citizens. Skilled professionals from another country like doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers have to work long hours just to survive. Our country could have served them better. I plan to create a system that is simple to use and that anyone can use regardless of the language they speak or the skills they possess.

Children are the future even if they are immigrants. We must ensure that they are well-cared for, that they are properly educated, and that they are given their fundamental rights. Who will look after the children if the parents are constantly fighting for their survival? That’s why we need to decrease the house rent bills for immigrants. We must ensure that parents prioritize their children’s well-being over financial concerns. Many states don’t provide free medical services to adult immigrants. It is a fundamental human right to be able to obtain medication when they are ill. I will give everyone access to free healthcare.

As president, I intend to make friends with everyone. I want peace, and I will make it happen. People will live in peace.