Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: New ESOL student I have a new student in my class. His family speaks Spanish and almost no English. He desperately wants to learn English, but refuses to speak Spanish. His family moves around a lot, and last year he was in Cuba. This is his first year in a public school that he is actually attending every day. He is in the process of being entered into the ESOL program. In the time being, he is reading at a D reading level (based on Running Record testing that ranges from A-Z. His classmates are at J and above.) During full class instruction, he refuses to complete the assignments. During small group, he will complete at least 80% of the work. What methods do I use to engage him in the classwork? All of his books are at his reading level, but it is a Kindergarten reading level. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I understand your situation, my younger brother was eager to learn the language as soon as we landed to this country, and as your student, my bother did refuse to speak our home-language. Your student seems to be more engaged during small groups because he may interact more with peers and he gets to understand what is going on with assignments. I will suggest that during full class instruction, he get pair up with a peer to complete the activity at the time.