Best practices are intended to support multilingual learners (MLs) in all classes, no matter their proficiency level. These strategies are expected to be used by all teachers within lessons, assignments, and assessments to support MLs and all learners. Best practices are strategies that educators can quickly implement within daily instruction, activities, and classroom assessments.

Description

Visual cues involves the use of various visual stimuli in order to help multilingual learners (MLs) “make meaning”. Visual cues are especially helpful in immersion settings and helps reduce stress and increase comprehension.

Example:
A social studies teacher uses an illustrated timeline to help teach a unit on ancient China which includes pictures, labels and dates.
A science teacher uses an interactive cell game to help in teaching the unit of cell biology.
Working in a small group, students summarize and act out the actions of a specific chapter in their reading selection.
Students learn and use highlighting and or literary “signpost” symbols as they read.
Math manipulatives are used to teach both 2D and 3D shapes.
 

	Teacher	Student
	The teacher can use: hand gestures facial expressions acting out anchor charts graphic organizers, charts pictures, photos, graphics, symbols, realia, manipulatives, foldables, etc. color-coding (be consistent) words or phrases videos and short clips to demonstrate concept	The student observes the cue and can respond as appropriate. This reinforces what the student reads, writes, or hears.

	Teacher	Student
	"Let's review the graphic organizer to help guide our discussion." "Can you use your hand gestures to review the steps for long division?"	"Can you show me a picture of what this looks like?" "Can I highlight and color-code my paragraph?"

Recommended Domain(s)	Recommended Level(s)
Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing	All levels* *accommodation is adjusted  for levels 4-6