Brain Compatible Teaching and Learning Classroom Practices for Secondary English Learners

The changing demographics in today’s classrooms continues to influence school practices and programs as accountability for academic achievement of all students continues to grow.  The number of students who speak another language other than English continues to grow exponentially along with the unique learning needs of this population.  Students enter the classrooms with varying levels of language proficiency and learning needs.  A newcomer student is typically defined as a student who has been in the United States less than 2 years and whose English proficiency levels on initial placement inventories result in a pre-primer or beginning proficiency level.  Students that have been in country for many years and have not attained English proficiency continues to grow.  Teachers must be able to incorporate learning strategies that meet the educational needs of these students. Brain compatible strategies complement the learning styles and socio-emotional needs of many of the English learners and will help them to be successful leaners.