Ways to Modify Lesson Plans

• Note Taking-When giving notes in class, the teacher can adapt the ESL student's notes.  The teacher can adapt his or her notes by providing a copy of the notes for the ESL student with key words and terms highlighted.  Another way to modify the ESL student's notes is by providing fill in the blank notes.
• Hands on Activities-Hands on Activities are important because they can incorporate more than one learning style at any given time; such as visual, audio, or kinesthetic.  Some hands on activities that can be incorporated into lesson plans for ESL students are technology, flash cards, role playing, puppets, and crafts.
• Collaborative Learning-Many studies have been done on the benefits of collaborative learning.  Collaborative learning helps to lower the student's anxiety level or affective filter (which can hinder second language learning) and promotes student centered classrooms.