M9: A Classroom Environment that Supports Language

Four blank walls do not stimulate conversation.  As teachers, we want to create a language-rich environment.  

How do we do that? The video below gives us some ideas.

This video is about language acquisition in young children (not ELs specifically), but there is a lot of overlap in ideas... and new language acquisition builds on first language acquisition (or occurs simultaneously).  Watch this video and pay attention to the aspects of the video that build on what we have already learned, what is similar or different between first language acquisition and "new" or second language acquisition, and what is new to you.  

As you watch, consider: Are there any things you would disagree with?  What would you add for English learners? What theory supports the idea of a "language rich environment"?

The next page is a link to a document from Scholastic that outlines twelve steps to creating a language-rich environment. Check it out - it provides some valuable information about implementing language-rich classrooms.