Learn with Mel Hern

My Journey of Passion, Persistence, and Poetic Pursuits In a world that often places restrictions based on age, amongst other things, is one of grit and determination and belief that there are no boundaries when it comes to the pursuit of your dreams.  I'm Melanie, and at 49, I'd like to think that I am breaking through the mold, proving that the pursuit of dreams is a timeless journey. With years spent shaping young minds as a teacher, my story takes a courageous turn before the pandemic hit us all. Fortunately, I decided to dive into the realm of electronic digital activities for learners. A push from a friend led me to creating digital boom cards and it was a life saver as I navigated the online teaching platform. Seeing that I was able to teach myself how to create digital activities, I thought,  "What else can I do?" That is when I pulled out my journal of old poetry I had written and decided that I wanted to publish my thoughts, my insights and my own cultural ...

English language learners (ELLs) form a diverse group within the United States education system, bringing unique perspectives and backgrounds to the classroom. However, they also encounter distinct challenges that can impact their academic experience. In this blog post, we'll explore the hurdles faced by English language learners and delve into important strategies that teachers can employ to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Challenges Faced by English Language Learners:  Language Barrier: ELLs often face the immediate hurdle of a language barrier, impacting their ability to comprehend lessons, participate in class discussions, and complete assignments effectively. It is imperative that teachers find student native language level so that further instruction in English can take place. One tool that I have found useful is ENIL from the American Reading Company. It is a very self explanatory evaluation tool that looks at Spanish language independence level, fro...