Let’s face it, making core content engaging can take extra creativity. That’s especially true when you’re supporting multilingual learners (MLs), who are navigating both academic content and a new language at the same time.
Creating a classroom where every student feels confident to contribute doesn’t happen overnight. It takes the right strategies, thoughtful planning, and a belief that every learner can grow and succeed.
Fortunately, today’s classrooms have more tools than ever to support that work. Digital platforms, new instructional models, and creative tech integrations are helping educators connect with MLs in ways that are interactive, inclusive, and highly effective. When paired with strong instructional practices, these tools open up more ways for students to participate, process, and thrive.
Whether you’re new to working with MLs or just looking for a few fresh ideas, these five teacher-approved strategies are here to help boost participation, build language, and make learning meaningful for all.
1. Start by Building Background
Not all students enter the classroom with the same prior knowledge, especially multilingual learners. Background building is the process of helping students connect new content to what they already know. It makes learning more accessible by setting the stage and giving students the context they need to engage with confidence.
Try This:
Imagine you’re teaching a new ecology unit to your 8th grade science class. Start with a question like: “What animals or plants have you seen in your neighborhood?” Let students respond with words or pictures on a collaborative tool like a Nearpod Collaborate Board, Jamboard, or other virtual whiteboard.
Diving into a new topic, like the water cycle? Cue up a quick video on your subject, maybe from your Nearpod library or your favorite educational YouTube channel. While students watch, pause and ask, “What do you see happening?” or “What word do you hear?” Then follow with interactive tasks like a drag-and-drop activity where students can match new vocabulary words like “evaporation,” “clouds,” or “rain” to corresponding images.
Why it works:
These activities make learning sticky. You’re activating prior knowledge, linking new terms to visuals, and giving MLs the chance to show what they know in a low-stress, high-engagement way.
2. Let Them Choose How to Chime In
Every learner has a different comfort zone. That’s why it’s critical to give students a variety of options for how to participate. Meeting them where they are helps create a more inclusive and responsive classroom.
Multilingual learners, in particular, are more likely to join in when they feel safe, supported, and in control of how they engage. Offering multiple ways to share thinking reduces anxiety, supports language development, and builds confidence over time.
Try These Digital Tools to Empower Participation:
- Let students type their answers in a whole-class chat. For example, use the “Waterfall method” by asking everyone to type their response, then hit enter at the same time.
- Allow private messages to the teacher for students who feel unsure about spelling or grammar.
- Use a virtual hand raise tool for students who want to speak out loud.
- Add a quick poll to check for understanding without putting anyone on the spot.
Bonus Move: Use Think-Pair-Share
Post a prompt on the whiteboard or in the chat for virtual classes: “How would you start solving this math problem?”
Think: Give students a minute to brainstorm on their own
Pair: Partner students for 2-minute discussions
Share: Ask students to share their ideas in the chat, out loud, or on a shared tool like a Nearpod Collaboration Board or Padlet. You can spotlight a few responses or guide discussion using sentence starters.
Why it works:
Offering multiple ways to contribute helps remove the pressure to get it “right” on the first try. It supports both written and oral language development, encourages student voice, and builds a stronger sense of classroom community.
3. Make Language Visual with Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers aren’t just cute. They’re powerful tools that help multilingual learners make sense of complex content and academic language. By organizing ideas visually, students can structure their thinking, make connections, and build confidence before they start writing or speaking.
Go-To Organizer #1: The 4-Corners Vocabulary Map
Use this organizer to help students break down key vocabulary words in a unit. Each “corner” prompts a different way of interacting with the word, like:
- A picture
- A definition
- A sentence using the word
- A synonym or translation
You can use templates like these on paper, a virtual whiteboard, or an interactive tool like Nearpod Draw It. Let students work in pairs or small groups to complete each map and encourage creativity by having them draw their own images.
Use sentence stems to provide extra language support for students to write or share their responses such as:
- “I think ___ means ___.”
- “A synonym for ___ is ___.”
Go-To Organizer #2: Show how ideas relate to each other with Venn Diagrams
Venn Diagrams and T-Charts are especially helpful for comparing and contrasting ideas in reading, writing, or discussions. They’re great for things like character analysis, argument writing, or exploring cause and effect.
Make it collaborative: Pair students up and ask them to fill in a Venn Diagram together using a shared space like a Nearpod Collaborate Board, Jamboard, or paper handout. As they work, have them discuss their ideas and use sentence frames to explain their thinking:
- “Both ___ and ___ have ___.”
- “One difference is ___ because ___.”
- “I think ___ belongs in the middle because ___.”
After completing the organizer, students can use it to plan a short response. Provide structure with writing prompts like:
- Topic sentence
- Text evidence
- Explanation
- Conclusion
Bonus Move:
Include emojis, visuals, sentence starters or home language support to make these tools even more accessible and engaging.
Why it works:
Graphic organizers chunk the cognitive load. They help students organize their thoughts and focus on language without getting overwhelmed. When students collaborate, they learn from each other and gain confidence expressing ideas, even if they’re still building proficiency.
4. Bring in Brain Breaks
Learning a new language takes focus and stamina. For multilingual learners, short breaks throughout a lesson can give the brain time to process new content and reduce cognitive overload. They’re also a great way to reset the energy in the room and help students re-engage with learning.
Try These Quick Brain Break Ideas:
- Stretch break: Let students lead a few simple movements or stretches.
- Simon Says: Build listening skills with this classic game using action verbs.
- Quick language game: Try something like Verb Tense Bingo or Stop the Bus to keep language practice playful.
- Language spotlight: Ask students to teach the class a word or short phrase from their home language. This not only gives MLs ownership but also builds a more inclusive environment.
Why it works:
Brain breaks lower stress, boost focus, and create space for students to recharge. They also signal that your classroom values joy, movement, and student voice—all key ingredients for helping multilingual learners feel safe enough to participate and take risks.
5. Celebrate Every Voice, Every Day
For multilingual learners, language and identity are deeply connected. When students see their cultures, languages, and lived experiences reflected in the classroom, they feel a greater sense of belonging, and that leads to stronger engagement and deeper learning.
Creating this kind of environment doesn’t require grand gestures. Small, intentional moments can send a powerful message that every student’s voice is valued.
Try These Quick Wins:
- Greet students in their home languages and invite them to teach greetings to the class
- Acknowledge and celebrate cultural holidays, traditions, or special foods
- Display student work in both English and their home languages
- Encourage students to use drawings, gestures, or their home language when explaining new ideas
Why it works:
These small shifts build trust, validate students’ identities, and reinforce the idea that multilingualism is a strength. When students feel seen and heard, they’re more likely to take academic risks and fully participate in class.
Ready to Transform Learning for Your MLs?
When multilingual learners feel seen, supported, and empowered to engage, they don’t just participate more. They thrive. These strategies may seem small, but together they build a classroom where language is a tool for connection, not a barrier.
At Elevate K-12, we built ELL LIVE with this vision in mind. Our highly skilled, ESL-certified teachers use research-based strategies like the ones shared in this post—visual supports, sentence frames, and inclusive and collaborative digital tools—to create interactive, inclusive learning environments.
Whether your students are just beginning their English journey or already approaching fluency, our ELL Core offerings help ensure they are not only learning content but also building language skills, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.