Making Magic


In a perfect world, all students would have the same advantages as their peers. Students like English language learners (ELL), for example. Unfortunately, we don't have a magic wand to even the playing field, but thanks to some creative teachers in California we're getting closer to a solution. With a seemingly counterintuitive approach, they created an environment of makerspaces—a place where students can get hands-on math, tech, and science activities—and discovered ELL students were becoming more proficient and confident in their English language skills

The magic of makerspaces might not be a proven theory just yet, but when students were given the opportunity to collaborate with peers and talk through their work together in a scientific setting, teachers noticed a marked improvement in their students' English language skills. By creating an area where peers were obligated to interact with one another, students were able to gain confidence and learn how to verbalize the language rather than just reading it in a textbook. While it might seem like sorcery, these makerspaces might be the magic ELL students need. 

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