Sarah Hayes

SIOP Model

List the 8 components of the SIOP model, with a brief description of each component.

1.) Lesson Preparation- Lessons plans must be grade level appropriate and educational level
appropriate of the students being taught. When working with an ELL student; charts, pictures,
graphs, manipulatives, and demonstrations should be embedded into the lesson plan for the best
results. Well-planned lessons include content area objectives as well as language objectives for
those who are English Language Learners.
2.) Building Backwards- Building backwards allows students to make connections to
background knowledge and experiences. These experiences can be personal, cultural, or
academic. Providing connections to the students lives is one of the most beneficial ways an
English Language Learner can grow when immersed in a setting that is not their native tongue.
3.) Comprehensible Input- When working with ELL students, the rate at which you talk is
extremely important. Teachers should speak slowly, clearly, and avoid phrases that do not
directly translate to their native tongue. Step-by-step instructions and paraphrasing are two
components teachers of ELL students should be able to do.
4.) Strategies- Strategies consist of the multiple ways to teach students. Teachers should
provide students with numerous techniques, mental processes, and methods to learn and retain
information.
5.) Interactions- English Language Learners benefit when being provided the opportunity to
use English in multiple settings across content areas. Teachers should provide ELL students with
the opportunity to work in small groups or pairs. This type of interaction can help students grow
out of the silent period and allow students to grow orally in a way they would not be able to in
a whole class setting.
6.) Practice and Application- Lessons should include multiple opportunities for students to use
hands-on manipulatives to learn. Hands-on activities and manipulatives allow ELL, or any
student, to make connections between abstract and concrete concepts. Students also make
connections most effectively when engaged in activities that incorporate: listening, speaking,
reading, and writing.

7.) Lesson Delivery- Lesson delivery includes how well the lessons objectives are carried out
throughout the lesson, to what extent the students are engaged throughout the lesson, and how
appropriate the rate of the lesson is presented.
8.) Review and Assessment- Review and assessments are designed to see how well a topic was
grasped by a student. This determines whether a topic can be moved past, or if additional
practice is needed for complete understanding.

Traditional lesson plans have many similarities and differences when compared to the
SIOP model. They both are effective when teaching students, however I believe the SIOP model
is most beneficial when working with English Language Learners. The SIOP model allows for
ELL students to learn in a way that connects to knowledge they already know, as well as
experiences they have already faced. This SIOP model also focuses on the rate of a lesson, so
that students are able to pick up easily what the teacher is trying to discuss.
The SIOP model mentions all of the attributes of effectively teaching ELL students.
Although every child is different and learns at different rates, the SIOP model mentions how to
teach these students so no components are missed. I believe this way of teaching should be used
with all ELL students, so they can learn at the quickest rate to be on track with the rest of their
classmates.