California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL)

California Teacher of English Learners certification.

Study Strategies

Active Reading and Note-Taking

Boosting Comprehension with Strategies

Active reading means engaging with the text by asking questions, making predictions, and summarizing as you go. For ELLs, this can include using graphic organizers, highlighting key ideas, and taking structured notes.

Techniques

  • Annotate texts with questions or comments.
  • Use color-coded notes to organize information.
  • Create mind maps for complex topics.

Practicing these strategies helps ELLs remember more and prepares them for assessments.

Examples

  • Students use a Venn diagram to compare characters in a story.

  • Color-coding vocabulary words for easier review.