Planning Stand Alone Instruction for Multilingual Learners

Stand Alone instruction (or “pull-out”) in English as a New Language is a lifeline for our Multilingual Learners (MLs). Yet too often, it becomes a rehashed English Language Arts (ELA) lesson. Our students need more than just reviewing text analysis skills. They need meaningful contexts to build language and confidence.

Why Context Matters

Language does not grow in a vacuum. Students develop English best when lessons connect to themes, topics, and experiences that make sense to them. Planning Stand Alone instruction around a theme—whether original or aligned to ELA—gives MLs a foundation for language comprehension and vocabulary growth.

Think about it this way:

• Without context: Students memorize isolated words and skills.

• With context: Students apply new words and skills across connected lessons.

Choosing a Unit Theme

You have two strong options when planning Stand Alone instruction:

1. Create Your Own Theme

Example: Welcome to School

• Week 1: Our Classroom

• Week 2: Our School

• Week 3: Our Neighborhood

• Week 4: New York City

• Week 5: Immigration Stories

This sequence gives students both vocabulary and real-life connections.

2. Align with ELA

ELA units often center on complex texts. For instance, many 7th graders have to read “Dark They Were and Golden Eyed” by Ray Bradbury in the Into Literature curriculum. The ELA theme is The Terror and Wonder of Space.

An ENL teacher can adapt this by shifting to a theme of Exploration. Then, build lessons in a logical sequence around:

• World geography

• Famous explorers

• Outer space discoveries

Students still connect to the ELA text, but in ways that build their language comprehension.

Focus on the Right Standards

ELA teachers concentrate on the Next Generation Standards for ELA: identifying key ideas, analyzing craft, and evaluating structure. Stand Alone teachers need a different lens.

Our focus belongs on the Speaking, Listening, and Language standards. Yes, they exist, and they matter!

• Comprehension and collaboration in discussions

• Vocabulary acquisition and use across topics

• Academic Language for learning

Backwards Planning Made Simple

Start by deciding on your end goal. Then map the steps backward.

For example: If you want students to orally give a short presentation, plan:

• Unit theme and subtopics

• Vocabulary sets tied to each subtopic

• Sentence stems and frames for support

• Practice activities that build toward speaking confidence

To make this easier, I’ve created a free unit mapping template based on backwards planning, or Universal Learning by Design. Use it to sketch your first unit.

Timing Your First Unit

Looking at the NYC DOE school calendar, Stand Alone instruction will kick off in the next couple of weeks. If you think of one unit as 4–6 weeks (including assessments), your first unit will likely run through October into early November. (And, if you need a something for right NOW, check out aebll’s free Welcome to School lesson!)

So before you dive into lesson plans, pause. Decide on your theme. Build your unit map. Then, you’ll be ready to create lessons that help MLs thrive in English.

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👉 Coming soon! Planning Integrated Content & Language Instruction for Multilingual Learners