What initial step should a bilingual kindergarten teacher take to aid ELLs in developing phonological awareness?

The initial step of offering explicit instruction on phonological awareness is crucial for English Language Learners (ELLs) because it lays a strong foundation for their reading skills. Phonological awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language, which is essential when learning to read in any language. By providing direct instruction, the teacher can introduce concepts such as rhyming, syllable counting, and sound segmentation, which are fundamental for understanding the sound structure of words.

This explicit approach helps ELLs grasp the building blocks of language, facilitating their transition into reading and writing in English. It is an active method of instruction that can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of students in a bilingual setting. Moreover, when phonological awareness is developed early on, it can significantly improve their literacy skills and boost their confidence in using the language.

While providing reading materials in both languages, conducting group activities in English, and encouraging home practice with the native language can also support ELLs, they are not as foundational as direct instruction in phonological awareness. These methods, while helpful, do not singularly address the immediate need for understanding the sound system critical for reading success. The explicit instruction directly addresses the skills that ELLs must develop to