How to support ELLs through differentiated instruction without feeling overwhelmed

Supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) in a diverse classroom can feel like juggling spinning plates—especially when you’re trying to meet multiple language proficiency levels at once. But here’s the truth: differentiation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this blog post, based on Episode 191 of the Equipping ELLs podcast, we’ll walk through a simple, three-step framework to help you support your ELLs effectively without creating five different lesson plans.

Why Differentiation for ELLs Feels So Hard

Beth Vaucher kicks off the episode by acknowledging what many educators feel but rarely say: differentiation for ELLs is hard. Teachers are expected to juggle language levels, domain-specific skills, content objectives, and standardized assessments—all while making learning engaging and accessible. It’s a lot.

But Beth offers hope. By shifting your focus from creating multiple lessons to building one flexible framework, you can streamline your planning while still meeting every student where they are.

Step 1: Know What Students Can Do at Their Language Level

The first step is gathering language data. Even if your ACCESS scores are from six months ago, start there. More importantly, dig deeper using can-do descriptors. These descriptors help teachers set realistic expectations for what students can produce at each language level across reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

A level 1 student might label visuals or point to demonstrate understanding. A level 3 student could respond using sentence frames. A level 5 student should be able to compare, justify, or summarize using academic vocabulary. The clarity this brings is transformational—it sets both you and your students up for success.

Step 2: Use One Content Goal, Then Scaffold Supports

You don’t need five versions of a lesson. What you need is one anchor lesson—a read-aloud, video, podcast, or text—that all students experience together. Then, provide scaffolded access points based on language level:

Newcomers get word banks and visual supports.
Intermediates use sentence stems and guided notes.
Advanced students dive into academic conversations and extensions.

This method keeps your planning focused and manageable, while ensuring each student can engage meaningfully with the content.

Step 3: Differentiate the Output, Not the Content

Here’s where the magic happens: every student can meet the same objective, but they show it in different ways. For example, if the goal is to describe the life cycle of a butterfly:

A newcomer might label a diagram with visual prompts.
An intermediate might write guided sentences using key vocabulary.
An advanced learner might compare the butterfly’s life cycle to a moth’s in a full paragraph.

The content remains the same—the output is what flexes. This strategy not only simplifies your workload but also allows students to demonstrate learning in ways that build their confidence.

A Real-Life Application

Beth walks through a full example of this framework in action. Using an anchor text, students engage in a shared whole-group experience. Then, they break into small groups:

Group 1 listens to the story again and answers visual-based comprehension questions.
Group 2 works on a grammar point from the text.
Group 3 compares the anchor text to a new passage with a similar theme.

Finally, the whole class completes differentiated writing prompts, ensuring that writing development is built into the routine—without intimidation.

Tools to Support Your Journey

Beth reminds listeners that there’s no need to start from scratch. Inside the Equipping ELLs Membership, you’ll find ready-made resources: scaffolded read-alouds, graphic organizers, writing routines, and simplified can-do descriptors. These tools are designed to make your life easier and your instruction more effective.

Final Thoughts

Differentiation doesn’t have to be draining. When you focus on what your students can do, provide intentional scaffolds, and allow flexibility in output, you create a classroom where all learners thrive. As Beth says, “You don’t have to build it alone.”

Want to start simplifying your ELL support system today?

👉 Download the simplified can-do descriptors here

👉 Explore the Equipping ELLs Membership — use code TAKE10OFF for 10% off Tier 3 plans.

Resources:

Connect with Beth:

More about Equipping ELLs:

We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.

Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thrivingand welcoming environment for your ELL students.

Beth

SHOP THE RESOURCES

Find a variety of best selling resources created specifically with the diverse needs of ELLs in mind.

Click Here

Listen to My Latest Podcast Episode: