I just recently came across a list of helpful apps for educators. As I was perusing them, I stumbled upon an app called iTranslate Voice (for iphone). If you have a high ELL population, then this is the app for you! My school has many students that move in and do not speak any English. I have struggled with trying to communicate with them. I've used dictionaries or tried having other students translate. I downloaded this app and it changed my life! This app can translate into 42 different languages. All you do is speak what you want to say (kind of like you're speaking to SIRI) and it translates into the language, speaks it out loud, and writes it as a text! So far, I've used the Arabic, Spanish, and Chinese (mandarin) the most. After explaining an assignment to the whole class, I asked my non-English speaking students if they understood what to do. They were confused, so I spoke into my phone and it translated it for them. They completed the assignment knowing what to do! AMAZING! Where has this been all my life?
Thank you iTranslate Voice!
I have also started creating word walls for science in order to help my ELL students with new vocabulary. I have created them for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Here is the link to my 4th grade set: