Hi everyone! As teachers, we’re always on the lookout for new ways to modify content for ELs in a fun and effective way. I recently found a game-changing tool that’s made a big difference in my classroom: Canva’s PDF editor. The following are three ways in which I have used the PDF editor to create visuals and simplify text for my ELs.
Modify Phonics and Word Work
As an elementary English Language (EL) teacher, I often find myself navigating the delicate balance between teaching the intricacies of the English language—such as vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and listening comprehension—and addressing the early literacy skills that many of my students struggle with, like phonics. Recently, the increased emphasis on the science of reading has brought these foundational skills into sharper focus, with general education teachers calling for more support in these areas.
For EL students, who are just beginning to grapple with English sounds, foundational reading skills require additional time and support. However, I encountered a significant challenge: when I shifted my focus to phonics instruction, I realized that my students’ limited vocabulary made it difficult for them to grasp the words we were discussing. For instance, when teaching consonant blends with words like “clams,” “blimps,” or “grills,” many students had no context for these terms. Traditional Word Work programs, which often present words in a list format, were not effective. I resorted to showing pictures on my smart board, but this one-off approach proved insufficient. I continued to look for ways to modify content for Els, but despite my efforts, my students were not only struggling with phonetics but were also missing out on learning English.
While working on a project in Canva, I discovered its new PDF editor feature, which proved to be a game-changer. By adding visuals directly to the word lists for phonetic concepts, I was able to provide context and meaning, making the vocabulary more accessible and engaging for my students. This approach allowed them to learn new vocabulary simultaneously as they practiced their phonics skills.
Modify Content in PDF Books
Seeing how well the PDF editor worked for adding visuals, I decided to explore other ways to use it to modify content for ELs. I realized that many of the downloadable books my students use are in PDF format, but they’re often too complex for my ELs due to difficult vocabulary, tricky sentence structures, and figurative language. When I uploaded these PDF books, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the editor allowed me to make text changes! While the editing process wasn’t exactly seamless, I managed to revise key sections to make the vocabulary and sentence structures more accessible for my EL students.
Simplify Content Based Articles
Finally, I turned my attention to modifying content-based articles. These articles often have complex vocabulary and sentence structures that can be challenging for my EL students. Using the PDF editor, I added embedded glossaries with helpful icons for the more advanced terms. I also included graphic organizers and brief summaries in the margins to support comprehension. These updates made a big difference, significantly boosting my students’ fluency and understanding.