Placing a new English learner in 20 minutes on the first day

1. Start with conversation, not a test. Ask simple questions with pictures nearby: name of a favorite food, what's happening in a photo, how they got to school. Notice whether answers are single words, short phrases or full sentences.
2. Listen for understanding. Give a two-step direction: "Take the blue pencil and draw a circle." Can the student follow it without gestures?
3. Check reading. Ask the student to read a few lines from an easy picture book. Note whether they decode words, and whether they can tell you what it's about (in any language).
4. Check writing. Ask for one or two sentences about themselves. Words, drawings or the home language are all useful information.
5. Use the free language check. It covers English, Spanish and Portuguese with short questions and listening, then gives a level and the one thing to work on first. It is a good second data point.
6. Write three notes: what the student can do, the first support to give (a picture dictionary, a buddy who shares the home language, sentence frames), and when you'll check again.

Remember: a student who is new to English may be a strong reader and thinker in their home language. Ask the family what the student already knows. Treat the home language as an asset, not a problem.

What to change next time: for very young newcomers, rely on pictures and pointing instead of writing. Repeat this check after four to six weeks, since early progress can be fast.