To help long-term English learners meet reading comprehension challenges, language specialist Tan Huynh shares strategies to use before reading, during reading, and after reading so that multilinguals have the scaffolding they need to read grade-level texts with understanding.
Writing from her background in working with students who were born outside of the U.S and are new to the country, the language, the culture, and the school system, Dr, Stephanie Dewing shares five tips to engage these newcomers. Included: assets-based language development.
First and foremost, writes EL expert Valentina Gonzalez, new teachers need to view multilingualism as a student asset. Learn her five proven strategies to achieve teaching success with multilinguals, who need to be valued, respected and supported to master academic content.
Book Reviews / English Language Learners
by MiddleWeb · Published 05/31/2018 · Last modified 11/22/2019
The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox is all meat with 400+ pages of teaching tactics, techniques, and methods, organized for use by ELL teachers and their colleagues across content areas. Educator Rita Platt says the book’s high impact strategies are perfect for summer PD.
Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Sypnieski provide ELL students the chance to read high-interest books independently. Literary conversations help ELLs interact with the texts, creating a classroom culture of shared literacy. The co-authors share six creative activities.
The Unstoppable ML Teacher / Vocabulary
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 03/12/2018 · Last modified 08/10/2021
To create classrooms where vocabulary learning thrives, Valentina Gonzalez recommends an interactive word wall – a large graphic organizer displaying critical vocabulary with related ideas and visuals added by students. Great across subjects, for ELLs and everyone else!
Practical teachers concerned with helping kids move forward as readers know that giving them access to engaging texts at their approximate level is an important strategy, says school librarian Rita Platt. Read her arguments for avoiding an either-or approach to leveling.
Being Culturally Responsive / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 11/05/2017 · Last modified 11/18/2019
Sometimes we don’t even realize there are things we say or do that may cause our ELL students to become anxious or discouraged and interfere with their ability or desire to learn. Expert Valentina Gonzalez shares six things we should avoid saying to English learners.
Scaffolds / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 10/08/2017 · Last modified 12/14/2019
If we provide scaffolds for the students who need it – especially ELLs who represent so many different backgrounds – we can promote independent learning. Valentina Gonzalez offers five easy-to-implement strategies to help make lessons ELL-friendly in any content area.
“Since many students are in my class multiple times,” writes ELL teacher Wendi Pillars, “I’m always seeking new topics to tie literacy skills together.” This year one theme was “Zero Hunger” through sustainable agriculture. A perfect hook for a unit on eating insects.
