Identifying and supporting English learner students with learning disabilities: Key issues in the literature and state practice
Author(s): Elizabeth Burr, Eric Haas, Karen Ferriere
Publication URL: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/west/pdf/REL_2015086.pdf
Category: Comprehensive Planning, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Accommodations, Assessment, Individualized Education Programs, Learning Disabilities, Response to Intervention, Special Education
Summary:

This handbook synthesizes resources on ELs with learning disabilities, providing summaries and references for both academic research and state policy. It stresses that there is no single, foolproof method of determining whether an EL has a learning disability, and therefore recommends a number of approaches and provides a flowchart to guide assessment.

Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades
Author(s): Russell Gersten, Scott K. Baker, Timothy Shanahan, Sylvia Linan-Thompson, Penny Collins, Robin Scarcella
Publication URL: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/PracticeGuide/20074011.pdf
Category: Comprehensive Planning, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Early Elementary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keywords: Academic Language, Assessment, Collaborative Learning, Instructional Strategy, Language Acquisition, Literacy, Small-Group Learning, Vocabulary
Summary:

This detailed instructional guide delineates five main components of effective literacy and language instruction for ELs. For each component, it explains the underlying research-based evidence, provides practical strategies and checklists for implementation, and explores solutions to possible challenges and roadblocks.

Integrating Content Areas with English Language Development for English-Language Learners
Author(s): Okhee Lee
Publication URL: http://www.glencoe.com/glencoe_research/Math/icawp.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Academic Language, Content Area Instruction, Instructional Strategy, Interdisciplinarity, Literacy, STEM Instruction, Science Instruction
Summary:

This article approaches science instruction as an opportunity to develop oral language and literacy skills in ELs, citing the hands-on and contextualized nature of science as a fruitful opportunity to engage students and integrate academic language development. It provides a list of practical strategies for implementing this approach, as well as suggestions for assessing ELs in science.

Bilingual Infant/Toddler Environments: Supporting Language & Learning in Our Youngest Children
Author(s): Robert A. Stechuk, M. Susan Burns, Sharon E. Yandian
Publication URL: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED520113.pdf
Category: Community & Family Engagement, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Early Childhood
Keywords: Communication with Families, Dual Language Learners, Infants and Toddlers, Language Development, Multilingual Environments
Summary:

This handbook explains the process by which young children acquire language and provides a glossary of terms related to language acquisition. It discusses best practices for helping students develop in multilingual environments and tools for working with parents.

Helping English-Learners Break Through Language Plateaus
Author(s): Wendi Pillars
Publication URL: http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2016/12/16/helping-english-learners-break-through-language-plateaus.html
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: High School (9-12)
Keywords: Academic Language, Instructional Strategy, Long-Term ELs, Oral Proficiency, Vocabulary
Summary:

This article focuses on long-term ELs who speak conversational English well but continue to struggle with academic language. It provides practical suggestions for helping these students develop their vocabulary usage, linguistic complexity, and language control.

NCCLR Quick Guide for Teachers: How to Use Bilingual Books
Author(s): none listed
Publication URL: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/fcp/docs/ncclr-qguide-how-to-use-bilingual-books.pdf
Category: Community & Family Engagement, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Early Elementary (K-2)
Keywords: Biliteracy, Dual Language Learners, Early Literacy, Family Literacy This brief handbook describes strategies for using bilingual books to develop biliteracy in young ELs, Reading Aloud, including strategies for engaging families in reading together. It also provides a bibliography of recommended bilingual books.
Summary:

Code Switching: Why It Matters and How to Respond
Author(s): none listed
Publication URL: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/fcp/docs/code-switching.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Professional Development
Grade Level: Early Childhood
Keywords: Code Switching, Dual Language Learners, Language Development, Multilingual Environments
Summary:

This handbook explains code switching and gives teachers a variety of strategies and examples for helping dual-language learners develop communication skills in both languages. It includes workbook exercises so teachers can plan future approaches and assess their own knowledge.

Practical Guidelines for the Education of English Language Learners: Research-Based Recommendations for the Use of Accommodations in Large-scale Assessments
Author(s): Michael J. Kieffer, Mabel Rivera, David J. Francis
Publication URL: http://centeroninstruction.org/files/Practical%20Guidelines%20Update%20Book%204.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Leadership
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Accommodations, Assessment
Summary:

This comprehensive, research-based report on assessment accommodations for ELs focuses on four main ways to improve access and support ELs in achieving results that accurately reflect their knowledge and comprehension. It is especially useful to teachers and administrators in explaining the results of research in clear, everyday language and synthesizing the large and sometimes conflicting body of research on assessment.

Compare, Contrast, Comprehend: Using Compare-Contrast Text Structures with ELLs in K-3 Classrooms
Author(s): Mariam Jean Dreher and Jennifer Letcher Gray
Publication Info: The Reading Teacher Oct. 2009, 63(2), 132-141
Publication URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40347663
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Early Elementary (K-2)
Keywords: Compare and Contrast, Content Area Instruction, Literacy, Vocabulary
Summary:

This article discusses the importance of introducing ELs to text structures, such as compare and contrast, to help them develop reading comprehension, especially in nonfiction content-area texts. In addition to a theoretical framework, it provides detailed examples of teaching approaches and a list of recommended books.

Linguistic Scaffolding Strategies for ELLs: Classroom Samples Using Sheltered Instruction Strategies
Author(s): None Specified
Publication URL: http://www.esc1.net/cms/lib/TX21000366/Centricity/Domain/63/Linguistic_Scaffolding_Strategies_for_ELLs.pdf
Category: Comprehensive Planning, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Professional Development
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Academic Language, Content Area Instruction
Summary:

This handbook compiles activities to promote vocabulary and academic language development in content area instruction, Scaffolding, Sheltered Instruction, and promote critical thinking., as well as to a variety of topics and content areas, with research-based explanations of implementation and visual examples of student work. The activities can be adapted to a wide range of grade and proficiency levels