Seeking Explanatory Adequacy: A Dual Approach to Understanding the Term ?Heritage Language Learner?
Author(s): Maria Carreira
Publication URL: http://nhlrc.ucla.edu/media/files/Carreira.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Assessment, Dual Language Learners, Heritage Languages
Summary:

This article investigates several methods of defining heritage language learners, and those conflicting definitions’ impact on screening students for placement in language instruction. It reveals the classification problems that arise from each definition, ultimately concluding that HLLs are a sufficiently diverse population that heritage language programs will always have to be adapted to student needs.

Integrating Inquiry Science and Language Development for English Language Learners
Author(s): Trish Stoddart, America Pinal, Marcia Latzke, Dana Canaday
Publication URL: http://ftp.gac.edu/~mkoomen/restored/Science%20Articles/inquiryandell.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Professional Development
Grade Level: Early Elementary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keywords: Academic Language, Content Area Instruction, Integrated Content Curriculum, Interdisiciplinarity, STEM Instruction, Science Instruction, Vocabulary
Summary:

This article argues that an inquiry-based science curriculum creates opportunities to integrate content area instruction with English language instruction, and provides an alternative to sheltered instruction or native-language instruction. It provides a detailed, research-based rubric for implementing an integrated content science curriculum that supports ELs.

On the Cultural Validity of Science Assessments
Author(s): Guillermo Solano-Flores, Sharon Nelson-Barber
Publication URL: http://www.d.umn.edu/~kzak/documents/Solano-FloresJRST01Assessment.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Assessment, Content Area Instruction, Cultural Responsiveness, STEM Instruction, Science Instruction
Summary:

This article argues that science assessments must take sociocultural context into account, or they become inaccurate reflections of student knowledge and comprehension. It categorizes various ways in which cultural difference can impact a student’s response to assessment questions, illustrating each problem with detailed examples and suggesting solutions.

Improving Educational Outcomes for English Learners in the Middle Grades
Author(s): Jana Echevarria, Deborah J. Short, Jan Hasbrouck, Diane August, Lauren Artzi, Julie Mazrum, Colleen Klein Reutebuch, Joshua F. Lawrence, Claire White, Catherine E. Snow, Annie Duguay
Publication URL: http://www.cal.org/create/pdfs/create-briefs-collection.pdf
Category: Comprehensive Planning, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Professional Development
Grade Level: Middle School (6-8), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keywords: Content Area Instruction, Instructional Strategy, Lesson Plans, Literacy, Response to Intervention, SIOP Model, STEM Instruction, Science Instruction, Social Studies Instruction, Teacher Coaching, Vocabulary
Summary:

This collection of briefs explains a number of topics related to EL instruction, with a particular focus on academic literacy and content area instruction. Along with practical examples and applications for the classroom, it includes approaches to school-wide and district-wide EL programs, and ways of integrating professional development.

Teaching Reading to Early Language Learners
Author(s): Russell Gersten and Esther Gevea
Publication URL: http://readingfirst.scoe.net/documents/summit3/articles/teach_read_early.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Early Elementary (K-2)
Keywords: Instructional Strategy, Learning Disabilities, Literacy, Phonological Awareness, Vocabulary
Summary:

This article focuses on phonological awareness and vocabulary building as the fundamental components to developing literacy in ELs. It provides a checklist of best practices and stresses the importance of identifying learning disabilities and reading difficulties early.

Did They Get It? The Role of Fidelity in Teaching English Learners
Author(s): Jana Echevarria. Catherine Richards-Tutor, Vivan P. Chinn, Paige Ann Ratleff
Publication Info: Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy March 2011, 54(6), 425-434. doi:10.1598/JAAL.54.6.4
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Professional Development
Grade Level: Middle School (6-8)
Keywords: Academic Language, Assessment, Literacy, STEM Instruction, Science Instruction, Teacher Collaboration
Summary:

This article shows the importance of fidelity ? implementing a lesson as it was designed to be implemented ? in effective content area instruction to ELs. It argues that, in addition to high-quality materials and approaches, professional development is crucial, so teachers understand how to implement new instructional approaches and feel motivated to implement them correctly.

The GO TO Strategies: Scaffolding Options for Teachers of English Language Learners, K-12
Author(s): Linda New Levine, Laura Lukens, and Betty Ansin Smallwood
Publication URL: http://www.cal.org/content/download/1906/22045/file/go-to-strategies.pdf
Category: Comprehensive Planning, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Instructional Strategy, Lesson Plans, Literacy, Oral Proficiency, Scaffolding, Sheltered Instruction, Vocabulary, Writing
Summary:

This handbook provides an extensive collection of strategies and classroom activities for developing English proficiency. In addition to describing dozens of activities in detail, it suggests activity sequences, groups activities by guiding principles and learning outcomes, and gives a glossary of terms related to EL instruction.

Teaching English Language Learners
Author(s): Robert Jimenez
Publication URL: http://www.learner.org/workshops/teachreading35/session6/sec2p2.html
Category: Culture & Climate, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keywords: Biliteracy, Classroom Culture, Cultural Responsiveness, Literacy, Reading Aloud
Summary:

This half-hour video, paired with a thought-provoking set of questions for discussion or reflection, provides a useful starting point for engaging with the unique needs of ELs. It is geared toward teachers in mainstream classrooms with a mixture of EL and non-EL students, with the dual goals of helping teachers implement best practices for ELs and of using students’ diversity to enrich educational experiences for the whole class.

How fifth grade Latino/a bilingual students use their linguistic resources in the classroom and laboratory during science instruction
Author(s): Alma R. Stevenson
Publication Info: Cutural Studies of Science Education 2013, 8(4), 973-989. DOI 10.1007/s11422-013-9522-7
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keywords: Academic Language, Biliteracy, Collaborative Learning, Content Area Instruction, STEM Instruction, Science Instruction
Summary:

This article describes how ELs transitioning into English-only instruction balance conversational use of their home language (Spanish) with academic use of English when learning new content-area concepts. It demonstrates that, while students often spoke Spanish with their classmates while working to make sense of science concepts, they successfully demonstrated understanding of the new content in both spoken and written English.

Supporting Language & Content Learning in Math
Author(s): none listed
Publication URL: https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/math-for-newcomers-ousd
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: High School (9-12)
Keywords: Class Discussion, Content Area Instruction, Mathematics Instruction, Newcomer Students, STEM Instruction, Scaffolding, Sheltered Instruction
Summary:

This video uses the example of a successful classroom to illustrate strategies for content area instruction in a sheltered-instruction environment. The video demonstrates how the teacher employs scaffolding principles and balances students’ home language use with English vocabulary development.