This collection of research provides a review of research on the effective practices for improving outcomes for English learners including academic achievement.
Author(s): Tara Garcia Mathewson
Publication URL: http://hechingerreport.org/how-can-being-bilingual-be-an-asset-for-white-students-and-a-deficit-for-immigrants/
Category: Community & Family Engagement, Comprehensive Planning
Grade Level: High School (9-12)
Keywords: Benefits of Bilingualism, Biliteracy, College and Career Readiness, Dual-Language Programs
Summary:
This article examines a political double standard in dual-language programs: dual language instruction is often seen as desirable for students whose first language is English, but as unfavorable or even illegal for ELs. It provides examples of schools and organizations working to emphasize the academic and career benefits of bilingualism for all types of students.
The Misunderestimation of Manuel: Issues in Reductionist Paradigms and Parallel Monolingual Frameworks in the Quest to Improve Policy and Practice for Bilingual Learners
Author(s): Kathy Escamilla
Publication URL: http://www.colorado.edu/education/sites/default/files/attached-files/Escamilla_Misunderestimation%20of%20Manuel.pdf
Category: Comprehensive Planning, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: Early Elementary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keywords: Assessment, Writing
Summary:
This article uses the case study of a fourth-grade student whose writing sample was marked ?unreadable? as an illustration of the problems with reductionist, rubric-bound assessments of ELs. It encourages the use of a ?bilingual lens? in writing assessment that gives credit for students’ expression and organization of ideas even when their spelling and other language mechanics do not meet expectations.
Creating Comprehensible Input and Output: Fundamental Considerations in Language Learning
Author(s): Bill VanPatten
Publication URL: https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/images/TLE/TLE_OctNov14_Article.pdf
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Instructional Strategy, Vocabulary
Summary:
This article provides a counterintuitive and illuminating explanation of how people use context and relationships, rather than abstract ideas, to make sense of language. It includes an extensive example of a lesson that teaches vocabulary while avoiding abstract concepts.
Resources for Teaching English Language Learners
Author(s): Ashley Cronin
Publication URL: https://www.edutopia.org/article/resources-for-teaching-english-language-learners-ashley-cronin
Category: Community & Family Engagement, Culture & Climate, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Leadership
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Arts Instruction, Content Area Instruction, Cultural Responsiveness, Literacy, Resource Lists, Social Interaction, Student Engagement, Technology Instruction
Summary:
This collection provides five themed sets of practical resources, adaptable to a range of grades and English proficiency levels. In addition to general information and language and literacy resources, the collection also includes approaches to less widely addressed topics including arts integration, technology integration, and student engagement.
Barriers to Meaningful Instruction for English Learners
Author(s): Lois M. Meyer
Publication URL: http://rdg504-socioculturalinfluencesonliteracydevelopment.wikispaces.com/file/view/Barriers+to+Meaningful+Instruction+for+English+Learners.pdf
Category: Culture & Climate, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Classroom Climate, Instructional Strategies, Student Motivation
Summary:
This article explains the challenges that ELs face in terms of four ?loads? that impede learning and one ?goad? that can help them overcome obstacles. It gives examples of student problems and teacher responses, and it makes an overall argument for approaches to EL education that emphasize students’ overall development, not just English acquisition.
Gathering and Using Language Information that Families Share
Author(s): none listed
Publication URL: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/fcp/docs/dll_background_info.pdf
Category: Community & Family Engagement
Grade Level: Early Childhood
Keywords: Assessment, Communicating with Families
Summary:
This brief handbook lists questions to ask family members of new EL students, both to assess students’ language proficiency and to help them adjust to a new school environment. Questions are grouped into categories and paired with rationales for asking them. While geared toward preschool, most questions can be adapted for older students.
Strategies for Supporting All Dual Language Learners
Author(s): none listed
Publication URL: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/fcp/docs/dll-strategies.pdf
Category: Community & Family Engagement, Culture & Climate, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Leadership
Grade Level: Early Childhood
Keywords: Communication with Families, Dual Language Learners, Instructional Strategy, Vocabulary
Summary:
This brief handbook provides teachers and administrators with six guiding principles for supporting dual language learners and a set of questions to verify that the principles are being followed. It also includes several case studies to show different ways of implementing the principles.
Stated Briefly: Suspension, expulsion, and achievement of English learner students in six Oregon districts
Author(s): Arthur Burke
Publication URL: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northwest/pdf/REL_2016112.pdf
Category: Culture & Climate
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Behavior Management, Suspension and Expulsion
Summary:
This article shows that, while ELs in elementary school are suspended and expelled at the same rate as non-ELs, they face higher rates of suspension and expulsion in middle school and high school. The article encourages schools to evaluate their disciplinary practices to ensure that ELs are treated fairly, especially because suspension and expulsion are correlated with lower academic achievement.
Stanford University Listening and Speaking Resource Collection
Author(s): Kenji Hakuta
Publication URL: http://web.stanford.edu/dept/gse/cgi-bin/clad/elr004/
Category: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Professional Development
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Keywords: Language Acquisition, Listening Proficiency, Oral Proficiency
Summary:
This resource collection includes multimedia materials for professional development in listening and speaking instruction for ELs. It contains lesson plans for professional development sessions, instructional videos, and documents explaining best practices.
The Challenge of Working with Dual Language Learners
Author(s): Maricarmen Macrina, Doris Hoover, Cindy Becker
Publication URL: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/teaching/eecd/Domains%20of%20Child%20Development/Language%20Development%20and%20Communication/thechallengeofworkingwithdll.pdf
Category: Community & Family Engagement, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Leadership
Grade Level: Early Childhood
Keywords: Communicating with Families, Dual Language Learners, Lesson Plans, Program Administration, Vocabulary
Summary:
This article examines dual language learners from three perspectives: a program administrator, a family outreach mentor, and a classroom teacher. Each provides practical strategies for creating an excellent learning environment for dual-language preschoolers.