by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist Do you have English Language Learners (ELLs) in your classroom who are struggling to learn to read? As many of us do, I wanted to review a crucial element in language and reading instruction that many second language learners miss. Phonological awareness instruction is essential for ELLs yet many children
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by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist As classroom teachers we know the value of thematic units when teaching young learners. These units motivate children and engage students in learning. But did you know that English Language Development (ELD) instruction is best delivered using this same tried and true teaching technique?

Parent Resources Explaining the Common Core Standards - One Teacher’s New Year’s Resolution! by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist Happy New Year everyone! Like many teachers, I make personnel and professional resolutions each year. I try to keep them to a minimum and make them realistic. This year my professional resolution is to create and continue a
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by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist As elementary teachers we are always looking for and finding strategies to use with our students that broaden and deepen their understanding when reading. We know that when students, especially second language learners, can distinguish between the shades of meanings of related words, then they can be more precise and
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by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist “If only I had more time in a school day…” Have you ever caught yourself uttering this phrase? You can easily add those instructional minutes to your day by explicitly planning for your transition times. Carefully considered transition times offer the key to maintaining an optimal learning environment, minimizes disruptions
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by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist We are knee deep back at school and looking good! October is the perfect month for teachers with second language learners to take a moment and think about their classroom set up and its connection to student achievement. Take a moment to insure that English Language Learners (ELLs) are oriented
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by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist We are off and running with common core as we approach full adoption in the 2013-14 school year. With this in mind, have you checked out the Language Domain of the Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards? This great domain elevates the importance of English grammar, conventions, vocabulary in
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by Lori Wolfe, Monthly Columnist As we head back to our classroom and prepare for a new school year, many of us will find English Language Learners (ELLs) on our rosters. I would like to share some ideas used to establish a warm, and supportive learning environment for second language learners.