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?

  Those who teach preschool and early elementary students face unique challenges due to students’ limited language abilities.  When a child enters the classroom with no English language skills at all, the obstacles to communication can be overwhelming.  We asked author and educator, Karen Nemeth, M.Ed., to share some tips with you for welcoming limited
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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 Sarah Plumitallo, Guest Blogger As a first year teacher at an elementary school with a high population of ESOL students, my greatest challenge in the classroom is creating lessons and learning opportunities that are accessible to each of my students. I’ve found that there are three strategies that make a great deal of impact:

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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Idea by Sheryl, ESL K-5 Teacher, Romeoville, IL My ESL students appreciate using graphic pictures as writing prompts. I have a collection of close up, interesting and unusual animal pictures that they love to choose from.

Idea by Lizette, 4th Grade Teacher, El Paso, TX My best advice when working with English Language Learners is to focus on their background knowledge by conducting a “Daily Concept Conversation.” Here’s how. At the beginning of each week, gather your students together and present them with several picture cards related to a common experiential
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Idea by Beth, 3rd Grade Teacher, LaVista, NE My best piece of advice for working with ELL students is to avoid underestimating their knowledge base. My ELL students have often surprised me with the scope and depth of their experience and understanding on a topic. Sometimes the ELL student may not know the A, B,
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Idea by Peggy, Preschool Teacher, Bremerton, WA When helping ELL students, I recommend learning a few basic words in their language. For me it was bathroom, sit, outside, eat, please, thank you, stop, etc.