Welcome to Colorín Colorado, the leading website for teachers and parents of English Language Learners!
Here you'll find numerous articles, resources, and ideas to support ELLs at school and at home.
Why the name Colorín Colorado?
Learn where our name comes from >
The process of learning to read can be particularly challenging for English language learners (ELLs). The good news about teaching reading to ELLs, however, is that you don't have to learn an entirely new method. Learn more in our new article, Reading 101 for English Language Learners.
This collection of multicultural poetry celebrates the color brown and all of the delicious and familiar places it can be found. Author Malathi Michelle Iyengar also uses the poems to express an appreciation for the many ethnic backgrounds who describe their skin color as "brown" around the world. Jamel Akib's warm drawings are a perfect complement to the poetry.
Tuyet is excited for Thanskgiving. She tells her mother that it is time to buy a turkey, but she is worried after learning that her family will be having duck instead — it's Turkey Day, not Duck Day! When it comes time to tell the class what she ate for Turkey Day, Tuyet is in for a special surprise. This heartwarming story is a beautiful reminder of the unique ways we each celebrate our own traditions.
Check out these booklists for more Thansgiving book ideas:
American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month is a great way to celebrate the rich history and culture of Native Americans. Don't miss our American Indian Heritage booklist or the Reading Rockets Native American booklist!
ELL teachers may wonder how best to bridge the language barrier in order to improve communication with students' families. Find the answer to this
and many other questions in our section on
Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching ELLs.
Don't miss our new video interview with author and illustrator Lulu Delacre! Lulu has been writing and illustrating children's books for almost thirty years. In this interview, Lulu talks about the influence of her Puerto Rican heritage on her work, as well as the importance of our public libraries.
Math is all around, even for our youngest learners. By providing a home rich in language and where thinking is encouraged, you can help your preschooler develop important numeracy and literacy skills. This article offers four examples of how to integrate language and math.
Many school districts are at a loss on how to best educate long-term English-language learners. Kate Menken, an assistant professor of linguistics at the City University of New York, answered questions about what she's learned during three years of researching long-term ELLs in New York City.
Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran with lots of experience working with English language learners, you'll find a wealth of useful information in this practical guide by Judie Haynes, an experienced ESL teacher and co-founder of the website EverythingESL. The book begins with a discussion of the stages of second language development and also covers such topics as working with newcomers, differentiating instruction for ELLs, and challenges related to content area instruction for ELLs. The real-life scenarios from actual classrooms are a highlight of this very useful classroom guide.
Haynes, J. (2007). Getting started with English language learners: How educators can meet the challenge. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).