Teachers who work with English as a Second Language learners will find ESL/ESOL/ELL/EFL reading/writing skill-building children's books, stories, activities, ideas, strategies to help PreK-3, 4-8, and 9-12 students learn to read.
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Frequent questions
Expert answers
I have several very low level readers in 5th grade that need books at their reading level. I have difficulty locating books for these students. The ones we are using seem to be too childish. Where can I find resources to use with these older students?
One resource that might be very helpful for you is a book called Leveled Books for Readers Grades 3-6, by Fountas and Pinnell. It lists over 6,000 books and gives the author, reading level, publisher, and genre of each. The genres that are included are: "traditional literature," "realistic fiction," "historical fiction," "science fiction," "fantasy," "biography," and "information book." The nonfiction listings in particular might be a good fit for your students. You may find that many of the books listed are available in your school's library or in your local public library.
Also, check out the publishers of what are called "high interest/low readability" texts. These are books that are written on a first to third grade reading level but treat themes and topics that are of interest to students of middle school or high school age. An internet search will yield a variety of publishers that specialize in this type of text.
I'd like to expand my classroom library to include some outstanding Spanish-language children's books. Is there an award comparable to the Newbery Medal or the Caldecott Medal for Spanish books? If so, is it possible to access a list of past winners?
The Pura Belpré Award is given biannually to a Latino/a writer and a Latino/a illustrator for outstanding works of literature that celebrate the Latino cultural experience. Like the Newbery and the Caldecott, the Pura Belpré Award is given by the Association for Library Service to Children, which is a division of the American Library Association. Some of the award-winning books are bilingual; others are available in both Spanish and English. Lists of current and past winners are available on the Pura Belpré website.
You might also want to explore the Américas Award, which is given to books in Spanish or English written in the U.S. for children or young adults. Sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), this award recognizes works that portray Latin America or Latinos in the U.S. in an authentic and engaging way. Lists of award winners can be found on the Américas Web site, along with lists of commended books and links to other excellent resources.
Another great resource is right here on the Colorín Colorado site. The Recommended Books section offers lists of great books for any occasion. Many of the books you will find are award winners, but all are carefully selected by our experts. Here you're sure to find something great for you and your students to read.
Where can I find resources to teach high school ELLs in both English and Spanish literacy? My students are native Spanish speakers who read below a 4th grade level in Spanish.
For many years, a variety of American publishing companies have offered what are called "high interest/low readability" texts in English. These are books that are written on a first to third grade reading level, but treat themes and topics that are of interest to students of middle school or high school age.
Currently, some publishers are offering this type of text in Spanish, as well. As a result of the increased emphasis throughout the U.S. on standardized content area testing, many of these texts are on nonfiction topics that would be of interest even to adult audiences. These include books on such topics as the sciences, health issues, and U.S. history and government.
- Rourke Publishing offers various texts on U.S. history written on a fourth grade level in Spanish.
- AGS Publishing has also recently introduced a U.S. government textbook in Spanish written on a fourth grade level.
- Continental Book Company has a wide variety of books in Spanish, as well as bilingual English/Spanish books, including a large selection of dual language biographies written on a third grade level.
You should also take a look at the Lectorum website, which is Scholastic's Spanish site. Although many of the books are clearly for young children, you can also find "high/low" titles that would appeal to your students.
Publishers of materials for high school level Spanish as a second language classes might also be a good source. Glencoe, for example, has a "Journeys to Adventure" series and a "Señor Pepino" series that might work well with your students.
Also, be sure to check out the Educators Page on the Colorín Colorado website. You will find lots of outstanding resources there. Also, be sure to check out the Web Resources, where you will find links to many other excellent sites.
Where can I find a list of suggested titles in Spanish for independent or shared reading?
Fortunately, you can now find lots of great children's books in Spanish that are perfect for shared or independent reading. The Colorín Colorado website provides a wonderful list of Recommended Books for Children. There is a brief description of each, as well as a recommended age level. You will also find links to several other sites that have either Spanish language books or books about Hispanic culture or heritage. One of these sites, for example is Críticas, an online magazine designed primarily to provide librarians with information on the latest good books in Spanish. Each month, there are several reviews of Spanish-language books for children, and you can also access an archive that has all the reviews from the past year.
Please see the list below of several publishers who also offer classroom sets of leveled "little books" in Spanish:
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As a Literacy Coach in a K-6, Reading First Program Improvement School with more than 68% ELLs, I have found your website to be very useful over the past three years. Thank you.
~ Barbara S.
