T.ELL.E-gram

This month's highlights

Featured article

English language learners (ELLs) often have problems mastering science, math, or social studies concepts because they cannot comprehend the textbooks for these subjects. That's why it's particularly important for teachers to explicitly teach reading comprehension strategies for content learning.

Achieving Success: From the Heart

Meet Dr. José Rodríguez, who tells us about his policy work in migrant education and how that work is rooted in his own experiences.

Research and Reports

A major new analysis of California elementary school performance data has identified four educational practices associated with higher performance among elementary English Learner (EL) students. According to the study released in May at the Education Writers Association annual meeting in Los Angeles, schools that engage in all four practices have, on average, the highest academic achievement among English Learner students.

In the Classroom

Bright Ideas That Work

An English language learner may not have an advanced English vocabulary, but with the right kind of curriculum and instruction, teachers may be surprised at the knowledge ELLs can gain. Science lends itself well to developing ELL's language and content knowledge because there are so many opportunities for hands-on learning and observation.

* Check out our hot links to more research and activities

* Check out this book about ELLs and science!

Frequently Asked Questions

• "What should be the main goal for teaching ELLs in the content areas?" Find out!
• Many of the ELLs in my class are able to decode English text, but continue to struggle with reading comprehension. How can I help them develop comprehension kills? Read the answer.

Beyond the Classroom

Book of the Month

The Rainbow Tulip / El tulipán arcoiris

Read more about this and other books in our For Kids booklist! It's the perfect place to start looking for a gift for young readers of all ages: from birth to high school.

Don't forget to explore the new Books & Authors section!

In a Word: Academic English

This month's glossary term refers to English language ability required for academic achievement in context-reduced situations, such as classroom lectures and textbook reading assignments. This is sometimes referred to as Cognitive/Academic Language Proficiency (CALP).

Learning Store

Visit our online store and check out our growing list of bilingual products!

Thank you for your resources and for making it easier for us to empower our students and their families…¡SI SE PUEDE!
—Sylvia B.