T.ELL.E-gram

This month's highlights

Featured articles

As the number of students learning English as second language grows around the country, so does the probability of educators having an ELL student in their classrooms. Are you ready? Do you know how to develop a lesson plan that includes ELLs? Find out how to include explicit instruction of comprehension strategies.

If English language learners are going to be a part of your class this fall, do you know how to create a welcoming classroom environment?

Achieving Success: From the Heart

Lucía González shares her library’s success in incorporating “Para Los Niños” literacy project into her summer reading program.

Research and Reports

Catch up on the research this summer! Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners: Report of the National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth, the end-product of a 4 year process, is a must-read that looks at published research on second-language acquisition. There are five main parts to the report:

• Development of literacy
• Cross-linguistic relationships
• Sociocultural contexts and literacy development
• Instruction and professional development
• Student assessment

Don't have time to read the full report? Don't worry, there's an Executive Summary.

In the Classroom

Bright Ideas That Work

Libraries today have changed in a number of ways to meet the demands of our modern society, but their underlying purpose for children is still to help them discover the joy of reading. As summer peaks, many local libraries advertise special summer reading programs and activities to keep children enthusiastic about reading. Find out why summer reading at the library can be great fun, and how you can make the most for ELLs.

Don't forget to check out the associated hot links for this article!

Frequently Asked Questions

As you start to think about the upcoming school year, why not ponder these questions:

• What are some things I can do to make the new ELLs in my class feel comfortable? Find out now.
• How can I communicate with parents who do not speak English and feel they may not be able to help their children at home? Start here.

Beyond the Classroom

Book of the Month

Sol a Sol: Bilingual Poems/Sol a sol: Poemas bilingües

By: Lori Marie Carlson

Read more about this and other books in our Celebrate Reading in Two Languages bilingual booklist! Why not print out the booklist and head to the library?

In a Word: Vocabulary

Search our glossary for terms like "vocabulary." Learn the difference between different types of vocabulary: listening, speaking, writing, and reading.

Learning Store

Have your browsed through our online store? Find classroom and library bilingual book sets and more!

On the Calendar

6th Annual Celebrate our Rising Stars Summit, Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students.

Contact us with information about events you'd like to see us feature!

Check it out!

• Learn about strategies for summer reading for children with dyslexia, from our sister site LDOnLine.org.
• Reading is Fundamental has launched a new Multicultural Literacy Campaign.

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