T.ELL.E-gram

This month's highlights

Featured articles

How to Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment

Chances are that your English language learners (ELLs) come from cultures with traditions and family values that differ from mainstream American culture. When they come to school, these young children not only have the challenge of learning a new language, but they must also adjust to an unfamiliar cultural setting and school system. How to Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment describes things you can do in your classroom to make your ELLs' transition as smooth as possible.

Empowering Hispanic Parents & Families at Home

Parents can play a valuable role in their children's English literacy development, even if they have limited proficiency in the language. By providing opportunities for language and literacy development at home, whether in English or in the home language, parents can help their children become successful readers in English. Read Empowering Hispanic Parents & Families at Home for some excellent tips that you can share with your ELLs' parents.

Research and Reports

As an educator, you may wonder what you can do to improve your ELLs' literacy and language skills. A new guide from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) titled Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades, offers five practical recommendations to make your program a success. Highlighted best practices include providing opportunities for peer-assisted learning, helping students develop academic English, and providing small-group reading interventions.

In the Classroom

Bright Ideas That Work

If you would like to begin building a strong partnership with the parents of your ELLs but aren't sure where to begin, try hosting a bilingual family night! How to Get Parents Involved: Bilingual Family Night offers some suggestions for planning a successful back-to-school event for your students' parents, as well as a list of links to useful websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you think about structuring your classes and designing lessons for the fall, you may want to consider the following:

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

Find the answers to these and many other Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching ELLs.

Achieving Success: From the Heart

Exclusive Interview with Colorin Colorado!

Dr. Maria E. Brisk, professor at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, is a leader in the field of ELL education. Drawing on more than 33 years of educational experience, she shares her insights about the role language and culture play in diverse classrooms across the country. Dr. Brisk is editor of "Language, Culture, and Community in Teacher Education", a book that addresses common educational needs among all ELL students.

Beyond the Classroom

Book of the Month

Moony Luna: Luna, Lunita Lunera

This month's featured book, "Moony Luna: Luna, Lunita Lunera" by Jorge Argueta, is a bilingual Spanish/English book about a young girl's first day of school. Explore this excellent Teacher's Guide to the book as you and your students share Luna's adventure!

In a Word: Literacy

This month's glossary terms refer to reading, writing, and the creative and analytical acts involved in producing and comprehending texts.

Ed Extras

Need articles to include in your parent/community newsletters? Ed Extras, a free monthly service offers you one page articles in English and Spanish!

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