ELL News Headlines

Between an influx of school-age Spanish-speaking students relocating to Florida and the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, the need for evidence-based educational practices benefiting English learners is greater than ever.

It’s a resource gap that four UCF researchers hope to help fill through a new project called the English-Learner Infused Training and Experience Program for Early and Primary Learning Educators (ELITE).

The American Library Association (ALA) announced the following Pura Belpré awards for two titles published by LEE & LOW BOOKS INC.: Where Wonder Grows illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia as the 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award winner, and Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando illustrated by Magdalena Mora as a 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Book.

School librarians have always had a role to play in promoting literacy — especially through reading for pleasure — and because of this, it’s often linked to the English department. This is not something that should be dismissed. As we know, students who read widely do better academically, as it introduces them to lots more vocabulary and also supports and engages their imagination. 

Parents of dual language learners (DLLs) are often advised not to speak to their infants and toddlers in more than one language. This advice is rooted in outdated notions that speaking to a child in multiple languages, especially when they are infants and toddlers, will confuse them and cause delays in their speech and language development. This belief could not be further from the truth.

Winter can be a good time for reading thoughtful books. It's like the pale daylight and early darkness create a space for stories — in particular for stories that ask the reader to mull over themes and ideas that can sometimes be difficult. It's a time that allows for reading deeply, giving things proper consideration — and sitting with the feelings that can create. With that in mind, here are five new YA books out this winter that will reward such reading.

Los Angeles County on Thursday announced it will offer its nearly 80 school districts the option to participate in a free mental telehealth service for the region’s 1.3 million school students. Los Angeles Unified School District and Compton Unified School District have already opted into the program, which will deploy in a phased approach for all districts in the county that participate.

The following resources can be used to address the impacts of the massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. This page is part of our natural disaster guide, Natural Disaster Resources for Schools: Partnering with Multilingual Families.

Elizabeth Alonzo swerved around desks that reached just above her knees. She set up laptops for Katherine Wilson’s 2nd graders, so they’ll be ready for an online reading test. Alonzo is an aide at West Elementary in Russellville, one of 10 bilingual instructional assistants the district hired using federal pandemic relief funds — part of the school district’s latest efforts to create a more inclusive, affirming school climate for English learners.

The annual announcement of the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards is the biggest event of the year in the world of children's publishing — 20 separate awards for books and media, all chosen by librarians. And who knows children's literature better than librarians? The Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King and other Youth Media Awards are some of the most prestigious awards an author or illustrator can aspire to. The 2023 Youth Media Awards were announced Monday morning, January 30, during the ALA’s LibLearnX conference in New Orleans.

While using Black history lessons to fill in the gaps in civics and general curriculum is necessary, so is providing access to stories that do not see the Black experience as one rooted only in oppression and enslavement.