ELL News Headlines

On January 26, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, digital media, video, and audiobooks for children and young adults — including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery, Printz awards, and Pura Belpré awards — at its Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

Collaborative learning — the process of learning together in the broadest sense, can actively solve problems, provide support, and help develop stronger ideas. In the English language teaching (ELT) classroom, especially with younger learners, group and pair work can unlock even more learning opportunities when combined with intentional support.

U.S. immigration officials have detained at least four children, including a five-year-old, from the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights, according to school officials and a lawyer for the family, who challenged the government narrative of the five-year-old's detention put forward by Vice President JD Vance.

Tracy Byrd, who was Minnesota's 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, is relearning how to teach students in person and online at the same time. His class is navigating its first major literary essay. And amid ongoing federal immigration raids, they’re all learning what it means to live in a new normal.

Reusable message banks, videos with captions, and smart use of translation tools help schools consistently communicate with families in their home language.

These books for young children and elementary students highlight different aspects of Lunar New Year celebrations.

As immigration agents and protests lead some families to keep children home, schools around the Twin Cities are offering a remote option for the next several weeks.

Artificial intelligence has already entered K–12 classrooms, whether schools are ready for it or not. From lesson planning and grading to essay writing and research, AI tools are changing how teachers teach and how students learn. Some educators see endless possibilities for innovation, while others worry that these same tools could weaken students’ ability to think critically, write clearly, and solve problems independently.

As an educator who trains future teachers (Pedro) and one who works with community college students transitioning from high school (Enrique), we find ourselves both hopeful and uneasy about AI’s potential. Uncle and nephew, members of two generations, we are bullish and bearish at the same time, and we believe this tension reflects where K–12 education stands right now.

A new approach to teaching students who are learning English is producing higher test scores and faster language development in the Sioux Falls School District, according to school officials.

A new study from the Brookings Institution's Center for Universal Education lays out some of the pros and cons that the report lays out, along with a sampling of the study's recommendations for teachers, parents, school leaders and government officials: