ELL Literacy Tutoring: Resource List
The following resources can support literacy-focused tutoring for English language learners (ELLs). Many of these videos and related classroom materials were developed as part of our Common Core and ELLs project with Dr. Diane August.
To see additional strategies in action, take a look at our Classroom Video library and our resource collection Strategies for ELL Success.
Topics on This Page
This resource list includes the following topics:
- Getting to Know Your ELLs
- Building Foundational Skills
- Text Complexity
- Developing Background Knowledge
- Scaffolding for ELL Instruction
- Close Reading
- Developing Academic Language
- Writing to Sources
- Formative Assessment
- Partnering with Multilingual Families
Getting to Know Your ELLs
Articles
- 8 Strategies for Building Relationships with ELLs in Any Learning Environment
- How to Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment for ELLs
- 10 Things You Need to Learn About Your English Language Learners
Building Foundational Skills
Articles
Recommended book
- Literacy Foundation for English Learners: Book by Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan with an online book study
Text Complexity
Videos
Note: Some of our classroom videos are part of modules that include classroom materials and reflection interviews.
Focusing on language with the Common Core
In this classroom clip, Albuquerque teacher Clara Gonzales-Espinoza walks her students through an in-depth discussion of the rich language used in a picture-book version of Cinderella. (Related resources available)
Reading Non-Fiction Text with High School ELLs
In this lesson for high school ELLs, students discuss the language used in Nelson Mandela's 1964 Court Speech "An Ideal for Which I am Prepared to Die." (Related resources available)
Increasing the level of text complexity with ELLs
Ms. Gonzales-Espinoza discusses the importance of tackling text complexity as part of standards-based instruction for all students, including ELLs. (Includes discussion questions)
Developing Background Knowledge
Articles
- Background Knowledge and ELLs: What Teachers Need to Know
- Determining How Much Background Knowledge to Provide for ELLs
Videos
Educators speak about the role of background knowledge
Scaffolding
Articles & lesson plans
- How to Develop a Lesson Plan that Includes ELLs
- Common Core and ELLs: Lesson Plans and Videos
- Using Graphic Organizers with ELLs
Videos
Video: Using sentence frames with ELLs
ESOL specialist Sheila Majdi explains what a sentence frame is and how she might use this strategy with ELLs.
Close Reading
Articles
- Teaching Informational Text to ELLs
- Background Knowledge: A Key to Close Reading with ELLs
- Creating Text-Dependent Questions (Blog Series)
Videos
Answering Guiding Questions with Middle School ELLs
In this lesson, middle school students read an excerpt from the novel Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck about a man who takes a road trip with his dog. (Related resources available)
Higher-level questions: Thinking about magic
In this classroom clip, Albuquerque teacher Clara Gonzales-Espinoza leads an in-depth discussion about the nature of the magic used in a picture-book version of “Cinderella.” (Related resources available)
Developing Academic Language
Articles
- Supporting ELLs in the Mainstream Classroom: Strategies for Language Instruction
- Tips for Educators of ELLs: Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4-12
- Academic Language and ELLs: What Teachers Need to Know
Videos
Instruction of Key Academic Vocabulary with High School ELLs
In this Common Core-aligned lesson, students read a letter that Captain John Smith of the English Army wrote to Queen Anne in 1616. (Related resources available)
Writing to Sources
Videos
Writing a cooperative paragraph
Albuquerque teacher Ali Nava walks her students through a cooperative paragraph summarizing the beginning, middle, and end of Burro's Tortillas and uses the exercise as an opportunity to practice their writing skills. (Related resources available)
Writing a paragraph with high school ELLs
Learn how Michelle Lawrence helps her high school ELL students turn their brainstorm into a paragraph.
Formative Assessment
Articles & classroom tools
Videos
Assessment for English Language Learners
In this video, Ms. Samantha Kirch demonstrates the ways she uses informal assessment to gauge student understanding and provide extra practice with the concept of drawing conclusions.
Having enough data to look at progress over time
Dr. Alba Ortiz talks about the importance of having data that allows teams to examine ELLs progress in different areas over time. (Includes discussion questions)
Partnering with Multilingual Families
Tips & articles
