Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan

Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan

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Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D., CCC/SLP, CDT, CALT, QI is a bilingual speech and language pathologist, certified dyslexia specialist, certified academic language therapist and a qualified instructor. Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan is the President of the Valley Speech Language and Learning Center in Brownsville, Texas and a research associate with the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics at the University of Houston. Elsa’s research interests include the development of language and literacy skills among Spanish-speaking English learners. She has worked with teams of researchers designing assessments and interventions for English learners who struggle with reading.

Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan has written many scholarly articles, curricular programs, and book chapters related to the oracy and literacy development among English learners. Her book entitled: Literacy Foundations for English learners: A Comprehensive Guide to Evidence-Based Instruction can help educators understand how to implement Structured Literacy among English learners.

Coming Soon

Stay tuned for our upcoming interview with Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan and professional learning materials related to her videos! Several of the following videos were published by our sister site, Reading Universe.

Reading Universe

Language Development Within a Reading Fluency Lesson (Reading Universe)
One-on-One with an English Learner, with Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan (Reading Universe)

Teaching English Learners: What Every Educator Should Know

Teaching English Learners: What Every Educator Should Know (Reading Universe)
Teaching English Learners: Introduction
Reading Comprehension for English Learners
The Stages of Second Language Acquisition
Making Connections with Students’ Home Languages
Phonological Awareness and English Learners
Decoding Practice for English Learners: Reading Closed Syllables
Matching Sounds with Print: Literacy Instruction for English Learners
Comparing Syllables in English and Spanish
Fluency for English Learners
Using Cognates to Teach Vocabulary
Using Morphology to Teach Comprehension

Reading SOS

Reading SOS: Does my child, who is learning English, need special education?
Reading SOS: I am still learning English myself. How can I help my child learn to read in English?
Reading SOS: My child is learning English. How can we tell if she needs help with speech issues?
Reading SOS: How can I help my first grader remember the alphabet in our home language of Spanish?