Teach Effectively!

The US Institute of Educational Sciences released a summary of what educators know about teaching reading and writing to children to whom we often refer as “English Language Learners.” In Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades,, Russell Gersten, Scott Baker, Timothy Shanahan, Sylvia Linan-Thompson, Penny Collins, and Robin Scarcella provide explicit recommendations for improvining literacy instruction:

1. Screen for reading problems and monitor progress;
2. Provide intensive small-group reading interventions;
3. Provide extensive and varied vocabulary instruction;
4. Develop academic English; and
5. Schedule regular peer‑assisted learning opportunities.

Gersten, R., Baker, S.K., Shanahan, T., Linan-Thompson, S., Collins, P., & Scarcella, R. (2007). Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grades: A Practice Guide (NCEE 2007-4011). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee.

Link to the download (free) of the report.