Caslon Publishing

Accountability for English language learners (ELLs) is a critical issue for schools today. The number of identified ELLs in public schools (K-12) grew 95% over the last decade, with more than 5 million school age ELLS identified. Administrators are demanding information about how they can ensure that the ELLs in their schools achieve. English Language Learners at School is a practical guide for administrators who must address this challenge NOW!

KEY FEATURES
•  72 questions that administrators are asking about ELLs at school
•  57 experts provide practical research-based answers in easy-to-use language
•  Guidelines for inquiry and action in each chapter
•  Additional resources

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING: « click to expand/collapse

…a veritable feast of practical ideas ... the latest knowledge from research and practice, ... in the context of current federal and state policies. …a seminal accomplishment in bringing together the best and the brightest at a time of increased attention on English language learners—Kenji Hakuta, University of California, Merced

... a must-read for all who believe that ELLs deserve a rightful place in our schools, and that they can indeed reach content standards and language development goals. —Mary Ellen Vogt, California State University, Long Beach; co-author of Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners: The SIOP Model

Worthwhile, common-sense answers to administrators’ questions.—Virginia Collier, George Mason University; co-author of “A National study of school effectiveness for language minority students’ long-term academic achievement”

... a key tool in building a school-level professional community that is fully engaged in the education of English language learners.—Donald Freeman, School for International Training

TABLE OF CONTENTS: « click to expand/collapse

Chapter 1
Policies and Accountability Requirements for English Language Learners
Guiding Principles
Questions
How have laws regarding English language learners evolved in the United States?
Kate Menken
What does a valid and reliable accountability system for English language learners need to include?
James Crawford
What are the state mandates for educating English language learners?
Wayne Wright
María Estela Brisk and María Teresa Sánchez
Nancy Commins
How are programs for English language learners funded?
Adela Weinstein
Maritza Meyers
Cindy Gross-Alvarez
How do you develop a language policy that is appropriate for your school and community context?
Rebecca Freeman
How do you use assessment data to drive decision making?
Margo Gottlieb
How do you use evidence on program effectiveness to inform policy?
Judy Kwiat Yturriago
Letter to an administrator: From an English as a second language (ESL) teacher
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 2
Linking the School and the Community
Guiding Principles
Questions
What are the legal mandates for involving parents of English language learners?
Else Hamayan and Adela Weinstein
How do you communicate with parents of English language learners in ways that they can understand?
Marla Hori
How do you create a positive school environment for English language learners and their parents/members of their households?
Rebecca Freeman and Else Hamayan
How do you integrate parents of English language learners and community members into your program/school?
Maritza Meyers RC Rodriguez Robert Fugate
What do parents of English language learners contribute to your school? What kinds of roles do they play?
Judy Kwiat Yturriago
What can you tell parents of English language learners about language use at home?
Judy Kwiat Yturriago
Letter to an administrator: From the parent of an English language learner
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 3
How Children Learn in Two Languages
Guiding principles
Questions
How long does it take for an English language learner to become proficient in a second language?
Jim Cummins
What is the role of culture in language learning?
Eugene García
Else Hamayan
How do English language learners acquire a second language at school?
Fred Genesee
Patrick Smith
Else Hamayan and Rebecca Freeman
How does first language literacy development relate to second language literacy development?
Diane August
Does learning in the native language delay the acquisition of English?
Else Hamayan and Rebecca Freeman
Letter to an administrator: From an educational consultant
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 4
Program Development
Guiding Principles
Questions
What kinds of programs are available for English language learners?
Donna Christian
What are the most effective kinds of programs for English language learners?
Kathryn Lindholm-Leary
What is the best way to promote the English language development and academic achievement in English of English language learners when you don’t have a bilingual program?
Fred Genesee
What is the difference between English as a second language (ESL) and sheltered instruction/SDAIE?
Wayne E. Wright
What is the best bilingual model of instruction?
Kathryn Lindholm-Leary
How do you decide what kind of a program for English language learners is appropriate for your school?
Ester de Jong Diep Nguyen
How do you plan for language development?
John Hilliard and Else Hamayan
How do you promote first/home language literacy development when you can't have a bilingual program?
Diep Nguyen
Rebecca Freeman
What are the critical features of programs for English language learners?
Nancy Commins
Letter to an administrator: From a graduate student
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 5
Program Implementation and Evaluation
Guiding Principles
Questions
How do you ensure that everyone in the school shares the responsibility for educating English language learners, not just those who are specialists in the field?
Cynthia Mosca
How do you articulate your program so that it provides the intensity, continuity, and length of time that English language learners need to acquire academic English?
Cynthia Mosca
Maritza Meyers
How do you ensure that the mainstream teachers and English as a second language teachers collaborate with each other to effectively address the content and language needs of the English language learners?
Jana Echevarria
Lynne Díaz-Rico
How should English language learners be grouped for instruction?
Ester de Jong
Nancy Commins
How should you assess the language proficiency of English language learners?
Margo Gottlieb
How should you assess the academic achievement of English language learners?
Margo Gottlieb
When should English language learners exit their bilingual/English as a second language program?
Ester de Jong
What should happen to English language learners after they leave the bilingual/English as a second language program designed for them?
Ester de Jong
How do you use data on student performance to make decisions about the implementation of your program for English language learners?
Diep Nguyen
What should an evaluation of a program for English language learners include?
Karen Sakash
Letter to an administrator: From a former English language learner
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 6
Classroom Instruction and Assessment
Guiding Principles
Questions
What are the best instructional approaches for English language learners?
Yvonne Freeman and David Freeman
What can the mainstream classroom teacher do to teach English language learners effectively while they are in the mainstream class?
Deborah Short
How do you ensure that English language learners develop English language proficiency?
Yvonne Freeman and David Freeman
When should an English language learner begin to read and write in English?
Erminda García
Lynne Duffy
Monica Maccera
Filppu
How do you ensure that English language learners can read and write in all content areas?
Maria Paula Ghiso
What materials are available for English language learners?
Lucia Morales
How can you use technology to support the academic, language and learning needs of your English language learners?
John Hilliard
How can classroom assessments for English language learners be used in a climate of high-stakes testing?
Else Hamayan
Letter to an administrator: From a mainstream teacher
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 7
Professional Development
Guiding Principles
Questions
What are the legal mandates regarding the professional development of teachers of English language learners?
Adela Weinstein
What kinds of knowledge and skills does an administrator need in order to implement an effective program for English language learners?
Barb Marler
What kinds of knowledge and skills do mainstream teachers, English as a second language teachers, bilingual teachers, and support staff need to implement an effective program for English language learners?
JoAnn (Jodi) Crandall with Holly Stein and John Nelson
What levels of language proficiency in the language of instruction does a bilingual teacher need to have in order to teach effectively in a bilingual program?
David Rogers
How can administrators support their teachers to sustain and extend the teachers’ professional development regarding English language learners?
Kelly Estrada and Renea Hamilton
How do you ensure that teachers and staff have the professional development they need to implement an effective program for English language learners?
Kimberly Thomassen
María Torres-Guzman
What types of professional development for teachers who work with English language learners have you found to be effective for your staff?
Kelly Estrada and Renea Hamilton
Lynne Duffy
How should an administrator evaluate teachers of English language learners?
Jack Fields
What are recommended resources for the professional development of teachers who work with English language learners?
Nancy Cloud
Letter to an administrator: From a member of the school leadership team
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 8
When Challenges Arise
Guiding Principles
Questions
What do you do when English language learners seem to take a particularly long time to acquire English? How do you even know what that is due to?
Nancy Cloud
Ester de Jong
How can we distinguish between a language difficulty and a learning disability?
Cristina Sanchez-Lopez
How can we best serve English language learners who do have special needs, such as a disability?
Nancy Cloud
How should we deal with overage English language learners who come to school with a low level of literacy in their first language?
Yvonne Freeman and David Freeman
How can we best serve migrant English language learner populations?
Nadeen Ruiz
How can we best serve “newcomers,” students who come with interrupted formal schooling and from educational backgrounds that are very different from those in the United States?
Barb Marler
How can we best serve older English language learners who are returning to school after having dropped out, or who have arrived into the United States after age 18?
Joe Reeves Locke
What happens when there are only a few English language learners in a school district? Sue Wagner
How can we best serve English language learners when we have many different languages represented in each class and throughout the school?
Barb Marler
Letter to an administrator: From a bilingual program teacher
Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources

Chapter 9
Advocacy
Guiding Principles
Questions
What are some key elements in advocating for education programs for English language learners?
Stephen Krashen
Sharon O’Malley
Kelly Estrada
How can we use information about the program for English language learners to advocate for further development?
Else Hamayan
Regarding English language learners, whom do we advocate with, and about what?
Josie Yanguas
What are some resources to help us advocate on behalf of English language learners?
Nancy Cloud
How can we move from advocacy for English language learners to activism by English language learners and their families?
Nancy Santiago-Negrón
What is bilingualism worth, and how much should I be willing to invest in it?
Eugene García
Rebecca Freeman and Else Hamayan
Letter to an administrator: From a parent Survey for Reflection and Action
References and Additional Resources
Glossary
Index