Getting Started with English Language Learners: How Educators Can Meet the Challenge

Getting Started with English Language Learners: How Educators Can Meet the Challenge

by Judie Haynes

This new book by Judie Haynes will provide you with basic concepts and can’t-miss strategies for boosting the achievement of your English language learners whether you’re new to teaching ELLs or an old hand. Real-life scenarios from actual classrooms are presented to illustrate strategies.

Are you doing everything you can to help your English language learners succeed? As schools swell with increasing numbers of ELLs, administrators and teachers are wrestling with federal guidelines for educating these students. To meet these challenges, it is imperative for educators to learn about and use the theories and teaching strategies that will help English language learners succeed in the classroom.

Getting Started with English Language Learners is a practical resource designed to help educators who are new to the field of English as a Second Language to understand the needs of ELLs. From learning how students acquire a second language to differentiating instruction to exploring practical strategies for teaching newcomers, this book will help educators learn how to create effective learning environments for English language learners. Included are staff development activities to help provide inservice programs to classroom teachers and administrators of ELLs.

Contents of Book
  • Myths of second language acquisition
  • Six key concepts of second language acquisition
  • Description of stages of language acquisition and strategies for teaching at each.
  • Stages of culture shock that newcomers go through before they become comfortable with the language.
  • What to do for ELL students during the first weeks of school
  • How to match instruction to ELL learning styles and thinking skills
  • Main challenges that ELL students face in learning reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.
  • How to use differentiated instruction, flexible grouping, and other essential practices for ELL students
  • Professional development activities for training general education staff

    • Activity Downloads

    Note: To view the classroom activities, you must have Acrobat Reader intalled. Acrobat is a free application available from Adobe Systems.

    PDF fileGetting Started with English Language Learners (73k .PDF)

    Related Links

    Activities for Summer School ESL
    Teaching summer school is often a challenge because the range of English language ability and grade levels in a single class can be very broad. You may find yourself with a mix of students who are not literate in native language with those who are. Second graders may be placed with 5th graders; non-English speakers with intermediate English language learners.