English Learners (EL)
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Description: The EIS intervention hub connects to interventions across 7 risk areas known to be related to later mental health problems. Within each area, you will find prevention strategies and interventions for elementary, middle, and high schools across three tiers. Tier 1 is universal, meaning that it benefits all students. Tier 2 (selective) offers interventions for a targeted group of students. Tier 3 (indicated) interventions are aimed to provide individualized support for students who have increased...
Description: Message from Virginia Education Update (2024-36) - In order to provide assistance to ensure that the appropriate students are assessed using this alternate assessment, school and division administrators are encouraged to review the School Leaders Series on including Students with Disabilities in Assessments. Information in this series can be tailored to meet school division needs and continue to support IEP Teams in their decision-making process regarding assessments and preceding academic...
Description: Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Multilingual Learners: Using Culturally and Linguistically Aligned Practices - This brief highlights how to use culturally and linguistically aligned (CLA) strategies to support multilingual learners within an multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework including how to use a CLA lens to inform instructional adaptations for multilingual learners who require intensive intervention. The brief reviews the use of the CLA lens when considering the...
Description: English language learners (ELLs) represent one of the fastest-growing population segments in the United States. Yet many of the challenges these kids have while learning English – reading struggles, difficulty associating letters to sounds, and lags in rapid naming of objects – are also signs of dyslexia. This makes diagnosing dyslexia in non-native speakers especially difficult. Hear from Fumiko Hoeft M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the Weill Institute for Neurosciences at...
Description: As you teach content areas to ELLs of diverse backgrounds, you may find that they struggle to grasp the content, and that they approach the content from very different perspectives. Drawing on your students' background knowledge and experiences, can be an effective way to bridge those gaps and to make the content more accessible. This article offers a number of suggestions to classroom teachers as they find ways to tap into the background knowledge that students bring with them.
Description: The Components of Effective Vocabulary Instruction - To be effective, a program of vocabulary instruction should provide students with opportunities for word learning by: encouraging wide reading; exposing students to high-quality oral language; promoting word consciousness; providing explicit instruction of specific words; and providing modeling and instruction in independent word-learning strategies. Each of these components contributes to helping students overcome the major obstacles to...
Description: Early Literacy - IES Practice Guide: Preparing Young Children for School (Literacy Sections 5-7) (2022), Elementary - IES Practice Guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (2016), IES Practice Guide: Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (2010), IES Practice Guide: Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers (2012), IES Practice Guide: Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective...
Description: This practice guide provides four recommendations that address what works for English learners during reading and content area instruction. Each recommendation includes extensive examples of activities that can be used to support students as they build the language and literacy skills needed to be successful in school, including examples of how the recommendations align with Common Core and other contemporary state standards. The recommendations also summarize and rate supporting evidence. This...
Description: The Supporting Literacy at Home Guides in English and Spanish provides parents with suggestions for supporting their children's literacy development at home, through a culturally and linguistically responsive approach to shared reading. Parents and family members are encouraged to engage in interactive reading and discussion in Spanish and/or English and their funds of knowledge are tapped by connecting the text to the families' culture and background experiences. Parents learn to use...
Description: This report offers recommendations for creating and expanding policy guidance specifically addressing the needs of English learners with disabilities during remote learning and school reopening. It also includes recommendations to address the persistent challenges schools face in supporting English learners with disabilities. Finally, the report includes several state leadership actions to facilitate implementation of the recommendations, and to help strengthen collaboration between English...
Description: This document is intended for use by all teachers of English Learners with Disabilities (ELWD). The purpose of this document is to support effective collaboration within Individualized Educational Programs (IEP) and processes and instructional programs that serve to meet the language and learning needs of ELWD. The information included is recommended based on research and evidence for best practices for ELWD. Refer to relevant federal, state, and local policy when making decisions about programs...
Description: This resource is designed for all teachers who work with English Learners with Disabilities (ELWD). Make Instruction and Assessment Multimodal and Comprehensive Support Language Development Provide Direct instruction and Make Expectations Clear Vary Teaching Strategies and Approaches Consider and Connect to Students' Backgrounds Reduce Cognitive Load and Alow Processing Time Promote and Reinforce Expected Classroom Behavior
Description: The intended audience for this document is school teams that support an English Learner (EL) having difficulty engaging in learning activities, and suspect the EL may have a disability. The purpose of this document is to assist teams in understanding languange learning and cultural influences and the multiple factors potentially affecting EL progress. Gather a School Team for the Pre-Referral Process Build the Professional Knowledge of the School Team and Discuss Consider Factors that Influence...
Description: Understanding Disability Categories and Differentiation Ideas for English Learners with Disabilities (VDOE) The intended audience for this document is teachers of English Learners (EL) who do not have a formal background with special education. The purpose of this document is to provide a foundation for professional conversations about appropriate supports according to a specific category of need that is influenced by a specific disability or combination of disabilities. Consider the Disability...
Description: Research shows that engaging families in education is critical not only to a child’s success, but to the entire family’s economic and social well-being. The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) promotes family education solutions across three approaches by engaging families, educators, administrators, and advocates to drive results and ultimately reduce education inequities. Our work supports multigenerational learning for families from early childhood through adult...
Description: Supporting Virtual Learning - Virtual learning is an instructional practice that uses digital technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience and improve educational outcomes. While virtual learning utilizes digital technology, it relies on teacher facilitation to help students apply their learning in meaningful ways. The teacher utilizes a learning management system (LMS) and a variety of digital tools and practices, including instructional content, rich-media, interactions...
Description: At IRIS, they have a bit of experience when it comes to which of their resources are most heavily used at the beginning of any given academic year. Consider this your curated list of back-to-school learning modules and case study units from your friends at the IRIS Center. Classroom Behavior Management (Part 1): Learning the Components of a Comprehensive Behavior Management Plan Classroom Management (Part 2): Developing Your Own Comprehensive Behavior Management Plan Effective Room Arrangement:...
Description: Strategies to Support Multilingual/English Learner Students in Remote Learning Environments is an informative video that provides information on supporting students in remote learning environments. Learn from presenters including: Jessica Costa, English Learner Instructional Specialist, Department of Learning and Innovation, Virginia Department of Education Jose A. Velazquez, Director of Academic Instruction & School Support, Education Service Center-Region 19 Presented in Partnership with...
Description: Rewordify.com is powerful, free, online software that improves reading, learning, and teaching. This site can: Intelligently simplify difficult English, for faster comprehension, Effectively teach words, for building a better vocabulary, Help teachers save time and produce engaging lessons, Help improve learning outcomes. Rewordify.com helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary development by simplifying English to a lower reading level. It lets you reword a sentence or reword a paragraph....
Description: Stop Learning Loss: Resources for Parents & Teachers - This is a place for parents and teachers across the United States to work together, to collaboratively build out a database of educational resources, materials, and activities so that no parent or teacher is on their own. Resources can be searched by: Type Grade level Subject Review This site was created by two current and former teachers: Rose Sebastian, a post-doctoral fellow in education at the University of Virginia and Kendal...
Description: English Learners (ELs) may face unique challenges and have distinct social emotional needs. School closures and social distancing could exacerbate the stresses of learning a new language and navigating a different culture as well as heighten inequities and disparities.
Description: Social Emotional Wellness Considerations for Teachers and School Staff Quick Guide, Social Emotional Wellness Considerations for Early Learners Quick Guide, Social Emotional Wellness Considerations for English Learners Quick Guide, Social Emotional Wellness Considerations for Military-Connected Learners Quick Guide, Social Emotional Wellness Considerations for Parents and Caregivers Quick Guide, Social Emotional Wellness Considerations Students with Disabilities Quick Guide,...
Description: The purpose of this webpage is to provide important information and links to resources that support educators in providing equitable instruction and services to English Learners (ELs). Divisions across the Commonwealth of Virginia serve over 105,000 ELs, who speak over 240 languages, and come from a variety of learning and cultural backgrounds. These students bring a unique set of assets that have the potential to enrich the experiences of all learners and educators. The Virginia Department...
Description: The resources are organized by the following topics: Early Childhood Education Resources Counseling Resources Online Learning Resources Math Education Resources Culturally and Diverse Learner Resources Health and Physical Education Resources
Description: 6 Essential Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners 5 Free Video Games That Support English Language Learners 5 Improving Math Curriculum for English Language Learners
Description: Across the United States, educators are changing the way they teach STEM courses. Students collaborate to investigate local phenomena in science class and work out intriguing problems in mathematics class. Across STEM courses, students attempt explanations, justify their positions, question and challenge one another’s ideas, and build new understanding together. This focus on students’ meaning-making represents an important shift. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas and...
Description: The purpose of this webpage is to provide important information and links to resources that support all educators in providing instruction and services to English Learners (ELs) across the content areas. Divisions across the Commonwealth of Virginia serve over 105,000 ELs, who speak over 240 languages, and come from a variety of learning and cultural backgrounds. These students bring a unique set of assets that have the potential to enrich the experiences of all learners and educators. The...
Description: Families are the enduring presence in the lives of young children with disabilities. This volume contains activities to support early care and education staff and families in developing positive relationships that support collaboration and family leadership. Session 1: Creating Bright Futures (Building Relationships with Families) Session 2: Listening to Families Session 3: When Concerns Arise: Learning from Families' Experiences Session 4: Getting...
Description: Make Beliefs Comix - Students can build their own comic strips on the website, with ample scaffolding. Previously available for six languages, the site has added functionality so that users can write text for balloons in ANY language. This site includes resources for creating comic strips, printables, writing tools as well as resources for Teachers, Parents, ESOL/Literacy, Special Needs, Apps, E-Books & More.
Description: This section provides information on assessment and eligibility determination guidelines to special education professionals who work with English Learners. These guidelines can be used where traditional evaluation procedures may not be appropriate and are based on specific aspects of diversity such as race, culture, the acculturation process, high mobility among families and poverty rates.
Description: The Virginia Department of Education is the administrative agency for the commonwealth’s public schools. VDOE works in partnership with Virginia’s 132 school divisions to support and improve teaching and learning, set high expectations for all students, and promote student safety, wellbeing, and health.
Description: Transition education and services should be grounded in quality research. To do so, practitioners need information on which practices and programs are effective for students and youth with disabilities. They also need to be able to services, instruction, and supports around factors associated with post-school success. Effective practices are........ specific interventions to teach skills to secondary students and youth with disabilities and are based on the results of intervention...
Description: The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Justice (DOJ) are pleased to announce the completion of the English Learner (EL) Tool Kit to support states, districts and schools in meeting their legal obligations to EL students and ensuring access to a quality education. Topics included in the tool kit include: tools and resources for identifying ELs, providing ELs with high-quality EL programs, evaluating the effectiveness of EL programs, avoiding unnecessary segregation, providing qualified...
Description: Reading Rockets is a national public media literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. We bring the best research-based strategies to teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, childcare providers, and anyone else involved in helping a young child become a skilled reader. Our goal is to bring the reading research to life — to spread the word about reading...
Description: AIR is one of the world's largest behavioral and social science research and evaluation organizations. Our overriding goal is to use the best science available to bring the most effective ideas and approaches to enhancing everyday life. For us, making the world a better place is not wishful thinking. It is the goal that drives us. Their vision is to: Inform improvements to education, health, workforce development, and related areas; Collaborate with organizations, policymakers, and practitioners...
Description: In this article written for Colorín Colorado, Bright Ideas author Kristina Robertson offers an overview of WIDA's new Essential Actions handbook and shares a step-by-step process for using this tool as part of a professional learning community focused on meeting ELLs' academic language needs. (ELL = English Language Learner)
Description: From translating research into practice to providing online professional development, the Vaughn Gross Center for Reading and Language Arts (VGC) emphasizes scientifically based research and is dedicated to improving instruction for all students, especially struggling readers, English language learners, and special education students.
Description: As a parent, there are many ways that you can help your child succeed every single day! These bilingual parent resources offer tips on helping your child learn to read, succeed in school, and learn a new language. They also provide information about the U.S. school system and share ideas on how to build a relationship with your child’s teacher and school. In addition, you can find fun reading tips and games, bilingual booklists, ideas for using the public library, and videos of...
Description: Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.
Description: This brief identifies gaps in current high school curricula, suggests how high schools can modify curricula to help students attain the skills they need, and highlights practices that are particularly effective for students facing specific challenges. Available in pdf (6 pages).
Description: The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the existing research on different programs, products, practices, and policies in education. Our goal is to provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based decisions. We focus on the results from high-quality research to answer the question “What works in education?” Topics include: Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Behavior, Children and Youth with Disabilities, English Learners, Teacher...
Description: Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the child nutrition programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.
Description: School readiness and school success for children who are dual language learners are tied directly to mastery of their home language. This series of handouts is designed to provide staff and families with basic information on topics related to children learning two or more languages. They emphasize the benefits of being bilingual, the importance of maintaining home language, and the value of becoming fully bilingual. These easy-to-read resources highlight important information that every adult...
Description: Students of all ability levels should have the opportunity to experience literacy designed to help them learn new skills or review current abilities. Adapting literacy activities is one method used to make books accessible.
Description: What is BrainPOP? Engaging learning games, animated movies, and activities. Designed with relevance, depth, and humor to encourage kids on their unique learning paths. Supporting teachers' roles and needs with classrooom-optimized tool, shaped by millions of hours of use by students and teachers in diverse learning settings. Learning made visible thourgh tools that challenge students to reflect, make connections, and engage in deeper, curiosity-driven learning. Covering universal topics with...
Description: Pre-K Language & Literacy Screener looks at alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, language: passage comprehension, name writing, and print concepts. PALS-K Assessment is a measure of children's knowledge of several important literacy fundamentals: phonological awareness, alphabet recognition, concept of word, knowledge of letter sounds and spelling. PALS-K provides a direct means of matching literacy instruction to specific literacy needs and provides a means of identifying...
Description: Based on brain science and leading instructional practice research, Learning Ally provides new, integrated tools to help educators drive sustainable transformational change in literacy leadership and student achievement. We help school systems and leaders address the equity gap through evidence-based solutions that combine early assessment, intervention, and accommodation with interactive professional development and coaching. Our programs help educators identify and prevent learning...
Description: This module discusses the importance of selecting evidence-based practices and programs. It also examines actions that school personnel can take to increase the likelihood that the practice or program is implemented as it was designed (est. completion time: 3 hours).
Description: Explore their collection of resources and gain access to a veritable library of content ranging from presentations, tutorials, workshops, courses, lesson plans and more
Description: This site provides: Printable and interactive materials Goal banks AAC Activity Analysis, AAC Communication Log, AAC Home Questionnaire, AAC and Core Language Therapy blogs and information Social Community for SLPs