Teaching Reading to English Language Learners

Insights from Linguistics

Written specifically for K–12 educators, this accessible book explains the processes involved in second-language acquisition and provides a wealth of practical strategies for helping English language learners (ELLs) succeed at reading. The authors integrate knowledge from two fields that often remain disconnected—linguistics and literacy—with a focus on what works in the classroom. Teachers learn effective practices for supporting students as they build core competencies not just for reading in English, but also for listening, speaking, and writing. Engaging vignettes and examples illustrate ways to promote ELLs’ communicative skills across the content areas and in formal and informal settings.

(1995) used tape-assisted book reading as part of a home–school literacy
program with first-grade ELLs, and both the teacher ... Oral reading with
accompanying comprehension questions was used as a basis for evaluating
students' reading ...