For the United States, with its long history of immigration, educating English language learners (ELLs) is as American as apple pie. But the increasing demands for a highly literate society that can prosper in a global society means that many ELLs, like all students, have higher academic standards to meet than ever before, and nearly all of them turn on a solid grounding in English. This issue of ASCD Express highlights a number of efforts to meet the needs of ELLs in grades preK–12.

Also, check out the following in April's Educational Leadership issue, Supporting English Language Learners:

• The Demographic Imperative ()
• The Case for Structured English Immersion ()
• Let's Make Dual Language the Norm ()
• Perspectives / In the Neighborhood ()
  Read | Listen (MP3, 6 mins. 29 secs.)

Web Technology Enriches Vocabulary Development for ELLs

Kenji Hakuta's team at Stanford has developed a tool that takes advantage of varied Web technologies to give students and teachers of English a multilayered mental and visual grasp of academic vocabulary.  more  

Partnership Supports Parents as Key to Latino Academic Achievement

William Habermehl, superintendent of California's massive Orange County school district, explains how school, community, and business leaders are reaching Latino parents to help them understand and use the education system to fully realize their children's academic potential.  more  

Helping Young Hispanic Learners

Hispanic children account for nearly 80 percent of U.S. English language learners. By providing the youngest Hispanic children with high-quality, dual-language programs and universal preK, schools can close the academic gap before it becomes apparent in later years.  more  

A Six-Step Scaffolding Process to Build Vocabulary

A combination of visual, oral, and cognitive reinforcement helps English language learners acquire new vocabulary and concept meaning.

watch the video  

Plan Commonsense Support for ELLs

New York City school teacher Anna Leibovich exposes the folly of schools assigning ELLs to content classes beyond their English comprehension level without also giving them classes in English language, vocabulary, and concept acquisition in core subjects.  more  

English Language Learners in the Mainstream: Strategies that Work

This seven-lesson PD Online course aims to prepare teachers to work more effectively with English language learners in mainstream classes. Providing English language learners with appropriate instruction and support in the mainstream classroom takes extra time and effort, but the payoff is worth it. 

Also see:

• Book: Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners Facilitator's Guide
• Video: Maximizing Learning with English Language Learners DVD and Facilitator's Guide