English Language Learners (ELLs)

Articles | Books & Publications | Webinars | Online Learning | Videos | Experts & Events

In EdSpeak: A Glossary of Education Terms, Phrases, Buzzwords, and Jargon, Diane Ravitch defines an English language learner (ELL) as "A student whose home language is not English and who has not yet acquired proficiency in English."

Related Topics and Terms

• Co-teaching
• Data collection and use
• Disrupting poverty
• Diverse classrooms and schools
• School culture and climate
• Struggling students

Articles 

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Helping ELLs Excel

Those who speak in less than perfect, or even fractured, English are often underestimated. English language learners experience a continuing challenge of learning multiple languages and navigating multiple cultures. This issue of Educational Leadership echoes those ideas and also stresses the need for deep and rigorous learning for the fastest growing subgroup of students in our schools today.

Browse this issue

Educational Leadership

• Demystifying College (November 2010) (free full text)
• Overcoming Triple Segregation (November 2010)
• Closing the Vocabulary Gap (March 2010) (free full text)
• The Latino Education Crisis (February 2010) (free full text)
• Health Care for All (December 2009)
• Supporting English Language Learners (April 2009) (theme issue; several articles in free full text)

Education Update

• Making Challenges Meaningful for English Language Learners (October 2009) (free full text)
• Preparing Latinos for College Success (August 2009) (free full text)

ASCD Express

• Supporting English Language Learners (April 2009) (theme issue; several articles in free full text)

See more articles on English language learners

Books and Publications

See free sample chapters, study guides, and author interviews.

Success with Multicultural Newcomers and English Learners: Proven Practices for School Leadership Teams

The strategies and recommendations outlined in this book will help schools develop and refine their instruction and assessment of multicultural newcomers and English learners.

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• Using Understanding by Design in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classroom (2018) by Amy J. Heineke and Jay McTighe
• Teaching English Language Learners Across the Content Areas (2010)
• The Language-Rich Classroom: A Research-Based Framework for Teaching English Language Learners (2009)
• Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners Facilitator's Guide and Participant's Workbook (2008)
• Content-Area Conversations: How to Plan Discussion-Based Lessons for Diverse Language Learners (2008)
• Getting Started with English Language Learners: How Educators Can Meet the Challenge (2007)
• Research-Based Methods of Reading Instruction for English Language Learners, Grades K–4 (2007)

Planning Effective Instruction for ELLs

In this ASCD Quick Reference Guide, authors Pérsida and William Himmele share practical strategies to help teachers effectively plan to meet the linguistic and academic needs of English Language Learners.

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Browse all Quick Reference Guides

Webinars 

• Implementing Global Fluency in the Classroom: Activities, Tools, and Lesson Ideas for Leveraging Your Classroom's Student Diversity with Brad Gosche (October 11, 2018)
• Immigration and the Classroom: How Global Fluency Can Help You Adapt to Your School's Changing Demographics with Brad Gosche (October 9, 2018)
• Myths of Second Language Acquisition with Judie Haynes (September 21, 2010)

Online Learning 

PD Online^® Courses

• English Language Learners in the Mainstream

PD In Focus

• English Language Learners

Videos 

See sample clips.

• Educating English Language Learners: Connecting Literacy, Language, and Culture (2010)
• How To Get Started With English language Learners (2007)

Experts and Events

ASCD Faculty members are available for on-site capacity-building professional development on English language learners. ASCD can design a precise professional development plan, organized around our field-tested solutions, with a focus on the education foundations that make sense for you.

Learn more about ASCD Professional Learning Services

ASCD Conferences, One-, Two-, and Three-Day Institutes, and other special events frequently feature sessions about English language learners.

Learn more about ASCD Conferences and Events