This book is the first and only comprehensive guide for administrators building ESL programs. The guide provides insight into the development, administration, and evaluation of programs for ESOL students. It stresses the importance of facilitating policy decisions and creating a solid infrastructure for quality programming. The variety of integrated perspectives presented enables administrators to better make valid, grounded decisions related to the education of their increasing numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students.

A language ministry can be one of the most important services your church offers to your community. It combines outreach, diaconal care, and educational ministries. It includes both literacy and ESL (English as a Second Language) and helps people improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills.It's easy to get started! All you need is a place to meet, volunteer tutors, and resources like Open Door Books.Members of the church and/or community serve as literacy tutors, usually working one-on-one or in small groups with people who are unable to read well.Open Door Books are designed especially for adults who are just learning to read and for those who are learning English as a second language. Written at a third- to fifth-grade reading level, they're essential for language ministries or literacy programs.Your church can reach out to people who are learning to speak and read English. This handbook shows you step-by-step how to start an English as a Second Language (ESL) program for refugees, immigrants in your community, students from other countries, and others.

This book presents an ambitious model for how educators can design high-quality, challenging, and supportive learning opportunities for English Learners and other students identified to be in need of language and literacy support. Starting with the premise that conceptual, analytic, and language practices develop simultaneously as students engage in disciplinary learning, the authors argue for instruction that amplifies—rather than simplifies—expectations, concepts, texts, and learning tasks. The authors offer clear guidance for designing lessons and units and provide examples that demonstrate the approach in various subject areas, including math, science, English, and social studies. This practical resource will guide teachers through the coherent design of tasks, lessons, and units of study that invite English Learners (and all students) to engage in productive, meaningful, and intellectually engaging activity. “This book offers the most detailed guide available for designing instruction for students categorized as ELLs. Theoretically grounded and informed by years of implementation and study, this work is without equal in the field. I recommend the book enthusiastically as required reading in all teacher preparation programs.” —Guadalupe Valdés, Bonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor of Education, Stanford Graduate School of Education “Reflecting its title, this book is an amplification of what it means to provide the best learning opportunities for English Language learners. Drawing on classroom-based research, Amplifying the Curriculum offers many practical examples of intellectually engaging units and tasks. This innovative book belongs on the bookshelves of all teachers.” —Pauline Gibbons, UNSW Sydney “This timely book is a call to educators across the nation to integrate language, literacy, and disciplinary knowledge to improve the education of our new American students.” —Tatyana Kleyn, The City College of New York

This volume brings together a broad range of academics, school-based educators, and policymakers to address research, policy, and practice issues related to improving the education of English language learners in U.S. schools today. It emphasizes throughout that instructional improvements cannot be achieved via curriculum alone--teachers are key to improving the education of this large and growing population of students. The focus is on the quality of preparation and development of pre-service and in-service educators. Contributors include leading educators and researchers in the field and from nationally recognized professional development programs. Their recommendations range from promising new professional development practices to radical changes in current state and federal policy. Preparing Quality Educators for English Language Learners is an important resource to help teacher educators, administrators, and policymakers address critical issues as they develop programs for English language learners.

This qualitative case study of two Central Iowa public school districts, Perry and Urbandale, describes how these districts have successfully accommodated an influx of English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The programs are evaluated based on effective practices for ESL identified in the research literature. Support from the educational community as well as the larger community are key areas discussed. Innovative practices are identified as a model for other ESL programs in the Midwest.

Teaching Digital Literacies explores different approaches to teaching digital literacies in the second language classroom. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of literacy and the new technologies in an easy to follow guide that language teachers will find very practical for their own contexts. Topics covered include different and multiple forms on literacy including web 1.0 and web 2.0, blogging and Twitter, multimodal literacy, social networking, mobility and digital literacy, as well as assessment of digital literacies. Teaching Digital Literacies is a valuable addition to the literature in our profession.