A practical, research-based guide, Teaching Reading to English Language Learners gives ESL teachers and grade-level teachers the information and strategies they need to support second language literacy development with their Culturally Linguistically Diverse (CLD) learners, in addition to the program the school already has in place. Throughout, the authors guide teachers to modify literacy instruction to address both the assets and the needs of their English learners. Included are strategies for converting research into practical application; illustrative student samples from multiple grade levels and language backgrounds; teacher insights; a look at the sociocultural, academic, cognitive, and linguistic dimensions of the CLD student biography; and a number of helpful pedagogical aids.

Developed by highly respected experts through nearly two decades of research, this book shows bilingual educators how to use the Literacy Squared model to design effective writing instruction that places Spanish and English side by side. Focusing on emerging bilinguals in Grades K–5, this research-based guide supports educators through every step of planning and implementing biliterate writing instruction and monitoring student progress. Educators will learn proven strategies for teaching writing in tandem with other language arts skills, and they’ll get an invaluable Literacy Squared Writing Rubric to help them assess children’s developing writing in both Spanish and English. A must for teachers, administrators, and leadership teams, this book prepares readers to deliver high-quality bilingual writing instruction—starting from the earliest years of school. BILINGUAL EDUCATORS WILL: Discover how an asset-based approach to biliterate writing helps students’ skills flourish in both languages Make cross-language connections to help students connect what they know in one language with what they’re learning in another Learn how and why explicit teaching of oracy enhances writing development in both Spanish and English Learn about a highly effective strategy for helping students develop cross-language metalinguistic awareness Get practical, grade-specific guidance for nurturing biliterate writing in kindergarten, Grades 1–2, and Grades 3–5 Link writing standards to Social Justice Standards to help students problem solve, think critically, and advocate for positive change PRACTICAL MATERIALS: In each chapter, Key Terms, Guiding Questions, and Reflection and Action Questions help readers retain important points and put their new knowledge into practice. Educators will also get sample biliteracy units, student work examples, and lessons from real classrooms to guide their writing instruction.

The concept of bridging between languages is introduced to the biliteracy filed in this practical professional development guide for teachers, administrators, and leadership teams.

Biliteracy from the Start: Literacy Squared in Action shows bilingual education teachers, administrators, and leadership teams how to plan, implement, monitor, and strengthen biliteracy instruction that builds on students? linguistic resources in two languages, beginning in kindergarten. Escamilla and her team present a holistic biliteracy framework that is at the heart of their action-oriented Literacy Squared school-based project. Teachers learn to develop holistic biliteracy units of instruction, lesson plans, and assessments that place Spanish and English side by side. Educators also learn to teach to students? potential within empirically based, scaffolded biliteracy zones and to support emerging bilinguals' trajectories toward biliteracy.