Working with English Language LearnersDecember 10, 2007 |
Printer-friendly version |
 Imagine yourself a preschool teacher. It is your first day of class. Now imagine the moment you realize your students don't speak your language, and you don't speak theirs. What would you do? If an easy answer fails you, you are among the many teachers who struggle with this dilemma daily. Fortunately researchers and practitioners are working on research-based guidelines and solutions on how to more effectively work with English Language Learner (ELL) students. At the recent National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC) a team of nationally renowned experts held a pre-conference and private reception called "Eyes Wide Open" to explore the realities of working with the ELL population. Speakers included Dr. Eugene Garcia, vice-president for Education Partnerships at Arizona State University, who covered immigrant population growth and important research trends; his wife and Kindergarten/First-grade teacher Edminda Garcia gave practitioner-friendly instructional strategies; and Dr. Michael Lopez, executive director for the National Center for Latino Child and Family Resources and a First 5 LA research consultant, discussed how to select culturally and linguistically sensitive assessment tools. The day long pre-conference event welcomed more than 200 teachers and other practitioners, eager to learn how to best reach their ELL population. Together the speakers gave the group a complete picture of the challenges and realities facing the ELL population, as well as research-based solutions. Click here to learn more about Dr. Lopez's work, and to read "Making the Most of Assessment", a consumer guide created to help guide practitioners in choosing appropriate assessment tools. |
|
