Can Science of Reading principles also help ELLs?
Absolutely!
In our diverse classrooms, most teachers will need to meet the unique educational needs of students from various linguistic backgrounds. English Language Learners (ELLs) contribute richness to the educational environment, but they also face distinct challenges, particularly in mastering the intricacies of language acquisition and literacy.
The Science of Reading (SoR) has emerged as a transformative framework for literacy
instruction, offering immense benefits for all students. But how does a teacher incorporate Science of Reading principles specifically for ELLs?
Understanding the Science of Reading and ELLs:
At its heart, the Science of Reading is rooted in evidence-based research based on new understanding of how the brain learns to read. It recognizes that reading is a multilayered process that encompasses phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These core principles are of critical importance for ELLs as they navigate the complexities of decoding and comprehending a new language.
Specific benefits of implementing science of Reading principles for ELLs are:
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- Phonological Awareness for ELLs:
By breaking down the sounds of words into recognizable phonemes, and then matching these sounds to letters, educators provide ELLs with a more solid foundation for learning how to decoding words, a crucial step toward reading proficiency.
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- Phonological Awareness for ELLs:
By breaking down the sounds of words into recognizable phonemes, and then matching these sounds to letters, educators provide ELLs with a more solid foundation for learning how to decoding words, a crucial step toward reading proficiency.
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- Phonics Instruction for ELLs:
The Science of Reading places a strong emphasis on explicit and systematic phonics instruction. This is particularly beneficial for ELLs who may struggle with the phonetic intricacies of the English language. By teaching the rules of phonics, educators provide ELLs with a coherent approach to decoding written words.
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- Vocabulary Development for ELLs:
ELLs often face challenges in building a robust English vocabulary. The Science of Reading recognizes the importance of vocabulary development including practice in word meanings, usage and high-frequency words. By incorporating vocabulary-building activities into lessons, educators can support ELLs in expanding their language skills and comprehension.
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- Fluency Building for ELLs:
Fluency is a key component of proficient reading. Science of Reading principles advocate for practices that enhance reading fluency, such as repeated oral reading of texts and modeling fluent reading by native speakers. For ELLs, developing fluency in English is essential for comprehending texts and expressing themselves verbally and in writing.
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- Comprehension Strategies for ELLs:
For ELLs, comprehension can be a significant hurdle due to the many factors that impact literacy in a second language. However, targeted practice in areas like text structure, summarization of stories, and open-ended answers to depth of knowledge or inference questions can significantly improve the ability of ELLs to understand and engage with more complex texts as English proficiency grows.
For 96 easy-to-use lesson plans that integrate all 5 Science of Reading principles with multilingual scaffolds for ELLs, see StoryWorld’s Integrated Phonics Units (www.storyworld.us)
Three additional Science of Reading tips to support ELLs:
Incorporate Multisensory Approaches:
The Science of Reading recognizes the importance of engaging multiple senses in the learning process. This is particularly beneficial for ELLs, as incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements can enhance their understanding and retention of language concepts. Educators can utilize multisensory approaches to make learning more interactive and accessible for all students.
Use Native Language skills to transfer to English:
It is incredibly helpful to recognize the value of a strong foundation in a student’s native language. Science of Reading principles support using the student’s home language to build a bridge to English. This approach not only reinforces the skills and understanding ELLs already bring from their native language but the strategy also promotes a positive transfer of these skills to English literacy development.
Create Cultural Connections:
ELLs come from highly-diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Science of Reading principles encourage educators to tailor instruction – wherever possible – to meet individual and unique needs of ELLs. While this is not always easy, by incorporating cultural connections and differentiating strategies based on students’ language proficiency and learning styles, educators will create a more inclusive environment that leads to more advanced language and literacy proficiency.
Bring it all together with a growth mindset
Learning to read – while also learning a new language – is a daunting challenge. But with persistence and a consistent approach using Science of Reading principles, students will succeed. How a student feels about his or her progress is incredibly important.
Science of Reading principals encourage educators to foster a growth mindset among all students—an approach that is especially helpful for ELLs who face the additional challenge of learning a new language. By promoting resilience, perseverance, and a belief that they can succeed, every teacher will make a positive, potentially life-changing difference in the lives of every ELL in their classroom.
Cynthia Harrison Barbera
Cynthia Harrison Barbera is President, StoryWorld International. She served as VP Educational Technology for Scholastic and is the recipient of two US Presidential awards. An Emmy-award winner for a television series on education, she has taught English to native-speakers and ELL students in the US and overseas.
Three additional Science of Reading tips to support ELLs:
Incorporate Multisensory Approaches:
The Science of Reading recognizes the importance of engaging multiple senses in the learning process. This is particularly beneficial for ELLs, as incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements can enhance their understanding and retention of language concepts. Educators can utilize multisensory approaches to make learning more interactive and accessible for all students.
Use Native Language skills to transfer to English:
It is incredibly helpful to recognize the value of a strong foundation in a student’s native language. Science of Reading principles support using the student’s home language to build a bridge to English. This approach not only reinforces the skills and understanding ELLs already bring from their native language but the strategy also promotes a positive transfer of these skills to English literacy development.
Create Cultural Connections:
ELLs come from highly-diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Science of Reading principles encourage educators to tailor instruction – wherever possible – to meet individual and unique needs of ELLs. While this is not always easy, by incorporating cultural connections and differentiating strategies based on students’ language proficiency and learning styles, educators will create a more inclusive environment that leads to more advanced language and literacy proficiency.
Bring it all together with a growth mindset
Learning to read – while also learning a new language – is a daunting challenge. But with persistence and a consistent approach using Science of Reading principles, students will succeed. How a student feels about his or her progress is incredibly important.
Science of Reading principals encourage educators to foster a growth mindset among all students—an approach that is especially helpful for ELLs who face the additional challenge of learning a new language. By promoting resilience, perseverance, and a belief that they can succeed, every teacher will make a positive, potentially life-changing difference in the lives of every ELL in their classroom.
Cynthia Harrison Barbera is President, StoryWorld International. She served as VP Educational Technology for Scholastic and is the recipient of two US Presidential awards. An Emmy-award winner for a television series on education, she has taught English to native-speakers and ELL students in the US and overseas.