Literacy Foundations for English Learners

A Comprehensive Guide to Evidence-Based Instruction

Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, CDT, CALT, QI
Higher Education, K-12

An essential text for courses on literacy foundations and biliteracy—and an ideal in-service professional development resource—this accessible book will give teachers the knowledge base they need to help English learners develop strong literacy skills and achieve academic success.

More than 5 million English learners attend U.S. public schools—and yet fewer than 3% of teachers are certified to work with them. Fill that gap in teacher education with this practical and comprehensive textbook, an evidence-based guide to providing English learners in Pre-K–Grade 6 with explicit, systematic instruction on language and literacy fundamentals.

Aligned with IDA's Knowledge and Practice Standards, this book prepares current and future educators to teach English learners the key components of language and literacy, as first described in the National Literacy Panel report. For each component, teachers will get a dedicated chapter with research-based insights on how to teach English learners, guidance on making connections across languages when teaching that component, and ready-to-use principles and strategies for instruction. Learning objectives, study questions, and extended application activities help educators grow their knowledge and apply it in their classrooms.

PREPARE TEACHERS TO:

• Enter their classroom with a full understanding of the language and literacy development of English learners
• Teach English learners the key components of language and literacy: phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, spelling, and writing skills
• Apply insights from current, reliable research on how best to teach English learners
• Use specific, evidence-based principles, strategies, activities, and sample teacher–student dialogues to guide and strengthen instruction
• Leverage technology to adapt and enhance instruction for English learners

ONLINE COMPANION MATERIALS INCLUDED: Faculty will get helpful PowerPoint slides for each chapter, plus a sample syllabus that shows you how to use this book in your course.

Reviews

Lara Speights, M.Ed., CALT, The Reading League Journal - May 1, 2023

"Maybe it is time to flip the question from ‘What are English learners not learning?’ to 'What are teachers of English learners not learning that could maximize the knowledge and skills within the English learner population?’ In this text, Cárdenas-Hagan and the contributing experts provide both the research and the pragmatic evidence-based applications to accomplish this shift in a practical way."

Linda Siegel, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, University of British Columbia - March 27, 2020

"Comprehensive and well-written... provides many practical suggestions. All professionals who work with ELL students should read this book."

Nancy Hennessy, M.Ed., Educational Consultant and Author, Past President of the International Dyslexia Association, The Consulting Network - March 27, 2020

"An outstanding book... Chock full of ideas for adapting and differentiating literacy instruction, it is an invaluable resource for educators working with English learners."

Author: Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan Ed.D., CCC-SLP Invited Contributors: Coleen D. Carlson Ph.D., Linda O. Cavazos Ph.D., Elaine Cheesman Ph.D., Virginia Lovelace-Gonzalez M.Ed., CALT, Kenneth Nieser M.A., Sharolyn Pollard-Durodola Ed.D., Colleen Klein Reutebuch Ph.D., Alessandra Rico M.Ed., Eric Tridas M.D. Foreword Author: Sharon Vaughn Ph.D.

This book may be appropriate for courses similar to those listed below:

• BLED 412 Second Language Literacy for English Language Learners
• LCRT 5770 Effective Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners
• CUIN 7311 Teaching Language and Literacy to Bilingual Learners
• BBE 4532 Language and Literacy Development of Diverse Learners
• EDUC 248 Language, Literacy, and Culture
• EDU 635 Seminar in Second Language Literacy
• LTL657 Literacy for English Language Learner
• EDU 4020 English as a Second Language and Second Language Literacy
• RDLT 52700 Teaching Reading to the Diverse Learner
• EDU 6321 Bilingualism/Biliteracy

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