The engaging profiles of English Learners at Home and at School offer access to a deeper and broader understanding of the lived experiences of English learners and their families. Such knowledge is essential for all educators in order to anticipate the needs of, and best support, English learners. In this highly readable volume, Joyce W. Nutta helps to build the bridge of knowledge and empathy between teachers and the English learners they support. In an inspired approach to the topic, she presents six compelling portraits of English learners who come from different cultural backgrounds and who are at different points in their educational journeys, from preschool to community college. Informed by real-life observations, extensive interviews, and academic research, these lively portrayals highlight issues and concerns that commonly arise in multicultural and multilingual learning and teaching. Nutta accompanies each profile with details on the specific cultural, linguistic, and educational factors at play and offers sound practical guidance for supporting English learner achievement in classrooms. She suggests educational strategies, including establishing dual-language classrooms, adapting instruction, and inviting parent participation, that can scaffold English learners’ academic success. English Learners at Home and at School will help educators develop a better awareness of all their students—even those who come from backgrounds vastly different from their own.
