Mayra C. Daniel - Böcker

During the past two decades, several changes have transformed core practices of teacher educators. One of the most salient changes pertains to dramatic shifts in school demographics. In practically every state in the United States, primary, elementary, middle, and high schools are experiencing expanding enrollments of students whose primary language is not English. Recent demographic data show that linguistically and culturally diverse students constitute an increasingly strong presence in our schools and communities. There are approximately 5 million ELs in the U.S., and this number is on the rise.It is estimated that two-thirds of these students are in at least one course taught by general education teachers. Growth in K-12 EL enrollment has skyrocketed in the past 20 years. One in 20 public K-12 students was an EL in 1990. In 2008, it was one in nine. Projections suggest that in 20 years it will be one in four.The content of the book integrates new and emerging research and policy insights that inform effective teaching of ELs across the disciplines. The chapters in this book will in ways to give teachers the tools they need to improve the quality of instruction in classrooms with ELs in grades K-12 both in the United States and around the world. In this book a select group of contributors address a variety of topics to enhance ELs language and literacy skills, as well increase their reading comprehension abilities across the curriculum. Chapter topics include reading and writing instruction focusing on the Common Core standards, classroom-based assessment, literacy-based mathematics instruction, literacy instruction using current technologies that include digital literacies and social media, as well as context-embedded vocabulary development using art.

During the past two decades, several changes have transformed core practices of teacher educators. One of the most salient changes pertains to dramatic shifts in school demographics. In practically every state in the United States, primary, elementary, middle, and high schools are experiencing expanding enrollments of students whose primary language is not English. Recent demographic data show that linguistically and culturally diverse students constitute an increasingly strong presence in our schools and communities. There are approximately 5 million ELs in the U.S., and this number is on the rise.It is estimated that two-thirds of these students are in at least one course taught by general education teachers. Growth in K-12 EL enrollment has skyrocketed in the past 20 years. One in 20 public K-12 students was an EL in 1990. In 2008, it was one in nine. Projections suggest that in 20 years it will be one in four.The content of the book integrates new and emerging research and policy insights that inform effective teaching of ELs across the disciplines. The chapters in this book will in ways to give teachers the tools they need to improve the quality of instruction in classrooms with ELs in grades K-12 both in the United States and around the world. In this book a select group of contributors address a variety of topics to enhance ELs language and literacy skills, as well increase their reading comprehension abilities across the curriculum. Chapter topics include reading and writing instruction focusing on the Common Core standards, classroom-based assessment, literacy-based mathematics instruction, literacy instruction using current technologies that include digital literacies and social media, as well as context-embedded vocabulary development using art.

This book joins experts in the field in a conversation focused on raising the level of instruction in schools in ways that validate all learners’ realities. This book is for educators who wish to advocate for students’ right to literacy. Chapter authors believe that educators must honor all learners’ languages, seek to understand every student’s funds of knowledge, and acknowledge English learners’ cultural capital. They examine literacy as cultural and social phenomena. They link theory to teachers’ practice in an easy to understand tone. This book is written for teachers and school administrators who know that the schoolhouse must attend to the educational needs of a student demographic that is plurilingual and pluricultural. It is for educational leaders who want to encourage EL expertise and leadership at all levels.

This book joins experts in the field in a conversation focused on raising the level of instruction in schools in ways that validate all learners’ realities. This book is for educators who wish to advocate for students’ right to literacy. Chapter authors believe that educators must honor all learners’ languages, seek to understand every student’s funds of knowledge, and acknowledge English learners’ cultural capital. They examine literacy as cultural and social phenomena. They link theory to teachers’ practice in an easy to understand tone. This book is written for teachers and school administrators who know that the schoolhouse must attend to the educational needs of a student demographic that is plurilingual and pluricultural. It is for educational leaders who want to encourage EL expertise and leadership at all levels.

English Learners at the Top of the Class is a practice oriented book that also contributes to the professional literature. It is written for teacher candidates and both new and experienced practicing teachers who want to design and deliver effective instructional paradigms across this country’s diverse classrooms. Chapter authors bring to this book their experiences as teachers at levels K-12. Many of them learned English as a second language and experienced life as an EL in U.S. classrooms. They were all teachers who along the way began to work with ELs. Their engagement with culturally diverse students led them to become teacher educators. They are committed to preparing teachers who are energized to learn about their ELs’ cultures and who want to make the schoolhouse a culturally responsive environment.