As the number of English language learners (ELL) increase in areas across the United States, it is important for these students to receive adequate reading instruction. Helping ELL’s improve literacy skills helps enhance their individual lives, as well as their contributions to society as a whole. 

Earlier this week, It’s Your World Blog discussed this issue in its post: “Support for those Learning English.” The article stressed the importance of teaching both English language learner students and their parents. This is because parents are “the children’s first and life-long teachers.” If adult English language learners do not have adequate reading abilities they cannot help their kids improve their own literacy skills.

Read the full Article--> “Support for Those Learning English”

Another interesting article on English language learners was from Colorin Colorado, which provides resources and information for ELL families and educators. The article discussed how Response to Intervention (RTI) programs can be effectively used to teach ELL students. The article was introduced with the following statement:

A considerable amount of evidence suggests that approaches involving early intervention, ongoing progress monitoring, and effective classroom instruction consistent with Response to Intervention (RTI) are associated with improved outcomes for the majority of students in early reading and math. Considerably less information exists, however, about the effectiveness of these approaches with a growing population of students, English language learners (ELLs) at risk for reading problems. We also have considerably less information about the types of interventions that are effective for students who do not adequately respond to the interventions that typically are effective. Such students are likely to be identified as having learning disabilities.

Read the full article--> “Response to Intervention in Reading for English Language Learners”

Here is a fun interactive resource for teaching ELL classes: “Learn English with Songs”

Learn more about how Reading Horizons can meet the need of quality reading instruction for ELL students--> ELL reading program

Earlier this week National Public Radio (NPR) did a broadcast highlighting the current state of the English language. The broadcast highlighted linguistic expert, David Crystal, and his recent book: “A Little Book of Language.” Crystal discussed the rapid change of language due to modern technologies and the different versions of English that each person uses in their daily life. 

Listen to the entire broadcast:

Crystal clearly explained that every language evolves, but he pointed out that the English language is currently changing at a revolutionary speed. The source of the accelerated change: the internet. One way this is evident is through the use of hyperlinks. It was interesting to listen to Crystal explain that never before has there been a component of language like the hyperlink- never before has someone been able to instantly connect to a entirely different piece of information simply by clicking on a word. 

The internet and technology also accelerate the change of language through the ever-growing use of social networks, text messaging, chat rooms, blogs, etc… most of which didn’t appear until the last 5-10 years. Never before has a technology promoted as large of a language revolution as the internet has. Crystal explained the internet changes language rapidly because each social network presents its own, unique variation of the English language.

Not only does each channel of communication adapt the English language, but every company, organization, and activity creates its own variation of English. This further progresses the change of English. Throughout the show callers mentioned the different variations of the English language they have found in their own life. It’s interesting to think about the different terms we use in each of the different things we do in our lives.

Crystal used an interesting analogy of a closet to describe the many different forms of English we each use. When we enter a closet we can choose which outfit best fits the situation is being used for. The same concept applies to language. Depending on our current situation, we can choose which variation of the English language is best suited.

In correlation to that idea, Crystal explained he wrote his book to help teens understand the importance of enlarging their range of the English language. The internet has created more and more informal variations of the language- but very few formal variations. Children are becoming more and more informal in their communication and he wants to stress the importance of being able to communicate on a formal level. Although there are more arenas that support informal communication- to become successful formal language is still needed in various arenas.

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It took me awhile to find any value in twitter, but this week as I took the time to click on some of the links, I found some new education and language resources that I thought were interesting. My top 3 favorite twitter finds of the week were:

#3- Teach with Games

This site has a collection of free printable games for a variety of subjects. Reading Horizons has helped a lot of students learn to read through a multisensory curriculum, and this site offers a lot of options for making teaching all subjects with more multisensory and interactive strategies: http://teachwithgames.com/

#2- Ghotit Assistive Technology for Dyslexics

This spell-checker was developed by dyslexics for dyslexics. From what I gather it is a spell-checker like the one found on Microsoft Word that is sensitive to the common spelling mistakes of dyslexics. The resource is very affordable for individuals, only $14.99, and can be used by schools for free. To try it free online visit: http://www.ghotit.com/home.shtml

#1- Smarty Ears iPod Apps

This was the trendiest find. I can’t decide if this resource is number one because of its value or if I was excited about it because it was the most relevant to today’s technology. Because it is trendy it would be an easy tool to get students excited about. These applications are for speech therapy and the primary goal of the apps are to help the user improve the way they communicate. The company offers apps in four categories: Spanish, Language, Articulation, and Fluency. Learn more about these apps at: http://www.smarty-ears.com/

Follow Reading Horizons on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ReadingHorizons

Usually I focus on literacy skills being beneficial on an individual level. Enhancing one’s psychological well-being and the knowledge one can gain from being able to read. However lately I continue to find articles about the benefits of literacy on the societal level, rather than the individual level. The benefits are almost intuitive, but the articles have changed the focus of my thoughts about literacy. Here are three societal benefits of improving literacy:

1. Improves the Safety of Society

The other day there was a really good article about how literacy can lower the crime rate; this statistic clearly reveals how literacy can make society a safer place to live:

“Up to 80% of incarcerated individuals are functionally illiterate; studies show that if a child reads on grade level by the end of 3rd grade, there is a 99% certainty that child will never be incarcerated; school performance, more than any other single factor, is a major contributor as to whether a youth becomes involved in drugs or violence.”

Source: http://www.good.is/post/preventing-violence-by-teaching-literacy/

2. Improves Education Success

Education success is very dependent on reading abilities. This quote from the Warren Bolton emphasizes how important reading skills are for education success:

“Today in America, more than 11 million children 5 years old and younger are living in poverty. Millions of these children will arrive at their first day of kindergarten bright, eager and happy — but with deficits in their reading readiness that leave them underprepared to read and learn along with classmates sitting in the chairs beside them… Sadly, starting one step behind decreases the likelihood that those smiling, eager children will ever catch up. Despite the billions of dollars Americans have invested in reading recovery programs, those children are at increased risk for absenteeism, dropping out, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.”

Source: http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/10/1324942/bolton-reading-expands-childrens.html

3. Improves the Standard of Living

In accordance with the previous two points, literacy can help improve the standard of living, as exposed in this statistic:

Only 50% of low-income 4th graders read at or above the basic level according to the Department of Education’s 2007 Nation’s Report Card.

Source: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/launch_a_national_read_to_kids_campaign

Help society improve its overall literacy rate by playing Lemons for Literacy to help organizations and individuals earn an effective literacy program:

Multisensory phonics instruction is effective for struggling readers and dyslexics because it helps students:

1. Create a Solid Reading Foundation

Imagine you were planning to build an addition to your home but in the process you discovered that your house was built on an unstable foundation that failed to provide adequate support for your home. Instead of trying to build on top of the problem, the smartest decision would be to repair the problem before it gets worse and degrades the safety of your home. This analogy easily applies to the need to help struggling readers and dyslexics strengthen their reading foundation, rather than trying to cover up the problem.

Multisensory phonics helps dyslexics and struggling readers connect the letters of the language to the individual sounds. These connections are often what are missing in the understanding of dyslexics and struggling readers. By building these connections, reading makes more sense to these students.

2. Strengthen their Mind

Multisensory and interactive instruction is effective when teaching phonics to students because it works to strengthen the mind. By engaging students in learning through multiple senses they are able to make connections in their mind that they were not previously able to make. For students that do not naturally acquire reading skills, new and stronger brain connections help them overcome their difficulties.

3. Improve Reading Fluency and Comprehension

As students increase their phonetic abilities and understanding, reading fluency and comprehension also improve. A thorough understanding and competency in phonics allows students to focus on the meaning of what they are reading instead of focusing on sounding out each individual word.

To promote the development of natural word decoding skills and phonetic abilities, Reading Horizons has developed this unique marking system:

5 Phonetic Skills

2 Decoding Skills

Learn more about Reading Horizons curriculum to see how it can help your students build a solid reading foundation, strengthen their mind, and improve reading fluency and reading comprehension: http://www.readinghorizons.com/v5/index.aspx