Teaching MLs

Strategic by Design: The Blueprint for ML Programs by Dr. Marie Heath (published via Seidlitz Education) provides a comprehensive framework for building, evaluating, and sustaining effective educational programming for multilingual learners (MLs). Rather than treating language acquisition as an isolated classroom responsibility, Dr. Heath argues that student progress is driven by intentional, systemic design. The book highlights how common system stress points limit student growth and offers a practical blueprint built around six interconnected pillars: Compliance & Data: Aligning program tracking and legal mandates with meaningful data analysis to accurately measure student progress and program efficacy. Curriculum & Instruction: Creating accessible, language-infused, and academically rigorous learning pathways tailored to diverse linguistic needs. Staffing: Strategically placing and supporting qualified educators, specialists, and co-teaching teams to maximize student support. Professional Learning: Building continuous, targeted training for all educators—not just language specialists—to foster a school-wide culture of academic literacy. Family & Community Engagement: Creating authentic bridges between home and school cultures, valuing families as key partners in the educational ecosystem. Pathways to Graduation: Designing clear, actionable structures that ensure long-term academic success, graduation equity, and viable post-secondary opportunities for multilingual students.

Beth and I share about our newest book, Integrated Literacy for Experienced Multilinguals, on Olivia Wahl's Schoolutions Podcast.

This book is written specifically for ELD teachers who have dedicated ELD class with MLs who have been labeled as ML for at least 5 years. We share how to backwards plan ELD units and teach the units' lessons. 

 

Teaching Conceptual Understanding in Multilingual Classrooms, authored by Juliette van Eerdewijk and Mindy McCracken, is a practical guide designed to help educators foster deep, enduring learning for multilingual students. The book introduces a concept-based curriculum that integrates theoretical explanations with actionable teaching strategies, such as translanguaging, to support diverse student populations. It provides teachers with essential resources, including sample lesson plans and reflection activities, making it a valuable tool for both pre-service and in-service professional development. Ultimately, the authors advocate for an inclusive pedagogical approach that places students' multilingual identities at the center of the classroom experience.

 

https://www.multilingual-matters.com/page/detail/?k=9781836682752

In this episode, Rebeca Lozano explores how the frameworks of Modern World Language instruction can be integrated into the multilingual learner (ML) world to enhance instructional outcomes. The conversation focuses on transitioning from basic communicative practices to the more robust application of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), providing a deeper understanding of how language creates meaning in specific academic contexts. By adopting this systemic approach, educators can better support students in navigating the complex linguistic demands of various disciplines.

 

Melanie Harder created these to help teach phonics through a fun, interactive, and tactile way. These packs are based on the UFLI curriculum. 

 

https://www.paintedplumeducation.com/shop/pop-n-read/6IYXGNKK3C6EIO7MHA7VOSSK

 

(I make no money promoting this product.) 

This book supports educators in teaching academic writing skills to Newcomer English Learners (ELs) who are just beginning their English language learning journey.

Newcomer ELs typically have minimal familiarity with the English alphabet, which can be an obstacle for them when learning writing, phonics, and spelling in English. Drawing on research and classroom‑tested methods, this book provides teachers practical strategies to help Newcomers start writing earlier, mastering letter-sound correspondence, and gaining confidence to write their thoughts in English. Readers will learn how to seamlessly integrate EL-targeted strategies and personalized literacy instruction into writing workshops to accelerate Newcomer’s acquisition of English phonics, spelling, and writing skills. These adaptable strategies also benefit world language teachers seeking effective ways to teach writing and literacy to beginners on any language learning journey.

Built on the author’s instructional coaching expertise and observations of field testing by practicing teachers, this is an excellent resource for English as a Second Language (ESL) educators and instructional coaches to promote faster and better literacy acquisition for their Newcomers and other beginner language learners.

You can visit Dr. Krimmel's website by going to https://www.elwritingprocess.com/ 

If you choose to purchase Dr. Kimmel's book from Amazon, thank you for financially supporting the podcast. 

 

What do high-achieving schools have in common? Connection.

Today’s classrooms need to move beyond traditional teaching methods; they need strategies that will re-engage students and build on meaningful connections. This book equips educators with evidence-based strategies that are layered into existing instruction, thus improving attendance, reducing behavior issues, and fueling higher academic outcomes. Essential Connection Skills offers practical solutions to help educators reignite the joy of learning through purposeful, reflective interactions.

These strategies empower students to build connections, embrace multiple perspectives, and develop the social and academic tools necessary for success. Inside you'll find: Chapter-by-chapter resources and techniques Assessment recommendations Targeted strategies for culturally and linguistically diverse students Techniques to help students develop self-reflection skills By cultivating authentic engagement, Essential Connection Skills restores a sense of community and purpose in classrooms and empowers students with the lifelong skills they’ll need to succeed. To access resources and join the conversation around Essential Connection Skills, visit annepaonessa.com.

 

Here's an Language Magazine article written by Anne that shares more about her process. https://languagemagazine.com/2025/10/21/improving-outcomes-through-the-power-of-connection/ 

 

If you choose to buy the book using this link, it helps offset the costs associated with hosting this podcast. https://amzn.to/3JonSNF

A practical and comprehensive resource, Supporting Multilingual Learners’ Academic Language Development: A Language-Based Approach to Content Instruction introduces an accessible language-based approach to teaching academic language to multilingual learners across the content areas. Luciana C. de Oliveira provides elementary school teachers with everything they need to know to successfully teach grade-level content to multilingual learners. Chapters are organized by subject, addressing the specific language demands of teaching English language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science. Each chapter features examples of implementation in grades K-5, practical strategies, and a wealth of tables, figures, and other resources.

The Language-Based Approach to Content Instruction (LACI) in this book provides teachers with a ready-to-use framework of six scaffolding elements that serves as a guide to enable multilingual learners to meet the grade-level standard of their peers without simplification. Aligned with WIDA and CCSS standards, this resource provides the tools and methods teachers need to support multilingual learners’ academic language development in the content area classroom.

 

For those who purchase the book with this link, you are offsetting the cost of hosting the podcast. Thank you!!!! https://amzn.to/3L3x9ee

New episode released. This is particularly timely about laws, policies, and regulations on supporting MLs.

This printable guide, written for Colorín Colorado by Dr. Debbie Zacarian, provides a detailed introduction to federal laws regarding ELLs and their relationship to state and local policies, including information about ELL identification under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Here's the link to the guide https://www.colorincolorado.org/serving-multilingual-learners-laws-policies-and-regulations

Here's a companion resource for the guide as well: https://www.colorincolorado.org/teaching-mls-colorin-colorado-ell-policy-guide

 

 

 

Today′s classrooms are more linguistically diverse than ever, but many educators still feel underprepared to support multilingual learners in accessing grade-level academic content. Without intentional scaffolding, these students miss opportunities to thrive alongside their peers. Through nine scaffolded approaches―instructional, linguistic, multimodal, multisensory, graphic, digital, interactive/collaborative, social-emotional, and environmental―this resource offers content area teachers research-based, practical strategies to meet the linguistic, social-emotional, and academic needs of multilingual learners.

https://languagemagazine.com/2025/08/29/nine-dimensions-of-scaffolding/

If you purchase this book from Amazon, it supports offset the price to host the podcast. https://amzn.to/3Vmds3r