A How-to Guide for Teachers

Using the ELSF Guidelines to Improve Planning Practices forTeachers and Learning Experiences for English Learners:

While the English learner (EL) student population continues to grow, many teachers across the U.S. feel unprepared to meet high expectations for rigor and discourse in increasingly diverse classrooms. Teachers’ challenges span from understanding ELs’ linguistic and academic needs, to finding quality instructional materials to meet those needs, along with preparing supports suitable for disciplinary knowledge and language development at the same time. Although the CCR Standards place emphasis on discourse and language skills, few teachers understand pathways for disciplinary and language integration.

The English Learners Success Forum (ELSF) Guidelines were created in response to the urgent issue of lack of content materials inclusive of ALL students, particularly ELs, who are the fastest growing student population in the United States. The guidelines were developed in consultation with over 60 EL experts, practitioners, and staff of K-12 organizations all providing valuable perspectives about quality content materials and instruction inclusive of ELs. The ELSF Guidelines incorporated current evidence-based research emphasizing content-language integration and guidance to provide grade-level access for ELs to engage in content learning and meet the demands of college-and-career-ready (CCR) standards.