The Literacy Gaps: Bridge-Building Strategies for English Language Learners and Standard English Learners - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1412975204 ISBN 13: 9781412975209

Publisher: Corwin, 2009

Synopsis

Build bridges of support so English language learners and standard English learners can learn alongside their peers!

This comprehensive, research-based guide helps teachers bridge multiple gaps and promote learning for English language learners (ELLs) and standard English learners (SELs). The authors provide strategies, examples, and tools to address:

• The gap between students and texts: covering word recognition, background knowledge, comprehension, and academic language development
• The gap between students and teachers: including sociocultural differences between teachers and students and teacher perceptions and expectations
• The gap between students and their peers: discussing language proficiency differences, grouping strategies, and grade-level and schoolwide programs

About this title

About the Author

Ivannia Soto, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Ivannia Soto is Professor of Education at Whittier College, where she specializes in second language acquisition, systemic reform for English language learners (ELLs), and urban education. She began her career in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where she taught English and English Language Development to a population made of up 99.9% Latinos, who either were or had been ELLs. Before becoming a professor, Dr. Soto also served LAUSD as a literacy coach and district office administrator. She has presented on literacy and language topics at various conferences, including the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), the California Association for Bilingual Association (CABE), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the National Urban Education Conference. As a consultant, Soto has worked with Stanford University’s School Redesign Network (SRN), WestEd, and CABE, as well as a variety of districts and county offices in California, providing technical assistance for systemic reform for ELLs and Title III. Soto has authored and co-authored seven books, including The Literacy Gaps: Building Bridges for ELLs and SELs; ELL Shadowing as a Catalyst for Change, which was recognized by Education Trust-West as a promising practice for ELLs in 2018; From Spoken to Written Language with ELLs; and the Academic English Mastery four-book series. Together, the books tell a story of how to systemically close achievement gaps with ELLs by increasing their academic language production across content areas. Soto is Executive Director of the Institute for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching (ICLRT) at Whittier College, whose mission it is to promote relevant research and develop academic resources for ELLs and Standard English Learners (SELs) via linguistically and culturally responsive teaching practices.

Review

"The book makes a contribution to the education of English language learners. It provides practical instructional suggestions for teachers of both ELLs and SELs that are informed by a deep understanding of theories of second language and second dialect acquisition and the development of reading and writing proficiencies." Author: Guadalupe Valdes, Professor of Education Published On: 2009-02-04

"The concepts of gaps and bridges are clearly articulated up front and provide a well-structured theme that unites the various parts of the text. The use of this structure provides a logical and coherent mechanism for providing a complete picture of the problem―the literacy gap between ELs and native speakers―and a means for addressing this problem." Author: Kristina Anstrom, Senior Research Scientist Published On: 2009-02-04

"The strategies are clearly presented and there is just enough research cited to provide the rationale for incorporating ideas into instruction. Any teacher will find this book practical, and the discussions will provide meaningful ideas for study groups at the school site." Author: Ron Klemp, Secondary Literacy Coordinator Published On: 2009-02-04

"This book presents content that is crucial for narrowing the achievement gap and powerful practical instructional strategies for increasing student achievement." Author: Yee Wan, Coordinator, English Language Learners Program Published On: 2009-02-04

Edition details

• Publisher: Corwin
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1412975204
• ISBN 13: 9781412975209
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272
• Editor: Soto Ivannia, Hetzel June