Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice

Prepare the next generation of educators to effectively teach multilingual students classified as English language learners (ELLs) with this comprehensive fourth edition of a cornerstone text. Written by one of today’s leading authors and researchers on ELL and bilingual education, this is the authoritative textbook for getting K–12 teachers and administrators ready to meet state competency requirements and help their multilingual students thrive.

Designed for foundations courses in both undergraduate and graduate programs, this core text has been fully updated with the latest research, theory, policies, key topics, and recommended practices. Future educators will learn how to integrate ELL-classified students into their classes, use students’ home languages as resources for learning, plan rigorous standards-aligned language and literacy instruction, make research-based decisions, differentiate core content-area instruction, and make effective use of new technologies.

Ideal for use as a textbook and a key professional reference, this book will help educators create linguistically and culturally responsive classrooms and schools that set ELL-classified students up for success.

WHAT’S NEW:

• The latest statistical data, policy changes, demographics, and research on the education of multilingual learners
• Expanded coverage of critical topics: translanguaging, assessment growth models, dual language bilingual education, newcomer programs, and technology in the classroom
• Updates to align with the most recent WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, the Seal of Biliteracy, and the latest federal and state language and education policies for ELL-classified students
• Timely new sections on the impacts of COVID-19, gifted and talented education for ELL-classified students, foundational skills for reading, writing tools, and artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching, learning, and assessment
• More explicit links between recommended literacy strategies and foundational literacy skills

STUDENT-FRIENDLY FEATURES: Pre-service educators will get guiding questions, key terms, vignettes, sample student work, activities, discussion questions, recommended readings, a glossary, and access to the Companion Website.

COMPANION WEBSITE: This book’s unique, extensive companion website enhances higher-education learning and gives professors and students innovative ways to interact and collaborate. Students will benefit from a discussion board, research activities, forms and templates, links to additional resources, and review questions. Professors will get access to a Resource Room with helpful tools for organizing and teaching their classes and commenting on student discussions and activities.

Wayne E. Wright is the Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Programs, and Faculty Development and the Barbara I. Cook Chair of Literacy and Language in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education at Purdue University. He provides training for future and current educators in the areas of ESL teaching methods, literacy, assessment, technology and research. Wright has extensive experience as a researcher and practitioner in schools in the United States and internationally.

Wright is the author of numerous research articles related to language minority education, and serves as the founding editor of the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement. He has presented his research and provided training for language teachers throughout the world. In 2009 Wright was a Fulbright scholar and visiting lecturer at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he provided training and assistance to the university and students in the M.Ed. program.

He and his wife Phal are the parents of three amazing children.