Ten Languages You'll Need Most in the Classroom: A Guide to Communicating With English Language Learners and Their Families

"The authors have created a must-have resource for any teacher who works with ELL students. This book may be the difference between success and failure, for both the teacher and the student."
―Patrick F. Sheedy III, Executive Director
Rochester Montessori School, MN

"Finally, a book that gets at the heart of communicating with ESL/ELL students. This book hits home by focusing interactions with students on a cultural level within each language group, and then takes it a step further with ideas for parental communication. A must-have for teachers trying to break down communication barriers."
―Andrew Pontius, Middle School Teacher
Overseas Family School, Singapore

Break through language barriers and put ELL students at ease in your classroom!

More than ever before, K–12 educators in today′s classrooms teach students from diverse language backgrounds. This handy reference guide to the ten most common languages of students who do not speak English―Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, Tagalog, Haitian Creole, Navajo, Hmong, Cantonese, and Korean―offers practical guidance for communicating with ELL students and their families. With a chapter dedicated to each language, this book provides a wealth of resources to help you make meaningful connections with ELL students, including:

• Information about the traditions, religions, and celebrations of the family′s country of origin
• Guides to common words and phrases in the student′s native language
• Picture dictionaries that can be reproduced for use with students
• Sample parent letters that include both English and native language translations
• Basic reading tests in ten languages

Help ensure that English Language Learners successfully transition into the school community and participate fully in the classroom learning environment!

Garth Sundem is an educational consultant and curriculum writer. A former language arts and music teacher, Mr. Sundem has published more than 15 books, primarily on the subjects of literacy and social studies. A graduate of Cornell University, he earned a Masters Degree in Music Theory and Composition. He presents at local and national education conferences and facilitates in-service trainings across the U.S.

A multicultural educator for many years, Jan Krieger has taught at bilingual schools throughout Central and South America, as well as in the United States. He is currently a Spanish teacher at both the middle and high school levels in Bozeman, Montana. His Masters Degree is in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Multicultural Education.

Kristi Pikiewicz is a middle school Social Studies and Language Arts teacher, author, and frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences. Her first teaching position was at Hill Middle School in Novato, California where she was hired by the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative to work as a Title I Literacy Specialist in a highly ELL environment. She continues to value multiculturalism and hands-on learning in her classroom.