ELL News Headlines

Throughout the week, Colorín Colorado gathers news headlines related to English language learners from around the country. The ELL Headlines are posted Monday through Friday and are available for free!

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Librarian, Art Teacher Hope To Give Students Storytime — and Stability — Over Summer

Last summer, library media specialist Heather Cory went to the public library nearest her school, but she didn't see any of her Midwest City (OK) Elementary School students. She then drove past her school and the adjacent park, which are within walking distance for many of the kids. She found them at the Splash Pad, a park water play area.

Celebrate Día with Bilingual Books, Library of Congress Livestream, and More

Monday, April 30 is El día de los niños/El día de los libros, also known as Children’s Day/Book Day or Día! Día is a national library program that “fosters literacy for all children from all backgrounds.” It aims to help meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population and promote understanding and acceptance. This specific day of celebration highlights the program designed to “celebrate a variety of cultures every day, year-round.” Día events are planned at schools and libraries around the country. For educators looking for ideas, the American Library Association has free downloads of booklists, planning kits, coloring sheets, and more. This year, the Library of Congress is presenting a free interactive video conference and livestream for public librarians, school librarians, and K–12 teachers from around the country.

English learners are becoming English-proficient at higher rates. How did LAUSD pull it off?

Students in the Los Angeles Unified School District who are still learning English are becoming proficient in their new language at record levels.  20.7 percent of their students who began the school year as English learners will end the year having been designated as "fluent-English-proficient" — a record high "reclassification" rate, as the state's largest school district recently announced.

Rhode Island bill would promote dual-language education

Two Providence legislators have proposed a bill to add a position at the Rhode Island Department of Education to coordinate and promote the creation of more dual-language programs in public schools, which the sponsors say boost overall academic proficiency as well as language skills

Bill amending Arizona's English-language-learner model is revived

A bill allowing students learning English to spend just two hours a day in language-development classes, rather than four, has been resurrected from its seeming death at the Arizona Capitol — after the sponsor promised to water it down. The bill was resurrected after the sponsor promised to water it down.

Erin Entrada Kelly Talks Newbery Award and Filipino Storytelling Tradition

It starts with a character for Erin Entrada Kelly. One character begets another and a novel is born. The 2018 Newbery Medal winner doesn’t find her creative process particularly inspired. In fact, that initial protagonist tends to come to life in her car. "It's almost always when I'm driving," Kelly says. "I wish I could say I had a dream and it was some kind of magic, but it's not."

How Debate Structures Allow English Learners' Brilliance to Shine

Students are often attuned to current events and world affairs. Debating topics relevant to the news can be a high-interest way to engage English language learners in academic discourse that matters to them while building language skills. Structured debate also gives students opportunities to disagree politely without attacking individuals for their opinions -- a useful life skill.

Bill to Drastically Alter Arizona's English-Language Learning Model Appears Dead

A bill that would allow students learning English to spend two hours of their school day focusing solely on learning the language, rather than four hours, appears to be dead at the State Capitol. The bill has support from a diverse coalition of business and education groups, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Arizona Education Association, the Arizona Charter School Association and the Arizona School Board Association, which say the change would help improve the dismal outcome for Arizona's English-language learners. However, Arizona Senate President Steve Yarbrough has single-handedly stalled the bill. The Arizona Capitol Times reported Monday that Yarbrough said he will likely not allow HB 2435 to have a hearing in the Senate Rules Committee, which he chairs.

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