ELL News Headlines

Author–illustrator Vashti Harrison happened to be in Miami to celebrate her father’s 89th birthday when—at 9:30 p.m., while sorting laundry—she received the news of her Caldecott win. “It’s a little bit of a jump scare when you realize there’s a whole room full of people calling to say congratulations to you,” Harrison said.

When 50 students at Denver’s George Washington High School were flagged on a survey as having “extremely elevated risk” for mental health struggles, social worker Sarah Hartman was able to check in with all 50 and offer them services.

Author Pedro Martín hopes to connect with all audiences who can remember being stuck on a classic family road trip in his graphic memoir, "Mexikid." His book won the Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Awards, as well as a Newbery Honor Award.

Following is a list of winners announced at this year's 2024 Youth Media Awards ceremony during ALA's Lib Learn X in Baltimore, MD. 

When Lily Gladstone became the first Indigenous person to win a best actress Golden Globe, she said some words in Blackfeet. Her mother was behind efforts to get the language taught in classes.

This year, New Bedford's literacy strategy is in the midst of an overhaul. Laura Garcia, the Massachusetts district’s English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum manager, is leading the effort to revamp everything from curriculum to teacher preparation. That includes an important shift in mindset: "Home languages are honored," Garcia said.

As the coordinator for an English-learner program, Lisa Hoelmer walks a fine line. She knows that her EL students need extra support and specialized instruction to build their English-language skills. But she also wants them to have access to the same rich reading instruction — the high-quality texts, the in-depth conversations — that native English speakers at her school do.

Newcomer ELLs, especially students with interrupted formal education (SIFEs), typically need one-on-one attention throughout their school day. Without such attention, general educators need to use alternate methods to address the needs of this special demographic. Here are some ideas.

The country has made “incremental progress” reducing racial and ethnic disparities in early childhood, but stubborn differences remain for children of color, according to a new report released this week.