Accelerating the Literacy Performance of Bilingual Students

Book excerpt: This research-based, highly practical volume presents ways teachers and schools can accelerate literacy achievement with bilingual K–6 students in both English and their home languages. Georgia Earnest García shares innovative instructional strategies for students with different language backgrounds in multiple settings--bilingual/ESL classrooms, dual-language classrooms, or all-English classrooms. She explains key concepts, such as sheltered instruction and translanguaging, and discusses how the science of reading should be adapted for bilingual students. The book offers concrete ideas for conducting unbiased assessments and building core domains of L1 and L2 literacy, including oral language, reading, writing, and academic language and vocabulary. Utility is enhanced by guiding questions, helpful vignettes, and reproducible and downloadable forms.