Literacy and ELLs
Reading in English includes Phonemic Awareness, Decoding, Word Recognition (Sight words), and Comprehension. These skills are developed concurrently and are interdependent. ELLs without first language literacy skills and/or literacies that differ greatly from English, must have program planning and assessment that introduces and reinforces every facet of English literacy in order to be successful.Assessing Reading Skills:DecodingThis simple test from Schonell offers a quick way to determine the ability of students to pronounce words relative to grade level from 1-10 or age. students too low to use this test should be checked for alphabet and sight word recognition.
Reading Competency TestThis test from the American National Right to Read Foundation provides an easy to use test similar to a Running Record that allows you gage a student's reading level.
Reading Comprehension TestBy Longman, this site offers practice for ELLs using sample standardized reading tests for grades 1 to 8. The reading tests provided here are a combination of multiple choice, short-answer, and long-answer questions. The short-answer and long-answer questions are designed to have students process the information in the passage, analyze it, and organize it for the answer. In this way, these practice questions test students’ analytical abilities, not just comprehension.
|
| ||||||||||
TOEFL and other ELL Placement ExamsThis site offers practise tests for Reading and other critical English skills. students can sample for a variety of College and University language placement tests.
SAT Reading Comprehension TestsFor more advanced students and those wondering how proficient their reading skills are in preparation for university or college, this site offers practice Critical Reading questions that test ELLs' ability to understand a passage and answer question on the basis of what is stated and implied in the passage.
English Skills Development:
|
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: there are many wonderful ways to include multiliteracies and multiculturalism into your program. Dual Language books are a great place to start!Thornwood Public School Dual Language showcaseOne of the first schools to pilot student made dual language books!
Family Treasures dual language projectJoint effort of U of Calgary and Almadina Language academy.
School Specialty:a source for wonderful, bilingual picture books in many many languages! I love lending these out to teachers to share with their classes and to use them with newcomers in my classes who feel so relieved when they see their language is valued and welcome! |
Websites worth subscribing to:
|
ENCHANTED LEARNING: this website offers many free resources, but for a small cost you can access all the resouces as easy to download pdf files so you may want to subscribe if you find yourself using it a lot. The resources here are great for Primary/Junior stage 1 and 2 students. You can get Printables for many topics including bilingual resources.
|
READWRITETHINK: this site is completely free, but I would pay for it! If you want research on best practices, innovative ideas and practical resources this is a wonderful place to go.
|
READING A TO Z: this website has a tour that helps you to see its potential. If you are looking for affordable printable books at the early levels, this is a great place to start building a collection.
pdf version
| readingdevelopmentforells.pdf |
Resource Link - colorin colorado offers insights into theory and practic in the U.S. that can be helpful for Canadians. this link takes you to a reading fluency testing strategy you may find useful.
pdf file
| reading_with_ells.pdf |